Cacao was one of those superfoods that led me down the road of natural remedies. And it all happened because one day I realised I couldn’t drink my beloved coffee anymore unless I wanted to carry on dealing with anxiety jitters and bad IBS flair ups. So with this void that needed filling and so I didn’t cave into my desire for caffeine through daily coffee dosage, I went on the search for a substituted hot drink. That’s when I came across this chocolate goodness with supposed super powers. Now I’m hooked..
Now Cacao beans have been used since ancient times and the name literally translates as ‘Food of the gods’. I don’t know about you but that certainly got my attention. How can a plant that not only makes chocolate also be named the food of gods and not have some sort of healing benefit.
So while it is more bitter than the cocoa counterpart (cocoa is made through heating cacao but looses certain pros). It is still insanely tasty and anyway bitter food is better for opening up our senses.
What I really love about this hot drink is that it’s still really simple to make, just like a hot chocolate. The best milk to use is Oat milk for that creamy and comforting feeling similar to how I imagine drinking a chocolate bar would be. I even add mushroom powders like reishi and lion’s mane to enhance the flavour to that similar to coffee. And if I’m feeling in need of some extra comfort I top it off with cinnamon powder.
Now for the benefits I have learnt about along the way..
So I’m always looking at new ways to naturally relieve my depression and anxiety and with scientifically proven evidence , cacao lets out mood boosting neurotransmitters such as;
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- Anandamide – the bliss chemical. This chemical is present in the brain as anendogenous substance and interacts with cannabinoid receptors (think how CBD oil is used for mental health).
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- Serotonin – Anyone suffering with mental health problems know the importance of this chemical for happy moods.
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- Phenylethylamine – this is the same chemical that gets released in the brain as when you’re in love.
Apart from effecting our mood, it also has energy and immune boosting qualities. It’s full of antioxidants and is a good source of magnesium, which is great for relaxation.
There’s even a goddess named after this plant “ixCacao” the Goddess of fertility and love. People hold sacred cacao circle ceremonies to celebrate the feeling of pure love through this goddess and her plant. Which is not surprising from the heart opening and expansive nature of pure being this seed creates.
Not only is it good for the body but it’s also wonderful for the environment as the trees require a whole eco system to survive. They need to bloom in forests that contain certain flowers, which attract the right pollinators for the tree. They need the correct sunlight and wind levels as well which this type of forest creates. Basically It’s requires a very sustainable and eco-friendly agriculture for farmers to be profitable from growing these plants in abundance. Also a terrifying reminder that if we don’t look after the environment we won’t have chocolate.
So don’t let that gnaw at your consciousness and instead just drink cacao. So forests can be created to save the planet from agriculture disaster. (but that’s just me being dramatic)
Earthly Luna Wellbeing 