Welcome back everyone to our series on superfoods and please bear with the new site…I am currently doing some decorating and remodeling and have limited nerd skills.
Judging by many of your comments, especially the ladies, this is probably the most anticipated one!
Today we will be talking about Cacao…better known as chocolate or in ancient times as the “food of the gods.”
This is not the chocolate you are probably familiar with. No sir ri sir (or madame) this is the real deal!
We are talking pure, raw chocolate. Chocolate in the nude! The kind that is a powerhouse of beneficial nutrients, the kind that you can eat boatloads of without gaining a pound or expanding an inch. Well maybe just a small boatload!
Unlike most store bought chocolate, raw chocolate is free of sugar, additives, preservatives and all the other superfluous ingredients that make eating as much as we’d like a potential problem.
So without further adieu, let’s get naked with chocolate…
Cacao Theobroma
Cacao is in the genus Theobroma and species Cacao. Other common names include Chocolate, Cocoa and cacaoyer. The cacao bean is the seed of the fruit often thought of as a culinary nut. Cacao beans that are certified organic and raw, dried at low temperature can be difficult to find. Raw organic cacao is high quality cacao and can be used in raw food treats like smoothies, brownies and pies. Cacao ground into a coarse powder can be made into tea and used as a substitute for coffee or to drink at meals. Upon first trying it, the taste is slightly bitter. Then you try it again and love it.
Cacao contains a wide array of unique properties and minerals, including high levels of sulfur and magnesium. It may increase your focus and alertness and contains nutrients to keep you happy. Chocolate and cacao are often associated with love. All this is due to phenylethylamine contained in the cacao. Anandamide can be produced in the brain when we are feeling great, cacao makes anandamide stick around longer. The cacao tastes similar to, yet better than, unsweetened bakers chocolate. A sweetener is often used like raw organic agave nectar in conjunction with your raw treat ingredients.
Chocolate is made from the seeds of a plant called Theobroma cacao. The seeds are dried and roasted and then processed to form cocoa, the basic ingredient in chocolate and chocolate products. The use of cocoa for eating and drinking probably dates back several thousand years. The first evidence of cocoa use comes from cooking vessels containing cocoa residue. Scientists have determined these pots to be from at least 460 to 480 A.D. Columbus discovered cacao beans in America and sent samples back to King Ferdinand. However, the beans didn’t become popular in Europe at this time.
Several years later, Cortes discovered that the Mexican Aztecs enjoyed a type of bitter chocolate drink containing burned and ground cacao beans, maize, water, and spices. Cortes sent cacao beans and recipes back to King Charles V. The Spanish refined some of the recipes adding sugar and heating the ingredients to improve taste and texture. But because of the high cost of imported cacao, chocolate beverages were enjoyed mostly by the wealthy. By 1828, the cocoa press was developed. The press enabled workers to extract cocoa butter from the cacao bean. Ground roasted beans and sugar were added to the cocoa butter to produce dark “eating” (solid) chocolate. The first commercially prepared dark chocolate was produced in about 1847.
Milk chocolate, made with the addition of dried milk solids, was developed by the Swiss in about 1876. Some brands of imported and domestic chocolate contain very refined chocolate and fillings and are very expensive. Still, less expensive varieties of chocolate are widely available — making chocolate a very popular confection. The average American consumes nearly 11 pounds of chocolate each year. Men aged 12 to 19 consume the most amount of chocolate. Women aged 30 to 39 are the next largest group of chocolate consumers.
For some people, the lure of chocolate can be overwhelming. Cocoa contains certain chemicals and sensory properties that make the product very appealing. Cocoa contains theobromine (a chemical related to caffeine). The sugar in chocolate releases serotonin (a brain chemical related to a positive sense of well-being). The smooth, rich taste of chocolate (and sometimes the fillings) provides sensory pleasure to the taste buds. In addition, many people use chocolate as a reward and learn to associate the product with positive self-esteem. In spite of its physical properties, chocolate is not a physically addictive food. However, some people may find themselves psychologically addicted to chocolate. However, this may not be true for raw cacao.
The plant contains components that include: alanine, alkaloids, alpha-sitosterol, alpha-theosterol, amylase, arginine, ascorbic-acid, ascorbic-acid-oxidase, aspariginase, beta-carotene, calcium, dopamine, fructose, glucose, glutamic-acid, leucine, linoleic-acid, lipase, lysine, niacin, peroxidase, phenylacetic-acid, phenylalanine, phosphorus, riboflavin, rutin, tannins, theobromine, thiamin and many others.
Cacao seeds contain fat, usually around 40%, consisting of oil of cacao, cacao butter, theobromine (.9% to 2.35%), small quantities of theine (.05 to .37%), starch, ash and protein matter (6% to 17%). These percentages vary due to the decomposition of glucosid influenced by fermentation. Theobromine may act as a diuretic, and has a stimulant or exciting action not possessed by chocolate itself. Theobromine and theophylline, like caffeine, all found in this plant are used in modern medicine as antiasthmatic.
