Cacao - The Underdog of Superfoods

Cacao or raw chocolate is one of the most powerful antioxidants from the superfoods group. A cacao bean grows on trees and it is native to Central America and the Amazonian rainforests. When the beans are processed, they become chocolate and cocoa; while the raw unprocessed bean is just cacao.

Cacao has many healing properties and nutritious value:

• raw cacao has more calcium than cow’s milk

• it is one of the few superfoods that retains its enzymatic and vitamin content

• raw cacao can help combat anxiety, depression and stress

• it has a lot of magnesium and detoxifies the body of unhealthy substances

• It is a beautiful heart chakra opener

Ways to include cacao in your diet:

• add it in your smoothies - you can blend the regular cacao nibs (not the ceremonial grade)

• hot cacao milk (dairy or non dairy)

• raw cacao brownies, from the minimalist baker recipe - delicious!

• Sprinkle it over fruit, yogurt or muesli

• Make ceremonial grade cacao for the cacao circles

Ceremonial cacao is a term referred to cacao being used in plant medicine ceremonies and cricles. It is a gentle and heart opening drink, meant to clear your heart chakra and help you connect to the environment and people around you. It is also a mood enhancer. There are many different brands of ceremonial grade cacao and I would recommend trying several to find one that speaks to you. I personally love Firefly Chocolate (comes in disks) and Fly Kakao (powder form). I’ve heard wonderful things about Keith’s Cacao, but haven’t tried it yet.

Here’s an easy recipe which I love and it only takes 5-7 minutes to make. Once the cacao paste starts to boil or make bubbles, its time to take it off the stove!

1. Heat one table spoon of coconut oil in a pot over low heat.

2. Add in 3-4 able spoons of cacao powder or nibs or discs (depending on how you order the cacao) to mix with the coconut oil

3. Stir and cook both items over low heat, do not let them burn. The cacao will melt into the pot, and it will look like a nutella paste.

4. Add in 1/2 teaspoon of maple syrup, a dash of cayenne pepper (it will have a tiny kick to it, which will feel good as it enters the bloodstream)) and a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir everything together and turn off the stove.

5. Transfer the pot to a non heated plate

6. Add in 1 cup HOT oat milk or soya milk (I don’t use cow milk) and whisk all the ingredients!

7. Pour yourself a cup, sit down in your happy place, and take a sip of the cacao. Let it slowly and majestically enter your body, .

I sometimes add small amounts of CBD into my cacao, it definitely has a relaxing effect.

Let me know what you think! If you tried this recipe at home, feel free to tag us on social @nutricoach305.

Namaste, Liza