Ashwagandha - Chocolate Bites

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) 

Ashwagandha root has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine due to its unique mix of strengthening and calming benefits. It is a safe and powerfully rejuvenating herb (adaptogen) that will benefit people faced with the chronic health problems created by stresses of both the diet and lifestyles of modern society.   Ashwaganda can be translated to mean “it gives you the strength of a stallion”.  Taken over time ashwagandha can build up emaciated tissues, decrease a negative response to stress and increase energy levels.  It also  works as a sedative which supports healthy sleep cycles.  Rather than think of it as an herb for acute insomnia, it is something that is taken over time to restore nervous system health and restore healthy sleep cycles.  Ashwaganda root is sometimes called the ginseng of India... But while some adaptogens (like ginseng)  may be overstimulating to people with anxiety, ashwagandha excels at decreasing anxiety and soothing the nervous system.  Great for people with anxiety as well as debilitating exhaustion who don’t need stimulants but instead need deep rest.  Good for immune system disorders such as HIV or chronic infections as well as for those who tend to get every upper respiratory virus that comes their way.  Useful against cancer-related fatigue in addition to improving the quality of life in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.  Take as an herbal supplement or try this recipe:

 

Ashwagandha Chocolate Bites

Makes 14-18 (depending on size)

1/3 cup Tahini

1/4 cup + 1 Tbsp Almond butter (or nut butter of your choice)

1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp local Honey

1/4 cup dark Chocolate, chopped

2 Tbsp Ashwagandha powder

2 Tbsp Cacao (cocoa) powder (plus more as needed)

2 Tbsp Hemp seeds

1 tsp Cinnamon powder

1 tsp Ginger powder

1 tsp Cardamom powder

1 tsp Nutmeg powder

1/2 tsp Vanilla extract  

Toppings:

Organic coconut flakes 

Directions:

1.  Add tahini, almond butter, and honey into a medium bowl and mix until smooth.

2.  Add herb powders and mix until well combined.

3.  Mix in vanilla extract and hemp seeds.

4.  Mix in chopped chocolate.

5.  Add more cacao powder, a little at a time, until dough is thick enough to hold shape.

6.  Once the dough is thick enough and doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl, roll into 1-inch balls.

7.  Coat with coconut flakes (or hemp seeds) and enjoy! 

8.  Store in sealed container in the refrigerator up to one week.