At this time, one of Cacao’s main claims to fame is its high antioxidant content…it is widely considered to be the most potent antioxidant food on the planet, rivaling heavyweights such the blueberry! Look out Wladimir Klitschko (I just googled him…he is the heavyweight champion of the world…huh?…I said the same thing too!)
Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by-products) which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as “free radical scavengers” and hence prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals. Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, cancer, etc are all contributed to by oxidative damage. Antioxidants may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection…
Well, I hope this has assuaged your deep seated guilt issues regarding your love of chocolate. Now that you know how to get all of the benefits of chocolate without having to venture into the dark underworld of sugar and empty calories, you and your therapist can now talk about something new like who is Wladimir Klitschko and when did he become heavyweight champ or why the voices in your head keep telling you to walk naked through Walmart (speaking of dark underworlds) and shoplift something made in the USA (if you can find it).
So rejoice, do your body a favor and go out there and eat the real thing…just make sure it is naked!
Until next time…
Kind Regards,
A
Cindy
Lisa McLellan
Anthony
Darryl Pace
Keri Eagan
Vegas Boomer Dating Expert
Vicki
Michael D Walker
Peggy Larson
Chocolate gets Naked. I love it almost as much as I love chocolate! What an interesting history chocolate has and what a list of beneficial nutrients. I did not know it was that powerful of an antioxidant. I love blueberries when they are in season and more affordable. I remember when they used to grow wild and you could just pick them for free. I don’t see them around like that anymore. Same with raspberries and blackberries.
Two questiions:Is cacao expensive and is agave nectar the sweetener that comes from cacti?
Kelly
Quite the history lesson! I thought the nibs were a bit bitter at first but I love dark chocolate and the kind I enjoy has a bitter sweet taste as well. Although it does not have all the benifits of raw cacao, which I was confusing with the cocoa bean. I’m going to pick some up tomorrow. A friend of mine gave me a little and I liked it.
To Kelly: I don’t believe it’s that expensive from what I’ve researched online. Thanks for the post Anthony, I was hoping you’d do this one next! Yeah!
Maybe the reason I am up so late is because I ate some chocolate after dinner tonight…lol.
I have always known chocolate was nutritious but was unaware one could get it raw like that without all of the unnecessaries.
I’ll have to check that link out because I have never seen it around here where I live. But then again, I never looked.
Joe
Kelly,
It is not that expensive. If you click on the link at the end of the post or the banner at the bottom you will find info and pricing on cocao and other superfoods. You’d be surprised at how affordable they can be for how nutritious they are.
Jody,
Cacao and Cocoa are the same thing. Cocoa is a finished product that comes from Cocao if I am not mistaken. It is late for me to be up so I could be totally wrong. I believe it was the Brits who changed it from Cocao to Cocoa at some point, specifically one of JJ Jalopy’s ancestors.
Dark chocolate is one of life’s small perfections…
Rob
I am so glad you did this one as I am a chocoholic. I went to that link for Natural Zing and can definitely afford to indulge. It is actually more economical to buy it raw like that and sweeten it yourself than it is to buy the fancy stuff in the store not to mention the cheapo Hershey’s stuff. Don’t know too much about ageave nectar. Would stevia work?
Deb
Anthony,
Great information that will free me up to explore my desire to walk naked through Walmart looking for American made products to steal while pondering the heavyweight champ. I don’t think the police, patrons or Walmart security would let me get too far…at least not with my body!
Regards,
Karen
Yo dude, superfoods rule. I like this place and look forward to more stuff on meditation and just being or Zen or whatever you call it. I like the other shit you write it is real and easier to get than what I read in my mom’s books (she is a big hippy). I hate new age crap and like how you cut through it. Being spiritual does not mean you have to be into crystals and garbage like the secret. As a teenager, I need to hear this stuff in any voice that does not resemble my mom or her flakey friends or like my dad who is super religeous and sees things in black and white. Can you do a superfood one about weed?
Somebody,
Unique name you have there…where does it originate from? Oh wait, you said your mom was a hippy. That explains it! You could have been called Rainbow or Moonbeam or something similar. Somebody has a nice ring to it. It identifies you but isn’t too specific! Your Zen name would logically have to be Nobody…lol.
I understand about the New Age stuff…the crystals, The Secret, the airy-fairy stuff but to each their own. That sort of thing does not keep me real, as you said or grounded.
It is the easy way out but really it is a trap that leads to more seeking. I used to work at an art gallery that had a New Age/spiritual section and I watched people go from one thing to the next or just start mixing and matching beliefs and practices to get some desired effect that was always fleeting.
They never really looked deeply into simple things like their beliefs, values unconscious programming, past trauma, environmental factors (food, air, people in their lives) etc and how they created their lives with them.
