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Introduction

Chocolate --in it's pure form as CACAO-- is actually one of the healthiest foods on the planet! Research is continually proving that Cacao is actually a superfood.

The health benefits of this wonderful superfood are not widely known. Although, everyone enjoys chocolate, people do not consume it in its raw form for the maximum benefit that they can derive from it. Raw Cacao is chocolate that has not gone through any sort of heating or processing, so all of the nutrients are still intact.

Unfortunately, the real problem today is that most chocolate has been highly processed and heated, destroying most of the nutrients. Furthermore, most chocolate today is loaded with sugars, dairy products, sodium, stabelizers, emulsifiers, preservatives, and more. Researchers have even found that commercial chocolate can be contaminated with extremely high quantities of the toxic metal lead. So, not only are the good things being taken out, bad stuff is being added, turning the cacao superfood into chocolate junk food.

Cacao Overview

For thousands of years, ancient Mayans, Aztecs and Incans have known about the amazing properties of Cacao and they used Cacao daily whether it be for meals, medicine, commerce, or religious ritual.

In fact, Cacao was held to be so sacred, that Incans used Cacao beans as money and filled their treasury holds with tons of Cacao beans.

Cacao is derived from Theobroma Cacao beans, which literally means "Food of the Gods". Cacao contains over 300 compounds including: protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, iron, zinc, copper, calcium and magnesium. Magnesium helps to build strong bones and is a muscle relaxant associated with feelings of calmness. Cacao is also high in sulfur, which helps form strong nails and hair.

In addition, Cacao also contains the chemicals phenylethylamine (PEA) and anandamide. PEA is an adrenal-related chemical that we create naturally when we're excited. It also plays a role in feeling focused and alert because it causes your pulse rate to quicken, resulting in a similar feeling to when we are excited or fall in love!

The lipid anandamide is there in our brain when we feel great. Anandamide is also called "chocolate amphetamine" as it causes changes in blood pressure and blood-sugar levels, leading to feelings of excitement and alertness.

Anandamide works like amphetamines to increase mood and decrease depression, but it is not addictive and does not have undesirable side-effects like amphetamines. Anandamide is quite unique in its resemblance to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a chemical found in marijuana. (You will not test positive for eating Cacao)

Before we continue, how does one enjoy this delicious food?

In my years of experience, the most simple way to enjoy Cacao is as a finger-food. My favorite is to put some nibs in a bowl, and throw in some goji berries, almonds, and cashews. Just take some pinches off the top and eat, allowing the foods to mix in your mouth.

Similarly, throwing a bunch of cacao nibs into granola with raisins is also excellent. Adding the powerded cacao to a smoothie is delightful, or replacing the pit of a medjool date with some cacao beans or nibs is also a real treat.

A great breakfast is doing the cacao granola mix and adding a nut milk to eat it like cereal. Or, making the fingerfood version with only cacao nibs and goji berries, and having a glass of fresh coconut water to drink with it.

With a food processor, you can throw cacao nibs or powder together with goji berries, raisins, dates, almonds, cashews, and blend into a thick sludge, and make your own power bars (shape and lightly dehydrate)

The Mayans enjoyed a thick spicy drink with powdered cacao, cayanne pepper, ground corn, vanilla bean, orange zest, clove, corriander, etc... and blend with cold or room-temperature water or nut milk to the consistency of a smoothie or shake. --It is basically a thick Chai tea with lots of Cacao for chocolate. (the cayanne is what make this "hot chocolate" hot!) The Aztecs adopted it, and called it Xocolatl. It was consumed both by the rich and poor, but the wealthy classes had elaborate chalices made just for this drink, engraved with glyphs that were associated with the Cacao plant.

Also, keep in mind that Cacao powder does not mix with water or milks alone, like powdered chocolate does, because the Cacao contains all of the healthy fats and oils intact, so it tends to settle quickly and not dissolve. That is why they made it into such a thick drink, and why today when made into a beverage it is usually in a smoothie.

