I'll admit that I'm not a chocolate addict, but I do enjoy chocolate especially of an evening when the kids are asleep and I can finally sit down and relax!
A couple of years ago, I 'gave up' chocolate when my baby boy was found to be sensitive to cows milk. I was fortunate to have this identified when he was only 3 weeks old thanks to kinesiology! I immediately went dairy free - cold turkey style!
Fortunately this immediately resulted in my little man's digestive system settling down and us having no further issues with breast feeding. The only down side for me (as I realised that dairy free eating was actually enormously beneficial for me as well as my bub), was that I missed the comfort that chocolate provided me at the end of an exhausting day (3 little ones, 3yrs and under - I can't actually remember it - it is such a blur now!)
If only I knew then what I know now! I could have had my chocolate and eaten it too!
How You Say?
Well I'm certainly not talking about your standard block of Cadburys chocolate, not even the high % cocoa dark chocolate purporting to be good for you.
I'm talking the real deal - Raw Chocolate = CACAO.
What is Cacao?
First of all don't confuse cacao with cocoa. Cacao is the raw form of the cacao bean while cocoa is the product of roasted cacao beans. The heating of the cacao bean destroys some of the amazing health benefits of raw cacao. The addition of sugar, milk products, trans fats and other preservatives, additives and colourings in commercial chocolate completely destroys most of the health benefits of that pure raw cacao bean.
What's All The Hype About?
Raw cacao is high in flavonoids which act as natural anti-oxidants and assist in protecting the body from ageing and disease which results from free radicals (oxidising agents).
Raw cacao beans have the highest ORAC score of all natural foods in the world. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is a measure of the effectiveness of antioxidants to absorb free radicals that cause cell and tissue damage. The higher the ORAC score, the higher the level of antioxidants present in the food. Other well known 'superfoods' which are high in anti-oxidants include acai berries, green tea, blueberries and spinach however raw cacaos ORAC score dwarfs these by a factor of 10x or more.
ORAC scores for the Top 10 Antioxidants Foods (per 100 grams)
- Raw cocoa powder 95,500
- Raw cacao nibs 62,100
- Roasted cocoa powder 26,000
- Organic Goji Berries 25,300
- Acai Berries 18,500
- Dark Chocolate 13,120
- Milk Chocolate 6,740
- Prunes 5,770
- Raisins 2,830
- Blueberries 2,400
Source: US department of Agriculture
- Anandamide: a neurotransmitter in the brain that is referred to as the "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 and is responsible for the feeling of "bliss"
- Phenethylamine (PEA): another neurotransmitter in the brain which we naturally create when we are 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! It is also known as the "love molecule".
- Serotonin: another neurotransmitter in the brain that makes you feel good
- Dopamine: another neurotransmitter in the brain that boosts motivation and pleasure
- Coumarin: an appetite suppressant, blood thinner and also has anti-tumour properties
- Sitosterol: decreases LDL cholesterol
Raw cacao is one of the most nutrient dense foods on earth. Cacao has the highest source of magnesium and chromium of any food! Magnesium helps to build strong bones, is fundamental to heart function and is a muscle relaxant that is associated with feelings of calmness. Cacao is also really high in sulphur which helps form strong nails and hair.
Cacao contains over 300 compounds including:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B (1, 2, 3, 5 and 6)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Calcium
- Manganese
- Zinc
- Sulphur
- Iron
- Chromium
- Phosphorus
- Omega 6 Fatty Acids
- Saturated Fats
- Amino Acids
- Carbohydrates
- Soluble Fibre
- Enzymes
Cacao has also been found to help regulate blood pressure, reduce cholesterol and building the strength of the immune system.
Interestingly raw cacao can diminish your appetite by helping the body tune in to its natural appetite. This is due to cacao's monoamine oxidase enzyme inhibitors (MAO inhibitors). This is why it is often added to weight-loss supplements!
BUT....unfortunately there is a BUT!
