Is Chocolate good for us….?
Hmmm…….now there’s a question! For the comfort and joy it can bring, I respond with an unequivocally yes!
I am however completely biased. I ran a raw chocolate and cake company, I love rich dark chocolate and am partial to a good quality cup of ceremonial cacao. I am often asked if chocolate is healthy but doesn’t that depend on how we define health? How does something we eat affect us not only physically but also mentally, emotionally and energetically. I personally believe all foods can fit into a healthy lifestyle so a more important question might be ‘Do you want chocolate in your life?’ and if so, great, include it.
The cacao bean is pretty special. It’s been considered a precious food throughout history - enjoyed, worshiped, consumed during festivals, healing ceremonies & celebrations, fought over and used as currency.
Like many foods, cacao is packed with nutrients when in it’s natural state. Depending how we process it, potential health benefits may vary.
The two main minerals cacao contains are Magnesium (needed for our bones, heart and blood, helps us relax, sleep & improve our energy and may help to alleviate symptoms of PMT) as well as Sulfur, the beauty mineral (supports healthy hair, eyes, skin and teeth). It also contains iron, B-vitamins and the essential amino acid tryptophan which the brain uses to make serotonin. It is full of anti-oxidants and has a high ORAC rating (ORAC = Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, a system developed to measure the effectiveness of antioxidants to absorb free radicals in the body). Cacao is ranked higher than many other well known anti-oxidants such as blueberries, goji berries, broccoli and green tea. Chocolate also contains the neurotransmitter Anandamide which is a cannabinoid found in the brain known as the bliss molecule (the word ananda derives from Sanskrit and means joy & bliss) and also the hormone-like substance Phenethylamine (PEA) that functions like a neurotransmitter and can provide heightened focus, attention and goal-directed attention (also found in blue-green algae).
The main reason that chocolate (whether raw or heated) is controversial with regards to health is because of everything else we add to it. Of course chocolate with a high refined sugar content is not deemed a health food. Even so, Is it going to impact your health in a negative way? That depends entirely on you and your individual health profile.
Aside from added ingredients, cacao itself contains caffeine (which varies for each variety of cacao, the regions it is grown in and the growing conditions). All cacao contains theobromine which is similar to caffeine, both of which can have stimulating effects on some people, particularly when raw and especially if eaten in excess. There are those who simply cannot process caffeine efficiently due to differences in the genes that metabolise caffeine, and for anyone with adrenal fatigue or leading a stressful life, eating chocolate in moderation (if at all) may well be a wise move. Many people find raw chocolate incredibly stimulating thus it is wise to avoid in the evening but for some people, as surprising as it seems, chocolate can have a calm relaxing effect and aid with sleep, possibly due to the high levels of magnesium it contains. So the take-away here is to know how you react to chocolate and notice if that’s different when consumed raw.
Chocolate is also understood by many cultures as being medicinal and healing. In shamanic circles, cacao is used in ceremony and the power of setting intention is considered crucial when preparing and consuming it. Again, another tangent we could head off on and maybe I’ll write a post about cacao ceremonies another time. For now, I would say it certainly is a medicinal food and can quite easily be part of a balanced diet. If you don’t have a sweet tooth then try a salted cacao drink or add raw chocolate to savoury dishes – sprinkle cacao nibs in a salad or add them to dips and sauces. Adding 100% cacao or dark chocolate to a chill or making a chocolate mole sauce are also fabulous savoury options. Raw chocolate often introduces people to a healthier lifestyle and for that reason alone it is an ingredient which can be educating and inspiring.
Cacao has a transformative effect and personally I feel that chocolate is a food that nourishes our heart and soul. Home made chocolate made with love brings people together, opens our heart and quite frankly brings more joy into the world so I’m all in.
In an ideal world, we could all aim to support fair trade, organic and ethical brands. As with many things in life, there are reputable and not so great sources and there is unfortunately a dark side of chocolate with child labour and trafficking. Not all chocolate corporations are ethical but we do have power with our purchasing choices so I invite you to consider opting for fairtrade and sustainable chocolate wherever possible.
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