Warm Up Your Cool-down Antioxidant-rich hot drinks
Defrost and recover faster after your winter run with these antioxidant-rich hot drinks
MEXICAN-STYLE HOT CHOCOLATE Bittersweet chocolate has polyphenols, which can help boost blood flow and improve running performance. The heat from cayenne pepper may also rev up your metabolism. The protein and carbs in milk will help your muscles recover.
DRINK UP Mix 250ml semiskimmed milk, 30g of a 70 per cent cacao chocolate bar (chopped), 2 tsp raw sugar, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of ground cayenne pepper. Warm in a pan, stirring until the chocolate melts. TURMERIC TEA Turmeric contains curcumin, an antiinflammatory. In Eastern medicine, it is used to treat digestive disorders and arthritis. Research has also found that this phytochemical may fight oxidative damage from tough workouts.
DRINK UP Steep slices from a 1˝ piece of fresh turmeric for 4-5 minutes and strain. Or try turmeric tea bags, which are often mixed with ginger, which can aid digestion. HOT APPLE CIDER Unfiltered cider from fresh apples (and their skin) is packed with quercetin, which may protect you from cancer and heart disease. Quercetin may also boost exercise performance by improving your body's ability to use oxygen. You'd need a lot of cider for some of these benefits, so make sure to eat other quercetinpacked foods such as onions and citrus fruits.
DRINK UP Heat apple cider and then add some ground cinnamon. CINNAMON COFFEE A sprinkle of ground cinnamon in your morning coffee can help curb blood sugar spikes, which have been linked to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Caffeine is linked to improved athletic performance.
DRINK UP Add a dash of cinnamon to your brew (or steep with a stick of cinnamon for 5 minutes). HOT TODDY Feeling sniffly? Nip it in the bud with this winter favourite. The flavonoids in lemons may help keep the cold at bay, and the honey will ease your cough and sooth your throat.
Steep 1 rosehip (or other herbal variety) tea bag in 250ml of hot water; add 25ml whiskey, 2 tsp honey and juice from 1/4 lemon. Place a lemon wedge in the bottom of the cup and stir.