Healthy Drinks: Vegan Turmeric Maca Mocha Latte

Have you guys been seeing a new hot beverage option on the cafe menus around town? From Starbucks to Joe Coffee, there's a new kid on the block of autumnal drinks: a chile-infused chocolate coffee. The draw is ostensibly the anti-inflammatory boost of the chile powder, which is definitely true, but it comes at a cost (not only a literal one): sugar. Starbucks's Chile Mocha boasts a whopping 40 grams of sugar (regardless of the milk option). Although I can't say from having tried the drink myself (the powder it's made from isn't vegan), it's hard to imagine that the kick of the hot pepper would overcome that much sweetness. If you're looking for something new to drink this fall that isn't the equivalent of a dessert, this beverage is for you. Much like a homemade chai or ginger latte, it is much healthier than the fancy cafe versions because it uses simple, raw ingredients. Depending on the non-dairy milk you choose, it can have as little as 3 grams of sugar--but just as much taste. Adjust the spices to your preferences (I'd say this ratio makes a mildly spicy drink, but I have a high tolerance for heat), but in any amount you'll enjoy the benefits of these spices' antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, plus calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron. So pull out your favorite fall knitwear, that book you've been meaning to read all summer, and drink you your health!