I’m a big fan of hot chocolate, especially as the weather gets colder. What I love even more? Giving it some spice! I often add cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, even cayenne pepper to my hot chocolate. Why? Because it not only gives my food a completely different flavor and keeps my taste buds happy, but it also has added health benefits. Here’s a list of my favorites:

• Cinnamon - helps regulate blood sugar, aphrodisiac, boosts the metabolism, and has an antimicrobial action which can help get rid of infection.
• Cayenne pepper - boosts the metabolism, improves blood flow, helps you get rid of colds
• Nutmeg - aids digestion and is an aphrodisiac
• Cardamom - warming, is an aphrodisiac, aids the bronchial system, and helps your digestion
• Ginger - warming, anti inflammatory, and boosts metabolism

Here is a link to my Spicy Hot Chocolate Recipe on eHow.com. You don’t need to follow it exactly. You can use any combination of the spices that you want. In fact, I’d start out with one at a time so you can see how the spices affect your body. After you become familiar with them on an individual basis, you can begin to mix them.

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