Health Benefits of Cacao

Cacao has a lot of substances which have made it a natural antidepressant. These natural beans have three neurotransmitters that promote healthy mood or positive mental state: serotonin, dopamine and phenylethylamine. Moreover, cacao also has the amino acid tryptophan and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Although cacao beans and cacao nibs have that great chocolate flavor, you should think of them as a slightly different sort of food. When we think of chocolate, we always associate it with a smooth and silky texture. Unfortunately, cacao beans and cacao nibs do not give you that silky-smooth satisfaction -- they remain in your mouth as bitter grit-like pieces.

The best quality cacao beans come from Brazil, Venezuela, the Ivory Coast, Central America, Madagascar, and the Caribbean. The owner of Paris' Maison du Chocolat, Robert Linxe, believes that Ariba cacao beans from Central America are the finest in the world mainly because of its intense flavor and pronounced character. The medicinal benefits of Cacao date back as far as the sixteenth century when Cacao was reported to have at least 100 medicinal uses, for example, stimulation of the digestive system as well as increasing the appetite.


 It contains super proportions of magnesium, Phenylethylamine, and anandamide, making raw coca nibs a super form of chocolate. Raw Chocolate Facts! Now here is the interesting part: Cacao beans or raw chocolate as it is called is the source for all common coca products and chocolate. Known as the Goddess of the Seeds Cacao plants have been known to be part of a cure for every ancient illness. Cacao contains Serotonin, Tryptophan, Anandamide, Dopamine, PEA and MAO inhibitors which all have a positive effect on brain chemistry. These powerful components are attributed to increased mental focus and awareness.

Anandamide is a blissful chemical produced naturally by our bodies when we are feeling happy and great. Cacao enzyme inhibitors keeps this chemical in our body around longer, while adding onto it its own natural reserve of Anandamide. When a person feels blissful and happy, he does more good, makes more peace, shares more love. When you think of cacao, your thought immediately turns to chocolate and you are probably wondering how chocolate can be good for you. But the chocolate found in chocolate bars are in fact not the raw form of cacao and it is only when you eat cacao in its raw form that you can derive the benefits from it. Here are only a few benefits of eating raw cacao.

The large amount of antioxidants present in raw Cacao help fight cancer causing free radicals. They are a rich source of countless naturally occurring compounds. Raw cacao helps regulate sleep and strengthens the cardio-vascular system. It also stimulates secretion of mood elevating chemicals namely serotonin and endorphins, thereby energizing the body and give uplifts mood by providing a feeling of euphoria.