Warming Up With Winter Beverages

By Donna Stark

There are a lot of reasons to enjoy this time of year ... the holiday cheer, the family ski trips, and the white mornings that keep the kids home from school. But along with those, there are also some reasons to not like this time of year at all, such as the blistery temperatures, frozen noses, and air that's so cold you lose feeling in all of your extremities. If you haven't already done so, it's time to really start considering how to stay warm, and I don't mean an extra layer of clothes or a down-filled parka. No ... it's time to get warm from the inside out ... and you can do so by putting something hot and delicious in your body.

Winter Weather Beverages

Sure, you have that fancy coffee shop down the street, but who wants to head outdoors when the air is cold enough to hurt your face? Not too many people, and fortunately, you don't have to leave either because it's super easy to fight those wintry woes in the comforts of your own, warm home. Here are some suggestions for a delicious winter weather beverage.

• Mint hot chocolate - We all know that homemade hot chocolate always hits the spot, but it can make even more of an impact when some mint is added to it as well! You can even up the nutritional value by using real chocolate and coconut milk.
• Spiced apple cider - In addition to making your house smell like an authentic European winter market, spiced apple cider is a perfect choice to warm you and your family up. And by choosing apple cider over apple juice, and using spices such as cinnamon and cloves, you are able to fill everyone up with a little extra nutrition as well.
• Spiced chai - Again with the smells! But even more than that, chai offers up several digestive and mood-boosting health benefits with all of its spices. And when you make it with coconut or almond milk, it is able to provide even more nutrition to everyone around you.
• Hot tea - Drinking hot tea has so many health benefits and can easily be made in a variety of ways, so it always seems to end up a winner. Serve it green or black, with honey or lemon ... the options are limitless but the warmth it provides is constant.

Warming the Arctic Blast

Of course, there is a huge variety of drinks that'll warm you up quickly but if you have a lot of cold days ahead of you, try to skip the nutritionally empty ones loaded with sugar. It's actually quite easy to make a change that will turn an unhealthy winter beverage into a healthier one, so take the time to experiment, gather around the fireplace, and sip on something that will warm you up from the inside out!

To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lakewood, Colo.