Superfood Hot Chocolate Chai with Turmeric

A smooth and creamy snack with irresistible flavor, easy to make, and so full of superfoods! Spicy Hot Chocolate Chai will nourish your soul, and keep your body running on high-energy fuel for hours, while promoting long-term health. Just look at the list of superfoods in this recipe!

1. Raw cacao has one of the highest scores on flavonoids. Flavonoids are a specific subset of anti-oxidants and polyphenols that have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-hypertension, and anti-aging properties. In addition to flavonoids, cacao beans contain other beneficial catechins, epicatechins and proanthocyanidins that also account for some of the health benefits.
2. Maca is widely used to increase energy, stabilize mood, reduce depression, and increase sexual function of both men and women.
3. Turmeric and its active ingredient curcumin, contain powerful anti-aging, anti-cancer, anti-Alzheimer’s, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial properties, and most important of all, prevent free radical formation in the cells. However before you start sprinkling turmeric on everything, please know that curcumin (its major active compound) is poorly absorbed in the body and has minimal impact on blood levels when taken alone. Fortunately, there are four ways you can enhance its absorption:
   • Always eat turmeric with black pepper: Black pepper can greatly improve absorption of turmeric in the body.  In one study, when taken with 20 mg of piperine (active ingredient in pepper) per 2.2 pounds of body weight, it improved bioavailability of turmeric by 2000%.
   • Add some fat: Turmeric is fat-soluble and thus much better absorbed when taken with fat. Examples of fat are coconut milk, coconut oil, MCT oil, animal fats, butter.
   • Heat it: Heat is said to increase the solubility of curcumin (the primary active constituent in turmeric) by 12 times, which may also make it more easily absorbed in the body.
   • Eat turmeric with quercetin-rich foods: Quercetin, a flavonoid, is known to inhibit an enzyme that inactivates curcumin. Adding turmeric to quercetin-rich foods can increase the absorption of turmeric in the body. Foods rich in isoquercitrin include leafy vegetables, broccoli, red onions, peppers, apples, grapes, black tea, green tea, red wine, capers, Serrano peppers, and some fruit juices.
4. Coconut oil is rich in Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs). Most fatty acids in our diet are long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently. They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they’re used as a quick energy source or converted into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s. Studies show that the fatty acids in coconut oil can increase blood levels of ketone bodies, supplying energy to the brain cells in Alzheimer’s patients to relieve symptoms.
5. Reishi mushroom extract shows a therapeutic effect on asthma, allergies, autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, diabetes, liver diseases and more.
6. Bee pollen, the food of the young bee, is approximately 40% protein. Considered one of Nature’s most complete foods, it contains nearly all nutrients required by humans.
7. Chicory root as a prebiotic has the greatest inulin concentration of any known plant. This soluble fiber stimulates the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system.

So drink up! Serves 2