Chocolate As Superfood? Prove It!
Organic chocolate is a complicated beast. It’s one thing to grow cacao beans organically, but it can’t be forgotten that what we call “chocolate” is in fact a medley of ingredients, from cocoa to sugar to milk, along with vanilla and other flavorings. Organic chocolate is a healthier and tastier option for your body. Now you need not worry too much about possible health risks when you indulge your sweet tooth. Organic chocolates all taste differently. I would be more than happy to sit down with the professionals that say that organic isn’t as good as conventional and conduct a blind taste test and have them tell me which is organic and which is conventional.
?ocoa powder is derived from cacao seeds that grow in pods on the cacao tree. The tree’s botanical name, Theobroma cacao, means “food of the gods,” nomenclature with which I wholeheartedly agree. Cocoa has almost twice the antioxidant value of red wine and three times those found in Green Tea! Chocolate makes us feel good because of it contains phenylethylamines.
Raw chocolate is a superfood and I really feel great when I eat it. For one thing, it is a natural mood lifter, and makes me feel really happy and energized. Raw chocolate reduces cholesterol and so has a positive effect on those with heart disease. Raw chocolate made from unprocessed cacao beans is a high vegetarian source of magnesium, chromium, sulphur and vitamin C. On the antioxidant scale, cacao beats blueberries, green tea and goji berries hands down!
Raw chocolate, or the cacao beans, contain such a huge amount of minerals, antioxidants and other wonderful things, it makes it one of the most nutritious foods in the world. Raw organic chocolate has tons of antioxidants, where broccoli and other vegetables have just a fraction of what you need. Raw chocolate is not only one of the richest sources of antioxidants, Dr. Drewnowski from the University of Michigan found that chocolate triggers the production of opioids
Cacao contains many chemicals that enhance physical and mental well-being, including an incredibly rich supply of magnesium. Antioxidant rich organic raw Cacao (Cocoa) powder is processed at low temperatures. Cacao contains theobromine, which is a mild relative of caffeine and magnesium. This chemical is found in some tranquilizers. Cacao, being an MAO inhibitor, keeps plenty of neurotransmitters in circulation and thus stops this phenomenon from ever occurring.
Cacao seeds contain fat, usually around 40%, consisting of oil of cacao, cacao butter, theobromine (.9% to 2.35%), small quantities of theine (.05 to .37%), starch, ash and protein matter (6% to 17%). These percentages vary due to the decomposition of glucosid influenced by fermentation. Cacao seems the same, those who want to engage with it will, toxic or not.
Cacao’s rare MAO inhibitors may allow serotonin and additional neurotransmitters to circulate in the brain. It also may facilitate rejuvenation according to some. Cacao is high in the beauty mineral sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails, hair, shiny skin, detoxifies the liver and supports healthy pancreas functioning. 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 is a food of the heart; rules come from the head. Cacao is about breaking all the rules, and to me that is a good thing. Cacao trees have been cultivated for around three hundred years in the tropical regions of South America, Central America and Mexico. Documental proofs show that it was even used before Christ. Cacao beans contain about .8 milligrams of copper per 100 grams. Copper is known to enhance the ability of red blood cells to transport oxygen.
All I have to say at this point is Enjoy! And eat more chocolate!
