Healthy Hot Cocoa

A friend of mine posted this article on Facebook the other day, which highlights the many benefits of drinking cocoa including reducing the risks of hearth attack and stroke, reducing high blood pressure (also in pregnant women), improving kidney function, heightening cognitive function, reducing risk of skin cancer, and relieving coughs!  I've been making my own hot cocoa since reading about the benefits somewhere....I think maybe in Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions cookbook.  I make mine with a cocoa and maca powder blend, raw honey, coconut oil, and raw goat milk.  Sounds a little...different...but trust me it is delicious!  I'm currently pregnant with baby #4 and this is an excellent, nutritious pregnancy alternative to coffee!

My ingredients:

1-2 Tbsp. raw unsweetened cocoa and maca powder blend (TerrAmazon brand)
1 Tbsp. raw unprocessed local honey
1 Tbsp. organic virgin coconut oil
Pinch of organic cinnamon to taste
Raw organic milk to taste (we use goat milk because we have our own goats)

This  drink is a powerhouse of beneficial ingredients and can easily replace morning coffee.  Besides the aforementioned health benefits of cocoa powder, there is enzyme-rich raw honey and milk, and coconut oil, which boosts the immune system, provides energy, and protects against infection.  Raw milk is something I could write an entire post (maybe even an entire book) about, but here is just one great excerpt from The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care by Sally Fallon: "Raw whole milk from pasture-fed cows provides a complete source of nutrition that is easy to digest and assimilate.....raw milk is vastly superior to pasteurized for building strong bones and teeth, for protecting against infection, allergies and asthma and for building immunity.  In addition many consumers of pasteurized milk diagnosed as lactose intolerant can consume raw milk without difficulty."