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Functional Food
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expert reviewedAuthor: Expert reviewer:
December 02, 2021
mbg Nutrition & Health Writer
By Abby Moore
mbg Nutrition & Health Writer
Abby Moore is an editorial operations manager at mindbodygreen. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin and has previously written for Tribeza magazine.
Expert review by
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN
mbg Vice President of Scientific Affairs
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN is Vice President of Scientific Affairs at mindbodygreen. She received her bachelor's degree in Biological Basis of Behavior from the University of Pennsylvania and Ph.D. in Foods and Nutrition from the University of Georgia.
Image by Mariela Naplatanova / Stocksy December 02, 2021 There's just nothing better than a steaming hot mug of cocoa on a cold, winter day. Whether you top yours with a sprinkle of cinnamon or dark chocolate shavings—what goes into the hot chocolate might matter even more than what goes on top of it, which is why I was super excited when integrative medicine doctor Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., shared her immune-supporting reishi hot chocolate recipe with us. Sure, you could dump some prepackaged cocoa powder into a saucepan full of milk and call it a day, but if hot chocolate is something you'll be drinking all winter long, you may want to consider the nutritional value. Here's why you should check out Gandhi's go-to version:
Benefits of functional hot chocolate.
Reishi is a great adaptogen, and it has been proved to support a healthy and resilient immune system, ease stress, promote deep sleep, enhance energy, and so much more, Gandhi tells mbg. Rather than refined sugar, this hot chocolate is sweetened naturally with manuka honey, which contains antibacterial properties.
Immune-Boosting Reishi Hot Chocolate
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut or milk alternative of your choice
- Dash of cinnamon and cardamom
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon reishi powder
- 1 to 2 teaspoons manuka honey
Method
- Boil the ingredients together.
- Mix it with a handheld blender to make it frothy.
- Pro-tip: Add the honey once your latte has cooled down a bit!
Bottom line.
Maintaining a healthy immune system is critical all year round, so why not do what you can to bolster it? Making intentional ingredient swaps, like Gandhi did in her hot chocolate recipe, is one simple way to do that.
Taking a targeted immunity supplement, like mindbodygreen's immune support+, which bolsters antioxidant defenses and nurtures the development and protection of immune cells, is another way to shield your immune system on the daily.*
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