Raw, energizing anti-aging AND chocolate! Get the glow!

You know how they say chocolate is good for you? Well this drink is better than good for you! It’s amazing! Each ingredient is not very tasty on its own, but put them together and you get a yummy chocolate drink that fills you up and keeps you looking young. And this little number will keep you energized the whole day. (It's addictive in the good way!)

It’s our secret hot chocolate recipe. The secret ingredient is actually a lack of ingredient. There is NO sugar in this. And I mean no sugar, sugar substitutes, stevia, dates, dried fruit, honey, maple syrup or other posers that sneak into most chocolate recipes.

Now for the recipe:

1 cup almond milk

1 tbsp gelatin

1 tbsp cacao powder

1 tbsp chia seeds
cinnamon

Directions:

1. Pour the almond milk in a blender bottle. Add the gelatin. Mix immediately to prevent large clumps. 
2. Add cacao powder and mix again.
3. Add the mixture to a saucepan, stirring constantly until the gelatin and cacao powder dissolve. 
4. After attaining the desired temperature, pour into a mug. It’s summer right now so you may want to heat it just enough to get the ingredients to dissolve.
5. Add in chia seeds stirring for a few minutes to prevent clumping. 
6. Top it off with cinnamon. I like a lot, not a dash.
7. Now sit back and enjoy the chocolate knowing that you are building strong bones and preventing wrinkles.

Allow me to explain how each ingredient is not only yummy, but beneficial for you.

1. Almond milk: Lower in calories than dairy milk, it’s also heart healthy. It contains 50 percent of your daily vitamin E and 25 percent of your vitamin D. It also contains the B vitamins, iron and riboflavin. You can make it yourself, but my favorite brand is Almond Breeze.
2. Chia seeds: This tiny seed packs big benefits. It is a great source of omega fatty acids, minerals, vitamins and soluble fiber. It even has more antioxidants than flaxseed. When soaked in a liquid, they puff up and take on gel-like qualities that fill you up and curb cravings. The brand used in this post is Navitas Naturals.
3. Cacao powder: This is the type of “chocolate” that is good for you. It is a natural source of antioxidants and fiber. It also has one of the highest dietary sources of magnesium, flavanols, and polyphenols. We also used Navitas Naturals. Cacao powder is not the same as cocoa powder. If you want to know about the differences, read here.
4. Gelatin: To be exact, gelatin is the purified protein derived by the selective hydrolysis of collagen from the skin, the connective tissue and/or bones of animals. I use the Great Lakes Unflavored Gelatin. Make sure you use a grass fed one so that the source comes from healthy animals. Gelatin contains 6g of protein per serving and is a good source of amino acids. 

The benefits will surprise you! The collagen is equivalent to magic when it comes to looking young and healthy. The problem is that as we age, our collagen levels decrease. But that’s why you should have this drink! The amino acids in gelatin will keep your skin looking young. You are also less prone to wrinkles due to the added collagen. It will give you stronger teeth, hair and nails. Now, stretch marks and cellulite...some of a woman’s worst fears, and often times both are very difficult to get rid of, but not anymore! Gelatin helps with that! And still the list goes on! It aides in liver detox, weight loss, digestion, leaky gut, strong bones, arthritis support, high metabolism, adrenals, hormone balance, wound repair, and allergies. I only included an overview, click here to read more.

In the picture, I included a premade cacao mix that does have a little bit of coconut sugar. I do not use this in my recipe, but my sister loves it! It has cayenne pepper and some other spices that aid in digestion. The brand is Righteously Raw Rawcholatl, if you want to ask for it in stores.