The holidays are right around the corner and we want to help by offering some nutrient-dense, cozy winter gift options for you to share with your loved ones. Need a stocking stuffer or a gift for your Thanksgiving host? We’ve got more than ever this year. From clean skincare and organic t-shirts, to candles and house-made hot chocolate mixes. We however wanted to highlight our drink mixes this week by pointing out some of the powerful ingredients which lie within. Gift the gift of health this year.

Organic P.S. & Co. Classic Hot Chocolate Mix

• Organic Coconut Milk Powder

Coconut milk has an abundance of nutrients including essential amino acids, dietary minerals, zinc, iron, manganese, and potassium (1). Zinc, an essential trace element, helps to boost immune health, metabolism function, and is crucial for gene expression (The process by which a gene gets turned on in a cell to make RNA and proteins)(2). Iron is a mineral that the body needs for development and growth which helps to boost energy, immunity, and assists in concentration and memory (3). Manganese assists in bone health and the connective tissues in the body(4). Potassium, a vital mineral and electrolyte, plays an important role in the body to help support healthy nerve and muscle function(5).

Organic P.S. & Co. Spicy Hot Chocolate Mix

• Organic Cocoa

Active compounds, flavonols and methylxanthines are very prominent in cacao/chocolate(6). Flavonols contain B2, B3, C1 procyanidins, catechin and derivatives. In recent history, the antioxidant properties of said compounds have caught the public’s interest. Pulled directly from plants, antioxidants are known to prevent and delay certain types of cell damage in the body. Providing anti-inflammatory benefits as well, studies have also shown that cacao has reduced obesity-related inflammation(7).

Organic P.S. & Co. Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate Mix

• Organic Cinnamon - Contains strong antioxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties(8).

• Organic Nutmeg - Supports gut health and the nervous system. Nutmeg has shown antioxidant and antimicrobial effects (9).

• Organic Clove - Contains antioxidants, can help to treat inflammation, diabetes, abdominal pain, and hypertension. May also promote brain health, warding off Alzheimer’s Disease(10).

• Organic Allspice - May help to relieve indigestion and contains anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties(11).

• Organic Ginger - Can promote healthy aging, is immune-boosting, and possess antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties(12).

Organic P.S. & Co. Golden Turmeric Latte Mix

• Organic Turmeric

Containing the powerhouse curcumin, a polyphenol which gives turmeric its yellow color, is said to provide the anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and antioxidant properties, to just name a few. Assisting in the ever so hot topic right now, “gut health,” curcumin is known to help reduce intestinal inflammation. Not only is turmeric used in a culinary sense, it can be taken in a supplement form suggesting it can assist with various health conditions. It is said that this plant can aid in joint pain and arthritis, allergies, digestive issues, and respiratory infections(13). Our turmeric latte mix also contains black pepper. The combination of black pepper and turmeric increases the bioavailability of curcumin by up to 2,000%(14).

__________________________________________________________________________________

1 Rukmini JN, Manasa S, Rohini C, Sireesha LP, Ritu S, Umashankar GK. Antibacterial Efficacy of Tender Coconut Water (Cocos nucifera L) on Streptococcus mutans: An In-Vitro Study. J Int Soc Prev Community Dent. 2017 Mar-Apr;7(2):130-134. doi: 10.4103/jispcd.JISPCD_275_16. Epub 2017 Mar 29. PMID: 28462183; PMCID: PMC5390578.

2 Saper RB, Rash R. Zinc: an essential micronutrient. Am Fam Physician. 2009 May 1;79(9):768-72. PMID: 20141096; PMCID: PMC2820120.

3 Abbaspour N, Hurrell R, Kelishadi R. Review on iron and its importance for human health. J Res Med Sci. 2014 Feb;19(2):164-74. PMID: 24778671; PMCID: PMC3999603.

4 https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Manganese-HealthProfessional/. (n.d.).

5 The importance of potassium. Harvard Health. (2019, July 18). Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-importance-of-potassium

6 Franco R, Oñatibia-Astibia A, Martínez-Pinilla E. Health benefits of methylxanthines in cacao and chocolate. Nutrients. 2013 Oct 18;5(10):4159-73. doi: 10.3390/nu5104159. PMID: 24145871; PMCID: PMC3820066.

7 ibid.

8 Sandamali JAN, Hewawasam RP, Jayatilaka KAPW, Mudduwa LKB. Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume (Ceylon cinnamon) bark extract attenuates doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats. Saudi Pharm J. 2021 Aug;29(8):820-832. doi: 10.1016/j.jsps.2021.06.004. Epub 2021 Jun 20. PMID: 34408544; PMCID: PMC8363100.

9 Abourashed EA, El-Alfy AT. Chemical diversity and pharmacological significance of the secondary metabolites of nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.). Phytochem Rev. 2016 Dec;15(6):1035-1056. doi: 10.1007/s11101-016-9469-x. Epub 2016 May 10. PMID: 28082856; PMCID: PMC5222521.

10 Amir Rawa MS, Mazlan MKN, Ahmad R, Nogawa T, Wahab HA. Roles of Syzygium in Anti-Cholinesterase, Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant: From Alzheimer's Perspective. Plants (Basel). 2022 May 31;11(11):1476. doi: 10.3390/plants11111476. PMID: 35684249; PMCID: PMC9183156.

11 Zhang L, Lokeshwar BL. Medicinal properties of the Jamaican pepper plant Pimenta dioica and Allspice. Curr Drug Targets. 2012 Dec;13(14):1900-6. doi: 10.2174/138945012804545641. PMID: 23140298; PMCID: PMC3891794.

12 Ozkur M, Benlier N, Takan I, Vasileiou C, Georgakilas AG, Pavlopoulou A, Cetin Z, Saygili EI. Ginger for Healthy Ageing: A Systematic Review on Current Evidence of Its Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anticancer Properties. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2022 May 9;2022:4748447. doi: 10.1155/2022/4748447. PMID: 35585878; PMCID: PMC9110206.

13 Dei Cas M, Ghidoni R. Dietary Curcumin: Correlation between Bioavailability and Health Potential. Nutrients. 2019 Sep 8;11(9):2147. doi: 10.3390/nu11092147. PMID: 31500361; PMCID: PMC6770259.

14 https://nutritionfacts.org/2022/04/11/why-pepper-boosts-turmeric-blood-levels/. (n.d.).