Anxiety Buster: Lavender Hot Chocolate
Winter, our dearest and coldest friend *both sarcasm and truth*
does not only harshly impact our skin, hair, and bodies (in which I always stress) but also our moods. With the days gloomy, shorter and cold for the most part, seasonal depression creeps right on in. More often than not, if depression affects you, so does Anxiety.
According to healthline.com, "Anxiety is your body's natural response to stress. It's a feeling of fear or apprehension about what's to come. The first day of school, going to a job interview, or giving a speech may cause most people to feel fearful and nervous." Is this starting to make sense?... Yup, I thought so.
I, along with with many of you, suffer from an Anxiety disorder, and even if you may not suffer from Anxiety, almost every person experiences some form of anxiousness that could be triggered by something else or even depression. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health illness in America. Approximately 6.8 million adults suffer from generalized anxiety disorder, and women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Anxiety can become so severe that completing simple everyday tasks are difficult. So, I decided to start this series called "ANXIETY BUSTER." In this series, I'll be sharing many Home Remedies, DIYs, and recipes that have helped me calm down my anxiety and continue to help improve my symptoms. In this post, I'll show you how to make one of my FAVORITE Anxiety Busters: LAVENDER HOT CHOCOLATE. I always make mine completely non-dairy due to allergies; however, if you don't have an allergy to dairy products, you can always substitute for products including dairy!
But, before we get into the recipe, let's discuss the benefits Lavender has on Anxiety! Lavender flower and its extracts have been used internally for centuries as a treatment for anxiety and depression, known for its distinctive flowery yet subtle aroma; it has a calming effect on the body and mind. In addition to helping with mood, brain health and also improving the physiological symptoms with depression, it also helps with headaches (WIN!) Lavender can be used for painful and inflammatory conditions including and joint pain (Another WIN!)
Now for the main attraction!
LAVENDER HOT CHOCOLATE
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cooking Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
INGREDIENTS (for Hot chocolate):
1 tablespoon of dried lavender flowers
2 cups unsweetened vanilla-flavored almond milk
2 packets of organic hot cocoa mix
Ingredients (For whipped Cream):
Non-dairy whipped cream either coconut or almond-flavored
Half a teaspoon of dried lavender flowers
INSTRUCTIONS
FOR THE LAVENDER Hot chocolate:
Place all the ingredients for the hot chocolate in a small pot on the stove and turn to medium or high heat.
As hot chocolate starts to boil, lower the fire and let the hot chocolate simmer for a few mins.
When the hot chocolate cools down a bit, strain lavender before serving and pour into a mug
Now add your whipped cream of choice and sprinkle some dried lavender on top and enjoy!
Lavender hot chocolate is a delicious choice to unwind and calm anxiety down!
I hope you all enjoy, XOXO
I hope this post can be helpful to you and if you battle with anxiety, what are some things you use or make to alleviate your symptoms ? please comment below or send a message my way!
"Here's to having the inner reflect on the outer and glowing from the inside out… infinitely"
DISCLAIMER: I am not a professional in the fields of the topics that I will be discussing on this site. This is my advice through trial, error, research, consultations, and personal experience. Always consult with a professional if you have any doubts or second thoughts about any information given.