It is often a matter of staying comfortable. They just took a little of this and a little of that as long as it supported their views/beliefs and never really got into anything at any depth or stuck with a simple daily practice. One week it was this kind of meditation and the next it was that kind. One week it was fung shuei and the next it was white magic.
It is often a case of, “people would rather be right than happy!”
It is best not to put anyone down or slap labels on them because you run the risk of turning them into objects and viewing them as such. They become less human to you on some level. It is a compassion/wisdom/understanding zapper.
You are young and have a great advantage to learn this now and not like many of us who learned in our 30′s 40′s 50′s and older.
As to the post on “weed”…I will assume you are talking about Hemp seed which is one of the top superfoods. It is extremely nutritious and will definitely be covered in the future.
Glad to have you here Somebody.
Hi Anthony,
Well I never! thanks so much for sharing the origin’s of a females best friend!..lol And they do say it has sensational powers in the persuasion arena too
Duane
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Hey dude!
Cool new look you’ve got going here!
I’m a total chocoholic so I loved this. I’ve got some cacao nibs arriving in the post very soon.
Can’t wait.
JJ
Hey Bro.
Love some dark chocolate. Always good to get your information.
Lynn Lane
Getting my cacao nibs asap! I’m with somebody and would love to learn about hemp seed. I hear great things about it.
Dav
Hi Anthony,
I suppose Pure Numerolgoy is regarded as aprt of the New Age
I learnt it 31 years ago from a Reverend. So it may help to remove its stigma?
Anyway, love your post. I like chocolate but stop eating those which has high (say more than 30%) sugar contents. I switch to dark chocolate but find it less palatable. May be the bad habit of used to eat the ordinary diary chocolate. Try the Lindt 80% (or 86%?) dark chocolate. Did not appeal to me. Too bitter and not sweet. Might be raw chocolate is different.
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion (WordPress Blog)
Numerology Expert Birthday Numeroscope (Vox Blog)
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
Anthony,
Sorry. I miss out one question.
> Cocoa contains theobromine (a chemical related to caffeine)
A health food guy says chocolate is bad due to its caffeine, which is a drug that stimulates the production of our adrenoline. And if we need anti-oxidants, there’re other food that can gives us plently of them such as “arcia berries” (wrong spelling but too tied to dig it the right term. They come fromn Braizilan rainforest, super rich in anti-oxidants).
My Q is: Does chocolate really contain much caffine or enough pre-cursors of
caffeine that is bad for our health??
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion (WordPress Blog)
Numerology Expert Birthday Numeroscope (Vox Blog)
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
Now, it this true?
Hi John,
Chocolate does contain caffeine but just how much depends on the source of information. Some sources say that cacao has little to no caffeine and others say the contrary. As of last week, I no longer put cacao in my superfoods drink. I kept having a strange reaction to it. However, I am one of those people who has a sensitive system and can not tolerate caffeine in any amount and also have strange reactions to foods and other things in the environment. Whether or not it was the caffeine or caffeine precursors or something else I do not know. My guess is it is the caffeine.
My recomendation is to try a little if you are sensitive to caffeine or stimulants in general and see how it affects you.
It is definitely not the only antioxidant rich food out there but it is a powerhouse. I’d eat it if I could!
Below is something I found that might shed some light on the matter.
Product Serving Size Caffeine Content
Decaffeintated Coffee 6 oz 5 mg
Milk Chocolate 1 oz 6 mg
Dark Chocolate 1 oz 20 mg
Coca Cola Classic 12 oz 34 mg
Sunkist Orange Soda 12 oz 42 mg
Diet Coke 12 oz 47 mg
Iced Tea 12 oz. 70 mg
Vault 12 oz 70 mg
Brewed Coffee 7 oz 108 mg
Red Bull 12 oz 116 mg
Hope this helps.
Anthony
John,
Sorry man. I made a nice little chart and it keeps coming out all jumbled up for some reason…my wp blog is possessed! Anyway, I think you can figure it out despite the sloppiness of it.
Thanks for stopping by.
Anthony
Anthony,
Man, the site is looking great!
As for chocolate, good info. I’ve been a fan of organic chocolate for a couple of years now. It’s great stuff — super healthful — and I eat it because of the antioxidants.
Health, Fitness — Darryl Pace
Fitness Product Review
Hi Anthony,
Thanks for your answer & the table.
Apologise that I respond belatedly as your reply falls thru my crack when I’m doing my Speaker Course (just finished) & now the Writer Course, both with Kevin Hogan.
Keep up the good work!
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion (WordPress Blog)
Numerology Expert Birthday Numeroscope (Vox Blog)
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
John,
No problem! I really wanted to take the speaker course but it wasn’t in the cards this time around. Kevin is a great teacher, motivator and mentor!
I love “store bought” chocolate, I can’t imagine how it would taste without all the sugar etc.
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitters and Nannies