Superfood Tonics

I love cozying up to the fireplace as often as possible during the cold months of winter. Wearing the comfiest clothes, with the warmest drinks. I run cold naturally so this is my stay-warm plan for the winter. Throw some knitting and a good book in there and I’ll be set for the day.

One of my favorite drinks to have as part of this stay-warm (and stay healthy!) plan is a superfood tonic. This is a warm drink filled to the brim with nutritional foods. Think super nutrient dense hot chocolate or healing green tea matcha latte. The ingredients can include a mix of superfoods, adaptogens, and supplements. They can be mixed on the stove, with a frother, or in the blender. The possibilities for flavors are endless. You can add caffeine or leave it out, you can adjust the flavors to your liking, and you can drink them all day long.

What is a superfood? There is really no criteria for determining what is and what isn’t a superfood. A superfood is good for your health because it is nutritionally dense. Superfoods are also rich in phytochemicals, which are known to have disease-fighting properties.

What is an adaptogen? An adaptogen is a natural substance found in foods. It helps the body “adapt” to stressors and helps to normalize body systems and functions.

What are supplements? According to dietary-supplements.org, “Supplements …describe a broad and diverse category of products that you eat or drink to support good health and supplement the diet.”

What are some ingredient ideas to include in my tonic?

Cacao powder (for chocolaty taste)

Dandy Blend (tastes like coffee). This is a great ingredient for people who like the taste of coffee but who don’t like the effects of the caffeine.

Spices: cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, ginger. There are endless benefits in spices for mental and physical health and in boosting health and beating disease.

Maca (a little goes a long way): hormone and mood balance, blood circulation, decrease stress, and improve memory.

Any powdered mushroom (chaga, reishi, ashwagandha, lions mane). These mushrooms help fight inflammation, lower cholesterol, and support the immune system.

Tea. The benefits of green tea are a long list, including the amino acid L-theanine which can help you relax while giving you energy. Other teas are yerbe mate or matcha. These have health benefits as well as add a little lift.

Milk. My favorites are coconut, oat, and flax milk.

Sweeter as needed (agave, honey, stevia)

Coconut oil. This can make the drink more creamy.

Add your choice of ingredients into a pot over the stove and warm. Play around with taste testing-check for salty, sweet, and spicy balance. Once this is incorporated over the stove, drink as it is or put it in a blender and enjoy!

Where do I buy the ingredients? Most ingredients can be found at you local grocery store. Other specialty items can be found on Amazon, your local co-op, or Mountain Rose Herbs.