{CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST}
- kaitlynappalsammy
- May 23, 2018
- 2 min read
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well, almost.. more like..
CACAO FOR BREAKFAST
Seriously though, cacao is AMAZING.
Cacao is a type of bean that comes from the fruit of the cacao tree. Cacao trees need to grow in a very specific and tropical climate, anywhere from Brazil to Fiji and even South Florida. So these little beans can be fermented and ground down into powder form or crushed into extra bits like cacao nibs. The fermentation causes most of the bitterness to go away leaving the berry and coffee like notes naturally found in chocolate!
But why is cacao so amazing?
Antioxidants
❂ Raw cacao contains almost 40x the amount of antioxidants than blueberries & almost 119x as much as bananas
❂ It contains 4x the amount as regular processed dark chocolate
❂ Cacao is full of flavonoids that help with heart health
❂ Studies do show that by adding dairy to cacao it actually blocks your body's ability to absorb the antioxidants.. so you cant really get the benefits from just eating a dark chocolate bar with caramel & sea salt and no to milk chocolate.
Magnesium
❂ 1 tbs of raw cacao has 52 mg of magnesium in it! Men need around 420 mg of magnesium in their daily intake and women need around 320 mg.
❂ Consuming some type of cacao daily could actually be so beneficial for our bodies.. wouldn't it be nice if you could just eat chocolate everyday instead of taking 50 different supplements?
Iron
❂ Cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron and your body best absorbs this type of iron with vitamin C. So you could mix cacao nibs with fruit! Fruits like strawberries, kiwi, oranges, papaya or even mix cacao powder in with a kale and banana smoothie
Calcium
❂ Cacao has more calcium than cows milk...sooo who said dairy was the best way to get calcium?? No thanks, you greedy dairy companies. :--)
Weight loss agents
❂ Wowow cacao can help shed fat...cacao has MAO inhibitors which help shrink your appetite. A lot of times these are found in weight loss products.
Feminine health
❂ Magnesium is known for helping with muscle cramps and pains. Since cacao has so much naturally occurring magnesium its great for menstrual cramps! so you can give into your monthly cravings and sip on some healthy hot chocolate ♡
❂ It also contains a mood enhancing compound called phenethylamine which triggers the release of endorphins. These types of endorphins are released naturally when you are in a state of love and can boost your mood and alleviate depression.
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My favorite way to enjoy cacao is with my morning coffee...
Here's my easy recipe ↡
brew 1 cup of your favorite coffee
add 1 tbs of raw coconut oil*
add 1 tbs of raw cacao powder
add sweetener of your choice (agave, honey, stevia, etc..)
mix or blend in blender to make it frothy
ENJOY ♡
* I recommend using the solid form of the coconut oil, you can find it at most grocery stores.
Where to find cacao ↡
(This brand you can find at almost every health food store like Wholefoods, Sprouts, The Vitamin Shoppe & I've even seen it at Walmart!)
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References ↡
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