VeganMoFo creators suggested to bloggers to have a dedicated theme for a certain day of the week so I have decided for the next month Wednesdays are going to be the”Pick-Me-Up Hump Day Drink!” because who doesn’t need a little boost midweek?

I am excited to share this recipe with you because it was definitely what I needed one particularly grueling week when everything was going wrong and I just couldn’t get my feet on the ground.

This milkshake is a variation on my previous frozen treat love Chocolate Cherry Garcia by Ben & Jerry’s. I was a weird kid that always preferred the not so typical ice cream flavours meant for children- it was never just vanilla or chocolate or strawberry but mint-chocolate, hazelnut, pistachio and I would eat anything in cherries and chocolate. I remember getting those bright red and syrupy maraschino cherries covered with a waxy hyper sweet chocolate as a Valentine’s Day present from a high school boyfriend and eating the whole box in one day. Perhaps I lost my taste from them after that because I haven’t eaten them in years but this milkshake recipe is definitely a keeper (unlike my high school boyfriend and don’t worry, it wasn’t because of the cherry chocolates.)

This recipe calls for raw cocoa nibs and maybe you are like I was, discouraged to use them because they are an acquired taste, rather bitter and hard. Not at all like those luxurious melt-in-your-mouth smooth chocolate memories of your past but raw chocolate has its place and tons of good things for you. So what is so good about raw cocoa nibs? (PS I am not a doctor so this is not intended to be medical advice)

Antioxidant Power

Raw chocolate has loads of antioxidants in them to fight off free radicals in your body. Now what is a free radical? Free radicals are an uncharged molecule (typically highly reactive and short-lived) having an unpaired valence electron [1]. They have the ability to damage your cells and cause them to mutate their DNA. Mutated DNA is the root of a lot of diseases because your cell is getting all the wrong messages about what it is suppose to do [2]. So fight those free radicals with antioxidants! Cherries are also known for their antioxidant powers so this milkshake is pretty good for you on that level!

 Mighty Magnesium

Magnesium is an essential mineral that is important for muscle and nerve function. Magnesium helps calcium in your body! [3] You need a balance of both to make sure you are absorbing calcium properly. This mineral also helps restore your body’s pH balance.

Feel Good Chemicals

Phenylethylamine and serotonine are the brain’s feel good chemicals and raw chocolate does contain a small amount of both. However there is a “too much of a good thing” with raw chocolate [4]. Phenylethylamine is a stimulant so it can have the same effect as caffeine for some people so if you are caffeine-sensitive I would recommend lower the amount of cocoa nibs used in this recipe.

More Minerals!

Raw chocolate also contains many other essential minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese [5].

Raw chocolate power mixed in with cherries packs a good antioxidant punch against all those nasty free radicals. Science aside, this milkshake is also fresh, creamy, rich and insanely delicious. I hate when I get cherry-stuff and it isn’t cherry-y enough! You know what I mean? Cherry is the star of the milkshake with a subtle hint of raw chocolate in the background. Drink up!

I hope you enjoy this recipe and I will be posting a lot more eats and treats as the month continues! Happy VeganMoFo! 2 recipes down, 18 to go….

[1] Google definition of a “free radical”

[2] http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/how-antioxidants-work1

[3] http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-5473/11-Miraculous-Ways-Magnesium-Heals-Your-Mind-Body.html

[4] http://www.cacaoweb.net/nutrition.html

[5] http://www.cacaoweb.net/nutrition.html

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