Who can turn away from a delicious drink that warms, and then warms again? Cayenne and chocolate are kissing cousins. Both ingredients are indigenous to Mexico, they complement each other in surprising ways. This recipe is good food for your heart, brain, and spirits.
Stress often underlies self-medication behaviors. It can also lead to high blood pressure. Cocoa is rich in polyphenols, which protect the endothelial lining of the arteries and reduce blood pressure. This increases blood and oxygen flow to the brain to support recovery. This drink is also a satisfying drink to use when eliminating sugary chocolate and candies from the diet. Be careful not to overdo the cocoa as it can be stimulating.
Add 1 tablespoon of raw local honey or 10 drops of stevia to 2 cups of cream or coconut or hemp milk or any mixture you prefer. Warm the milk in a saucepan and stir in 2 heaping tablespoons of sugar-free cocoa powder with a wire whisk. Take off the heat and add a pinch of ground cayenne pepper to warm the cockles of your heart.
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Ingredients
1 tbs. organic pure cocoa (no sugar added)
1-3 drops liquid stevia
1 cup fresh whole organic cream, or almond or rice milk
Directions
- Place the cream in a small saucepan. Add stevia and cocoa. Heat gently (do not boil) and have as a treat.
NOTE: Purchase a small handheld frother to froth the hot cocoa.
Enjoy and most importantly let me know what you think!
Find more recipes like this in my cookbook Natural Woman: Herbal Remedies for Radiant Health at Every Stage of Life.
She served as a Fulbright scholar on traditional medicine, a Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School, and a National Institutes of Health-funded research scientist in mind/body medicine.
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