We know coffee isn’t good for us (read all the reasons why on my blog), but that doesn’t mean we have to give up indulging in a warm comforting drink when it’s cold outside. This month I was experimenting in my kitchen, a favorite pastime of mine, and I came up with a recipe I knew I had to share the moment I tasted it.
Combining immune-powerhouse chaga with brain-supportive maple cream, this take on a caramel macchiato will blow your mind with how flavorful and comforting it is. Grab a mug full and get ready to wrap up in your favorite blanket to enjoy – you will NOT regret it!
Recipe below!
CHAGA
Chaga should be on the top of every healing superfood in the world. It is a wild food that grows on birch trees thoughout the northern hemisphere, and it is packed with health benefits with a big focus on immune strength (essential in today’s word).
Chaga’s nutrients revitalize white blood cell production so that our body’s can overcome any bugs we may come across, including viruses, bacteria, fungi, yeast, parasites, and mold. Chaga is so powerful that it can be especially powerful against cancer of all forms (betulinic acid, high in chaga, has been shown in research to kill cancer cells on contact) and HIV, the virus behind AIDS.
Anyone who suffers from “autoimmune” disorders or related conditions such as Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, irritable bowl syndrome, Chron’s disease, lymphoma, bursitis, shingles, and PCOS can benefit hugely from chaga due to its immune-strengthening properties. Chaga’s anti-inflammatory properties can also support a long list of other health conditions. No matter who you are, chaga has powerful support to offer you.
Chaga also supports the production of healthy blood cells, marrow, improves blood sugar regulation, counteractins insulin resistance, lowers cholesterol, and so much more.
Read more about the amazing properties of chaga on the Medical Medium blog, or do your own research to learn about the incredible benefts of chaga that modern medicine is beginning to discover (here’s an example from the Cleveland Clinic).
MAPLE SYRUP & MAPLE CREAM
Maple cream is simply pure maple syrup whipped until it becomes thick and spreadable. Yum! Maple syrup and maple cream are like an entire food group for me. I could eat both every day without ever getting sick of them. And there’s a reason for that – the high-quality whold-food sugars naturally present in maple sap which becomes maple syrup are deeply nourishing for the liver and the entire body. Too sweet? Never!
Along with those nourishing sugars comes a long list of vitamins and especially minerals which are effectively delivered throughout the body when bonded to the healthy sugars in maple products (these sugars act as a delivery system for nutrients into all cells of the body). Maple syrup is so high in minerals that it actually has the power to remineralize the brain, restore neurotransmitters throughout the brain, and heal the nervous system. You can read more about the importance of trace minerals for our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health in Brain Saver by Anthony William.
VANILLA BEANS
Did you know that vanilla bean pods are actually a fruit of an orchid flower? And the seeds of this fruit are the delicious and health-promoting baking tool used throughout the world for centuries.
Vanialla’s many health benefits include calming the nervous system (both when consumed and when smelled, similar to lavender), aiding digestion, soothing upset stomachs, pain-relief, prevention of flatulence, and improving headaches. Vanilla also has anti-inflmmatory properties, and can be used in a bath to help the body cope with cods, flus, and other respiratory illness.
Looking for more inspiration to leave coffee behind? Check out my Healthy Swaps for Harmful Caffeine Trends blog.
Or check out my 14-day Recovering From Addiction master class to help you break unhealthy habits like caffeine and alcohol once and for all.
To your health and happiness,
Muneeza
Caramel Chaga Maple Macchiato
Equipment
- 1 Mug
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Chaga powder
- 2 tbsp Maple cream
- ⅛ tsp Vanilla bean powder or fresh vanilla seeds, or ¼ tsp alcohol-free vanilla extract
Instructions
- Bring 16 oz of water to boil, and allow to cool for 1 minute
- Pour hot water into a mug with chaga powder, then cover and steep for 8-10 minutes
- Use an electronic frother or whisk to mix in the maple cream and vanilla
- Enjoy!
