I would like to share some anecdotal research with you about an experiment I conducted yesterday with raw cacao nuts. Cacao, being the most antioxidant-rich superfood on the planet, and honored since the ancient Mayan and Olmecs have been around, has been of great interest to me over the past few weeks.
Yesterday when I awoke I proceeded to eating exactly 20 raw cacao nuts and it was quite an experience. For the rest of the day I noticed a few extraordinary things taking place:
- I simply wasn’t hungry and had no desire to eat anything else
- I had plenty of energy throughout the day and even did about 30 minutes of yoga
- And I had one of the deepest conversation with someone about food, life, mind, body, and spirit. The discussion was amazing, leading to all sort of new ideas
What Have I Learned? Experienced?
These experiences lead me to believe that this ancient “food of the gods” is truly powerful and magical. On a scientific level, my hunger was probably curbed due to the MAO inhibitors found in cacao. Cacao, then, may be be good for those seeking to lose weight and/or maintain a healthy weight. My feeling of super well-being may have been sparked by anandamide, know as “The Bliss Chemical” that, put simply, allows for certain chemicals that are responsible for happiness to stick around longer. No wonder why people say “be careful, consuming cacao may lead to a wonderful day!” And if raw cacao is too bitter for you, mixed it up with some goji berries.
But beyond the science, I believe that there’s something magical in the cacao nut. Something that produces an experience of mind-evolution, perhaps described as a mild psychedelic experience even. The Mayans definitely knew what they were doing when they used cacao as a staple food and even as a form of currency at times.
I plan on continuing my study of this ancient superfood, so I hope you’ll join me.
Do you have any cacao stories?
[image credit: Natural Zing]
My friend actually cured probs with reproductive organs using simple 1 month detox and tons of cacao. So when people claim that the caffeine is really bad for us — I think of her. I don’t do too much of it. its so expensive! but, I might experiment in the future
the amount of caffeine is cacao ranges from 0 to 1/20 to a cup of coffee. Arguably, cacao contains absolutely no caffeine. The sister molecule known as theobromine is the cause of this confusion.
Theobromine is a much cleaner and smarter molecule than caffeine. It’s smooth, time-releasing, and actually sooths the body and helps keep us alert. It also is GREAT for the cardiovascular system — it really works on the heart!
wow! I have actually never heard this. I am surprised. so, all these years, people thought it was caffeine but its not? I hope this is true :)
yeah G, this is definitely true. David Wolfe, the foremost — or shall I say, most well-known — authority on cacao speaks a lot about theobromine in cacao.
Yay! not sure how I missed it.
A tasty way I get cocoa daily is in my morning coffee. Start with a tablespoon of cocoa powder, a teaspoon of molasses and a dash of cinnamon, pour in coffee and stir.