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 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, mix it up with some goji berries.
Raw Organic Cacao
Some further research led me to some fascinating facts about this wonderful nut. I’m sharing a little portion of them below:
Cacao ground into a coarse powder can be made into tea and used as a substitute for coffee or to drink at meals. Upon first trying it the taste was slightly bitter like the first time you eat one of those sundried Peruvian olives. Then you try it again and love it. Now it tastes better than the cooked chocolate. Any chocolate Goddess or God will love this treat.
Cacao contains a wide array of unique properties and minerals, including high levels of sulfur and magnesium. It may increase your focus and alertness and contains nutrients to keep you happy. Chocolate and cacao are often associated with love. All this is due to phenylethylamine contained in the cacao. Anandamide can be produced in the brain when we are feeling great, cacao makes anandamide stick around longer. The cacao tastes similar to, yet better than, unsweetened bakers chocolate.
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? Please feel free to share them with us.
David Askaripour, a prominent blogger based in New York, writes on the subject of natural healing among other things. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Television Talk Shows, books and local news channels.
Gina Laverde says
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
David Askaripour says
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!
Gina Laverde says
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 🙂
David Askaripour says
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.
Gina Laverde says
Yay! not sure how I missed it.
Klick says
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.