I could go on and on about the benefits of raw cacao but I still don’t think I would do it justice. So let’s sit with these highlights:
- Theobroma (Cacao Beans) literally means “Food of the Gods”. The Cacao plant was known as Goddess of the Seeds and Mexicans named the pounded seeds “Chocolate”.
- Contains many rare key nutrients that enhance physical and mental well-being.
- Raw Cacao contains more antioxidant flavanoids than any other food tested.
- Cacao is loaded with super- nutrients including 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! Ever wonder why women crave chocolate when they are PMSing? Hello magnesium! Magnesium is the most deficient nutrient among people consuming a standard westernized diet.
Contains many chemicals that enhance physical and mental well-being, including alkaloids, proteins, beta-carotene, leucine, linoleic acid, lipase, lysine, and some neurotransmitters such as dopamine and anandamine. - Contains natural mild monoamine oxidase enzyme inhibitors (MAO inhibitors). These allow more serotonin and other neurotransmitters to circulate in the brain and we know that seratonin is the happy chemical in our brain and MAO inhibitors also help keep us young and lively.
- 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 and much greater amounts when we are in love. Love can break our hearts, chocolate never does.
- Contains a magical phyto-chemical called anandamide. Ananda is Sanskrit for bliss and its no coincidence that our brains naturally produce anandamide when we feel blissed out! Cacao contains enzyme inhibitors that increase the amount of time that anandamide will circulate in the hot bod.
Now don’t go confusing raw cacao with roasted cocoa. Different my friends- mainly because one is raw. It seems that roasting or cooking chocolate excites the nervous system, speeding up the pulse similar to the effects caused by black coffee. Raw cacao however doesn’t do this.
Now my recipe uses a whole heaping load of super foods that may be hard to find. Not to worry. Chocolate is the main event, the rest are just power house encores.
Hot and Raw Cacao Power Smoothie
2 Tbs raw cacao powder
1 Tbs chia seeds
1 Tbs sesame seeds
1/2 Tbs spirulina
1 Tbs goji berries
1-2 Tbs raw protein powder of choice
1 Tbs coconut oil
stevia or raw honey to sweeten
1 1/2 cups warm to hot water
Additional options
coconut
avocado
add nutmeg, cinnamon and/or clove
ground vanilla bean
powdered super foods like maca or mesquite
mushroom blend (chaga/reishi)
- Put all that greatness into a blender with warm or hot water and blend away
- Pour through a strainer
- Enjoy!
Hi Meghan,
That looks really great! I can’t wait to try it out for my breakfast once I get re-settled (curently living in a hotel room while blender and superfoods are on a boat in the Arabian Sea…). Thanks for sharing!
I am approximately 2,365 blogs behind in my reader- where are you off to?
Better half got the boot from Mumbai and was transferred to southern Thailand (for now), and will be transferring again to Bangkok later next year (raw food heaven plus a job for me, so this will eventually be a good thing). Spending Christmas with my cat in a hotel room at the moment… Would kill for one of your Superhero’s Balls right about now! I want my kitchen back!
How interesting! I had to re-read the word ‘Cacao’ a few times before I realized that it *wasn’t* ‘Cocoa’. I always assumed they were the exact same thing. I learn so much from you!!
This is one of my favourite things to drink for breaky! I love it
I have all of the other ingredients in my kitchen, but where do you get the raw chocolate powder from? I’m in Toronto.
Otherwise, this looks awesome! Thanks!
Any health food store would have but I like to order all my superfoods from Upaya Naturals http://www.upayanaturals.com/?Click=1196
Yum! I’ve had cocoa before, but not raw cacao yet… will have to try! I bet your recipe would be pretty good with carob too
I was eating raw cocoa beans earlier this yera..must get some more…plus I have yet to find it in powder form.
Thanks Meg and Happy Holidays!!!
Yum!! Adding this to my list of things to try for brekkie
I’ve never had raw cacao! Have to add it to my list of things to try!
Mmmm looks great! I love all the other add-ins (does it still taste like chocolate?)
Have a great holiday!
Could I grind up cacao beans and get the powder that way? Is it the same?
Sure thing.
Just made this with a banana added in- amazing.. Definitely a yummy addition to breakfasts!
This is something I must try. I’m almost out of cacoa nibs so the next time I get some from ChocoSol I’ll pick up some powder too.
Which reminds me, are you going to join me at Wychwood/Green Barns one Saturday morning?
I would love to.
yummilicous! So, will we be having raw cacao in St. Lucia??
Hi Meghan
I am having a hard time finding cacao bean, nibs or powder. And what is the difference, are the nibs sweetened and the powder is it still raw? I live in Alaska and the company Upaya wants almost $30.00 for shipping. Have any ideas? Oh, you have truly been inspiring.
Thank You so much
Jeannie
This is really something to try. Thanks for sharing some good stuff here. Keep up the healthy postings. By the way, I’m a member of a great group who are health enthusiaststhat might interest you too. Enjoy life to the fullest!
[...] to love, what my love is for chocolate. I am pretty sure I eat chocolate everyday. Sometimes it is raw cacao powder in my smoothies, sometimes it’s cacao nibs sprinkled on my super-powered oatmeal and sometimes it is a few [...]
[...] foods found in the supermarket. Then we have the ’super-powered’ foods like chia seeds, cacao, goji berrries, maca, spirulina and aloe. These exotic powerhouses might come from a bit of a [...]