CACAO The warm, creamy, bitter flavor enveloped my mouth and as I swallow, I notice a hint of spice lingering behind. It tastes nothing like the Hershey bars I ate growing up. Instead, there was depth to it. I finish the cup as I sit in silence. A few minutes later a calmness comes over me, all the while I felt bliss bubbling up from within. It was a wonderful way to start my day.
The difference between cacao and cocoa is that cacao is made from the raw bean that keeps living enzymes and removes fat. While cocoa is made from roasted beans and loaded with refined sugar and calories.
Cacao is a superfood full of phytonutrients and powerful antioxidants. It is also one of the highest sources of polyphenols and with high amounts of flavonoids, magnesium, phenylethylamine and sulfur. Theobromine, meaning “food of the Gods” is good for our overall health but also the ingredient that dogs can’t break down, which can make chocolate deadly for them to consume.
Some benefits of cacao are that it lowers blood pressure, supports a healthy heart with blood thinning properties and high flavonoids that boost production of nitric oxide, which causes blood vessel to open and relax. An example of this that has been studied is that of the Kuna Indians from Panama. They consume 3-5 cups of cacao daily and have extremely low blood pressure as they age and rare cases of cardiovascular disease. It was intriguing to see from this study, they attribute this to cacao.
While researching, I came across another study done by Sarah Jackson, from UCL. It showed that people who ate chocolate, specifically dark chocolate, daily were 70% less likely to report symptoms of depression. This may have something to do with the fact that cacao contains anandamide, the “bliss molecule” and has additional compounds that slow the breakdown of anandamide, allowing an elevation in mood from eating. So enjoy chocolate daily, especially if it contains 60%-70% cacao and be a healthier and happier you.
After experiencing the magic of cacao and then learning all of this valuable information on it’s many benefits; I am going to continue to start my day with a warm cup. I set my intention for the day, complete my gratitude practice, slowly sip my warm cup of cacao and I feel more fulfilled. If this resonated with any of you, feel free to give it a try. Here is a recipe I tend to use. Note: Do not use regular milk when preparing cacao or allow any liquids to boil. Doing either will affect the potency of the cacao.
Healthy Hot Cacao Recipe
3 tablespoons of cacao powder
1 teaspoon reishi mushroom powder
1 teaspoon lions mane mushroom powder
1 teaspoon ashwagandha powder
1 teaspoon maca powder
1 cup of water
1/2 cup hemp milk or plant based milk of choice
1 red date
drizzle of manuka honey
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
sprinkle of cayenne
Blend in a blender for a frothy texture or mix well before drinking. Enjoy slowly, savor the goodness and stay well.