Here's a fun fact about the transition from fall to winter, ready?

You will likely notice you have serious cravings.

For sweet things. For carby things. For comfy things.

Why is that?

Increased appetite is the body's way of dealing with the cold to keep you warm.

Experts say that the winter sets off an evolutionary response to fatten us up to endure the cold. With central heating and sweaters, we definitely don’t need as many extra calories to stay warm, but those “evolutionary genes” remain.

If you find yourself reaching for the pumpkin bread and lattes more than usual, and notice that your pants are feeling snug, I have good news.

There are many ways to treat yourself to healthy sweets that nourish your body and your cells, while also satisfying that sweet craving. And MOST IMPORTANTLY: taste amazing!

Which means NO MORE GUILT! And just enjoying something really delicious.

One of these treats is this yummy gut-friendly and hormone balancing coffee alternative recipe: Chocolate Pu-Erh Tea Latte.

If you’ve never heard of it, Pu-Erh tea, also known as pu’er tea, is a unique type of fermented tea that’s traditionally made in the Yunnan Province of China. What makes this tea special is that the tea leaves are fermented, as opposed to Kombucha where the brewed tea is the one that gets fermented.

Pu-erh tea provides the benefits of drinking tea (i.e. high in antioxidants) with those of fermented foods (i.e. probiotics for gut health) which ultimately makes it a powerhouse for your health.

This recipe is chocolatey, smooth, and has a delicious cinnamon note that is sure to satisfy the sweetest cravings you have.

Nutritional Benefits

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PU-ERH TEA?

Pu-erh tea provides the benefits of drinking tea (like being high in antioxidants) with those of fermented foods (i.e. probiotics -or beneficial gut bacteria- for gut health) which ultimately makes it a powerhouse for your health.

There is some limited evidence that Pu-Erh tea may promote weight loss, as it may help synthesize fewer new fats while burning more stored body fat. And that it may help with cholesterol levels.

More studies are needed to confirm this, but in my view it doesn’t hurt to try it out!

As a side note: just like black tea and green tea, Pu-erh tea contains caffeine but the cooler temperature used to brew the tea can help in it containing less amount of caffeine when compared to coffee.

Also, important to note is that L-theanine, an amino acid found only in tea, reduces stress, and promotes relaxation. It works with caffeine in a synergistic way to calm the body without reducing caffeine alertness.

And lastly, the high levels of antioxidants found in tea slow the absorption of caffeine - this results in a gentler increase of the chemical in the system and a longer period of alertness with no crash at the end.

MACA

Maca powder comes from a root, and it is an adaptogen, which means it can help the body naturally adapt to external stressors.

Maca can provide a boost of energy, balance hormones and it may improve memory.

RAW CACAO

Raw cacao contains 4 times more antioxidants than regular dark chocolate and even 20 times more than blueberries. Plus, it’s a real mood booster and reduces cravings!

COCONUT OIL

Coconut oil is high in MCTs, a type of fat that your body metabolizes differently than most other fats. MCTs are responsible for many of the health benefits of coconut oil.

The fatty acids in coconut oil can encourage your body to burn fat, and they provide quick energy to your body and brain. They also raise HDL (good) cholesterol in your blood, which may help reduce heart disease risk.

Most dietary fats are categorized as long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), while coconut oil contains some medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are shorter fatty acid chains.

When you eat MCTs, they tend to go straight to your liver. Your body uses them as a quick source of energy or turns them into ketones.

Ketones can have powerful benefits for your brain, and researchers are studying ketones as a treatment for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and other conditions.

Good fats are also beneficial for hormone balance.

Overnight_Vegan_Vanilla_Chia pudding.jpg — Overnight Vegan Vanilla Chia Pudding

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