Curl up in the colder months with one of these nourishing drinks. There’s something for everyone here.
1) Bulletproof Coffee
I tried this for the first time the other day at a Nutrition seminar – Creamy and rich, bulletproof coffee is black coffee mixed with grass-fed unsalted butter and unique MCT (medium chain triglyceride) oil, which really counteracts the coffee’s bitterness.
High in slow-burning caffeine and energy, a cup of this could serve as a meal replacement that ideally makes you feel like you can conquer the world first thing in the a.m. I recently went to a health café that added vanilla WPI (whey protein isolate) to their bulletproof coffee to up the protein – Delish!
But because it’s high in fat – although healthy fat (butter for instance is rich in vitamin A) – bulletproof coffee might be difficult for some to digest, such as those with irritable bowel syndrome.
Also, bulletproof coffee was first consumed in Tibet’s Mt. Kailash in -10 degree weather. But when food isn’t scarce and if you’re not climbing mountains, a cup of bulletproof alongside smashed avo on toast at your desk everyday will provide excess energy.
2) Green tea
Rich in antioxidants called catechins, regular green tea consumption may promote good health by fighting cell-damaging ‘free radicals’; These are produced in our bodies as a natural by-product of metabolism, and are also in environmental toxins we’re exposed to daily - like pesticides and pollution…So drink up!
A tip: Brew your green tea in warm rather than boiling water, as high heat may destroy its beneficial compounds. Not a fan of green tea’s astringency? Try it in a blend like Mayde Tea’s Green Jasmine, Sencha and Rose – Reminds me of Turkish delight!
3) Bone Broth
Filling the fridge at health food stores and health conscious butchers, bone broth isn’t your usual meat stock; Made with inexpensive, large bones (think beef marrow or lamb shanks), it’s simmered for a minimum of 12 hours. This allows the bone’s nutrients – like calcium and magnesium for bone health, glucosamine and chondroitin for joint integrity, and glutamine, which has gut-healing properties - to leach into the broth so you reap the nutritional benefits.
Make sure to eat the thick, white gelatinous layer that floats to the top; This is where a lot of the nutritional value lies.
4) Herbal Tea
I’m drinking a herbal chai as I type - the perfect writing companion. I’m a big fan of digestive blends – Great in the colder months. And I can’t not mention licorice tea; It tastes super sweet yet is sugar free, and can help sooth and protect the gut lining; A nice remedy for an upset stomach.
5) Hot Cacao
If you’re looking for a healthy way to satisfy your sweet tooth, skip the commercial, highly processed hot choc and make your own: Just add a heaped tsp of 100% cacao powder to a mug, fill it 2/3 to the top with boiling water and top with your favourite milk. Sweeten with a tsp of brown rice syrup and a pinch of cinnamon and you have an antioxidant-rich nightcap that lasts longer than a couple squares of chocolate ;)