Benefits of Cacao: The Amazonian Superfood
When you hear ‘cacao’, you probably think of your favourite chocolate or sweet treat, but that doesn’t quite tell the whole story. Cacao is the raw form of cocoa (the main ingredient in chocolate) that comes from the Theobroma cacao tree. The cacao tree is endemic to Central and South America, although the majority of the cocoa-based products come from Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire. (Ivory Coast)
Cacao powder is a minimally processed powder derived from the cocoa bean. The cocoa beans are fermented, dried, roasted and ground into a powder. Cacao powder is, therefore, pure with no added ingredients. In this form, it offers a wide range of nutrients and potential health benefits.
Read on to find out more about this Amazonian superfood.
Health Benefits of Cacao
When not highly processed with countless sugars, flavourings and additives, cacao powder is a highly nutritious source of many vitamins and minerals.
1. Rich Nutrient Profile of Cacao
Cacao contains a range of essential nutrients, including magnesium, potassium, iron and B vitamins. It’s also packed with polyphenols and other antioxidants such as flavanols, which offer even more potential health benefits (we’ll go into some of those now).
2. Cardiovascular Benefits
Working cacao into your diet can actually improve blood vessel elasticity, thanks to its flavanol content, which helps to improve blood flow throughout the body. Have it regularly and it will also help your blood vessels dilate or expand, making for better blood pressure regulation and blood flow to your organs.
3. Brain Health
Cacao’s flavanols again play a big part here, as the increased blood flow they provide will also benefit your brain. Better blood flow to the brain means improved cognitive performance and protection against cognitive decline. So, that’s the heart and the brain just to start - pretty important stuff you might argue - but we’re not done.
4. Mood Improvements
Moving away from our physical health for a moment, cacao can have a big impact on our mental health, too. Thanks to the chemical compounds found in cacao, such as phenylethylamine, cacao helps to boost production of endorphins and serotonin - these are the chemicals in our bodies that make you feel good!
5. Stress Reduction
For those of you who experience a lot of stress, cacao could be your new best friend here too. Flavanol once again plays a big part in our vascular health during stress, helping to protect it even after eating high-fat foods. It’s easy to reach for our guilty pleasures when stress arises, but keeping cacao in your dietary routine can help to negate the negative impacts of these somewhat.
How To Enjoy Cacao In Your Diet
In its raw, powdered form, cacao can taste like a very dark chocolate, with a little bit of bitterness - as such, it’s a good idea to combine it with other foods, especially if you’re having it daily. Try adding cacao powder to smoothies, sprinkling cacao nibs over yoghurts or porridge, or mix it into your baking for a hidden hit of some added nutrients.
If you’re looking for something totally effort-free, take a look at Ghuttie Snacks’ ready-to-eat cacao-coated sunflower seeds.
These really are a bit of a secret weapon, as not only do you get all the benefits of cacao, you also take advantage of everything sunflower seeds have to offer - and that’s a long list, too!
From supporting your heart to giving your digestive system a helping hand, sunflower seeds are a superfood in their own right. Combine them with a cacao coating and you’ve got something really special - and really tasty!
A Simple Addition For Some Big Changes
Whether you boost your morning smoothie with it, mix it into a midday yoghurt, or enjoy it on sunflower seeds right out of the pack, there are many ways to make cacao a part of your diet.
Eat better and start feeling better!
Please share this blog post with someone you know so they can get the superfood feeling.
Thank you!
The Ghuttie Team
https://ghuttiesnacks.co.uk/