For a MASSIVE SUPERFOOD BLEND: make a smoothie with CACAO, MACA, and SPIRULINA blended with your favorite juice or nut milk, and frozen fruits. Throw in some ground hemp or chia seeds for essential fatty acids.

Quick List of Benefits and Nutrients

• It acts as a stimulant, so that the energy level in your body will receive a boost and you will feel healthy and confident.

• It can also help to reduce chronic fatigue and general weakness caused by stress.

• Raw Cacao can help strengthen your cardiovascular system.

• This special superfood helps to regulate your sleep.

• Cacao contains MAO inhibitors and directly stimulates various neurotransmitters in your brain (such as serotonin) to help reduce depression and to give a sense of euphoria or a sense of well being. Hence, your mood will be uplifted and you will feel better about yourself.

• Raw Cacao is also considered as a mild aphrodisiac as it has shown to increase sexual appetite after regular consumption.

• Raw Cacao can also help stimulate your immune system.

• Cacao contains more magnesium than any other food. Magnesium is the number one mineral deficiency in the west. It is the most powerful stress relieving mineral. It also relaxes the muscles and builds strong bones and teeth.

• Cacao is also rich in sulphur, which is the beauty mineral. Sulphur is essential for gorgeous skin, lustrous hair and strong nails.

• Cacao may help prevent cardiovascular disease in diabetics because of their high levels of flavanol. Research has shown that people with diabetes that drank flavanol rich Cacao for one month showed dramatic improvements in their blood vessel function. In fact, the improvements they noticed were as high as those found in taking drugs. Cacao is an amazing super food for keeping your heart healthy and for improving elasticity in your blood vessels.

Cacao as an Antioxidant

Raw chocolate has a very high ORAC quotient. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. This is an important property, as it denotes the ability to absorb free radicals from your body. This can be a very useful concept for helping you to protect your body from carcinogens and free radicals that cause cancer, premature aging and disease.

cacaoGraph

Cacao is actually higher in the antioxidant resveratrol than red wine. The media have given red wine a lot of attention over the last few years because it is rich in this antioxidant, which is known for protecting cells from free radical damage and inhibiting the spread of cancer. It is also known to your lower blood pressure and normalize your anti-inflammatory response.

Video

This short (1:30-min) video shows the harvest and drying of Cacao.

Summary

Magnesium

Cacao contains massive quantities of magnesium which builds strong bones and balances brain chemistry important for a natural optimistic outlook. Cacao contains more magnesium than any other food known! This is likely the reason that women crave chocolate more during their menstrual cycle. Of all mineral deficiencies that arise on Standard American Diet (SAD), magnesium is the the most common, with over 80% of Americans chronically deficient in Magnesium! Magnesium deficiency is also related to anxiety and depression disorders.

MAO Inhibitors

Cacao contains natural mild monoamine oxidase enzyme inhibitors (MAO inhibitors). These rare MAO inhibitors actually produce favorable results when consumed by allowing more serotonin and other neurotransmitters to circulate in the brain. According to Dr. Gabriel Cousens, MAO inhibitors facilitate youthing and rejuvenation.

Phenylethylamine (PEA)

Cacao contains Phenylethylamine (PEA). PEA can increases focus and alertness and helps us feel connected to others. Our brains naturally produce a small amount of PEA al the time and much greater amounts when we are in love. This is no doubt why chocolate and love have such a deep correlation. PEA also plays a role in increasing focus and alertness.

Anandamide (The Bliss Chemical)

Cacao also contains a wonderful natural phyto-chemical called anandamide. Ananda is the Sanskrit word for BLISS and its no coincidence that our brains naturally produce anandamide when we are feeling bliss! Cacao also contains enzyme inhibitors that increase the amount of time that anandamide can stay in circulation in your body. This allows the wonderful effects of chocolate to last a longer time.