We’ve all had those magic moments with hot chocolate—there’s nothing like warm hot cocoa on a cold winter's day. But, as you get older, you may have drifted away from hot chocolate. Possibly for health reasons or maybe “because it isn’t the adult thing to do.” But wouldn't it be great if there was healthy hot chocolate so you wouldn’t have to feel guilty about enjoying it? Well, I have some good news for you! There is! Let’s take a look at what it takes to make a healthy hot chocolate and how great it really can be for you and your NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response. This recipe is sure to be a hit among friends and family.
Depending on what you consider hot chocolate to be, your answer to this may vary. If you consider hot chocolate to literally be just chocolate and milk (or water) then it may not be that bad.
On the other hand, if you’re like most people, you probably enjoy those convenient hot chocolate packs, such as those made by Nestle or Cadbury. The problem is that these hot chocolate mixes contain unnecessary ingredients such as preservatives and artificial flavors that are just plain bad for your health. Many preservatives and artificial flavors can disrupt several of your NEM circuits, namely, the hormonal and inflammatory circuits. Some of the side effects of the artificial flavors and sweeteners in conventional hot chocolatte include irritability, energy crashes, hormonal imbalances, and headaches, to name a few.
Here’s the thing, although Nestle often purports hot chocolate to be a healthy food, this isn’t entirely true. Sugar aside, premade hot chocolate mixes may contain ingredients that actually make this would-be “healthy” treat unhealthy. That’s why we’re introducing you to this healthy hot chocolate recipe today.
This healthy hot chocolate contains loads of antioxidants and healthy herbs. Best of all, the delicious hot chocolate flavor is not lost and you’ll enjoy this hot cocoa as much as that very first cup you had as a child. This cocoa is truly unique and offers a range of amazing health benefits.
Where possible, use organic ingredients.
This hot chocolate recipe is pretty much a superfood recipe, loaded with healthy fats, chocolate rich in antioxidants, and one of my favorite medicinal mushrooms, reishi.
Cocoa - Cocoa is not only one of the most delicious foods there is, it’s high in antioxidants. Furthermore, cocoa is high in minerals such as manganese, iron, magnesium, and zinc. Cocoa makes you feel good! It can boost endorphins and raise serotonin levels in your brain. Cocoa is a well known antidepressant and helps your neuro-affect system by stimulating your hormonal NEM circuit. Beyond that, the abundance of antioxidants found in cocoa help your detoxification circuit to function.
Collagen - Collagen is known to improve the health of your skin, fingernails, and hair. Furthermore, it may also reduce joint pain, prevent joint deterioration, and even promote cardiovascular health. Collagen effectively reduces how much your NEM inflammation circuit has to work by reducing joint pain and supporting healthy joints. Collagen also benefits the cardionomic circuit by helping to maintain cardiovascular health.
Reishi - Reishi is a medicinal mushroom renowned as “the king of mushrooms.” The red mushroom contains a number of incredible compounds—polysaccharides—with the ability to fight certain tumors and cancers. Reishi can also improve liver health by stimulating the NEM detoxification circuit and can protect the cardio-affect circuit.
Coconut oil - Coconut contains medium chain triglycerides (MCT) that are actually healthy. This good fat is known to stimulate your metabolic circuit. And that’s not all. Coconut oil is high in antioxidants and has both antiviral and antibacterial properties. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest sources of fat out there. Like reishi, coconut oil aids your NEM detoxification circuit and can ease inflammation.
The NEM stress response is a way of examining how stress impacts your body. Six circuits make up your NEM system: metabolic, inflammatory, detoxification, neuro-affect, cardionomic, and hormonal. The six circuits can be divided into two categories: neuroendocrine and metabolism. These circuits work together like an orchestra to help the body deal with stress, both internally and externally. Each circuit is a way of observing the effects of stress on your body. For example, if you eat a food you’re allergic to, the inflammation circuit may be stimulated in response to the agitation. Depending on the severity of the allergy, other circuits such as your hormonal circuit may also be stimulated in response to the stimulus. Each of the stress circuits is intended to keep you healthy but sometimes they don’t operate properly.
The adrenal glands are part of the NEM network. Your adrenals are responsible for the “fight or flight response” and are a major component of the hormonal circuit. These organs produce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, which cause you to become more alert when you encounter stress. If you are exposed to constant stress, whether from your job or the foods you eat, your adrenal glands eventually become fatigued due to being overworked. This condition is called Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) and if left untreated, may lead to adrenal failure. Adrenal Fatigue can lead to a multitude of symptoms from extreme tiredness to back pain, and eventually, other organs may fail. This is why we urge addressing AFS as soon as possible. How can you do that? One of the many ways is eating right. This healthy hot chocolate recipe is just one step toward healing your body and preventing or recovering from Adrenal Fatigue.
There are many benefits this recipe may have on your NEM stress response system. This healthy hot chocolate not only stimulates serotonin leading to a healthier neuro-affect circuit, it also has several key ingredients which can alleviate inflammation, promote detoxification, and protect your cardionomic circuit. This healthy cocoa is amazing for your NEM stress response, but as with any foods—especially, sweet ones—make sure to drink it in moderation.
Promoting a healthy NEM involves much more than one awesome recipe. Be sure to maintain a well rounded diet that includes a variety of foods—don’t ever put all your eggs in one basket as there is no panacea for AFS. A varied approach to healing AFS and maintaining a healthy NEM system is essential. Other things to consider are exercise, learning to effectively cope with stress, and always learning, learning, learning. Use this healthy hot chocolate recipe along with a well rounded approach to maintain the health of all your NEM circuits.
One of most important ways to heal your NEM system and alleviate AFS is through maintaining a proper diet. A well-rounded, whole food-based diet is essential to the health of your NEM system, and your body overall. This recipe is one tool for promoting a healthy NEM response and is sure to warm you up on those cold winter days.
© Copyright 2019 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
Everyone loves hot chocolate. But many of us just don’t want to compromise our health. However, I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to. This healthy hot chocolate recipe has it all. It’s sure to bring some warmth to any cold winter day.