You can have too much of a good thing. Cacao has a very powerful effect on the central nervous system (brain & spinal cord) due to all those amazing neurotransmitters. So over-indulging in cacao can cause overstimulation of the central nervous system and the heart. Research has also shown that high levels of cacao consumption can interfere with the bodies ability to retain calcium. In addition, some people are particularly sensitive to cacao and it can have detrimental health effects from even a small amount of consumption.
Like most things in life, it really is about balance. It is recommended that you don't consume more than 40grams or 4-6 teaspoons of raw cacao a day. So don't ruin all the GOOD by overindulging just because you have read this and think 'its healthy therefore I can have as much as I like'!
How To Create Your Own Chocolate Health Treats
I typically use cacao powder (you can also buy cacao beans or nibs) to cook with, in smoothies or as an alternate hot drink. It is best with water or a milk substitute like almond milk or coconut milk, as the nutrient uptake has been found to be inhibited by cows milk.
I have tried a lot of recipes using cacao and I have to say they are delicious and as indulgent tasting as any other chocolate cake, muffin, slice, biscuit, mousse and even cheesecake! These are the two recipes that my little man and I whipped up today - YUM!
Some of the great sites out there that share amazing sugar free, grain free, gluten free, dairy free and nut free recipes (and all use cacao as a substitute for chocolate) include:
wholefoodsimply.com
quirkycooking.blogspot.com
thehealthychef.com
naturalnewagemum.com
thenaturalnutritionist.com.au
sugarfreekids.com.au
cutoutthecrap.com.au
I enjoy the nourishment, comfort and feeling of indulgence I have when I treat myself to a hot chocolate or a chocolate treat of an evening. I love using cacao to make special chocolate 'treats' for my children and they LOVE them too. But my point is, we regard these as a treat and choose not to overindulge and potentially compromise the amazing health benefits of this beautiful pure raw food!
FYI - Cacao is derived from the Theobroma Cacao tree, which translated from Greek literally means "Food of the Gods".
BUT....unfortunately there is a BUT!
You can have too much of a good thing. Cacao has a very powerful effect on the central nervous system (brain & spinal cord) due to all those amazing neurotransmitters. So over-indulging in cacao can cause overstimulation of the central nervous system and the heart. Research has also shown that high levels of cacao consumption can interfere with the bodies ability to retain calcium. In addition, some people are particularly sensitive to cacao and it can have detrimental health effects from even a small amount of consumption.
Like most things in life, it really is about balance. It is recommended that you don't consume more than 40grams or 4-6 teaspoons of raw cacao a day. So don't ruin all the GOOD by overindulging just because you have read this and think 'its healthy therefore I can have as much as I like'!
How To Create Your Own Chocolate Health Treats
I typically use cacao powder (you can also buy cacao beans or nibs) to cook with, in smoothies or as an alternate hot drink. It is best with water or a milk substitute like almond milk or coconut milk, as the nutrient uptake has been found to be inhibited by cows milk.
I have tried a lot of recipes using cacao and I have to say they are delicious and as indulgent tasting as any other chocolate cake, muffin, slice, biscuit, mousse and even cheesecake! These are the two recipes that my little man and I whipped up today - YUM!
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| Chocolate Coconut Almond Biscuit |
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| Chocolate Coconut Rough Slice |
Some of the great sites out there that share amazing sugar free, grain free, gluten free, dairy free and nut free recipes (and all use cacao as a substitute for chocolate) include:
wholefoodsimply.com
quirkycooking.blogspot.com
thehealthychef.com
naturalnewagemum.com
thenaturalnutritionist.com.au
sugarfreekids.com.au
cutoutthecrap.com.au
I enjoy the nourishment, comfort and feeling of indulgence I have when I treat myself to a hot chocolate or a chocolate treat of an evening. I love using cacao to make special chocolate 'treats' for my children and they LOVE them too. But my point is, we regard these as a treat and choose not to overindulge and potentially compromise the amazing health benefits of this beautiful pure raw food!
FYI - Cacao is derived from the Theobroma Cacao tree, which translated from Greek literally means "Food of the Gods".
Enjoy your journey into discovering God's Food!
