Is Chocolate good for us….?

Hmmm…….now there’s a great question! If you’re asking me, a lover of rich dark chocolate and ceremonial cacao, my answer will always be biased. I would maybe ask different questions: What is our relationship like with chocolate? When do we reach for it? What do we feel would be lost if it were taken away? What does health mean to us? How does something we eat affect us physically, mentally, emotionally and energetically - and do our food choices ripple out and effect others? Most importantly - do we want chocolate in our life!

The cacao bean has been considered a precious food throughout history - it has been worshiped, consumed during festivals, healing ceremonies & celebrations, fought over and used as currency. There’s certainly something complex and special about this bean.

Like many foods, cacao is packed with nutrients when in it’s natural state so it depends how we process it as to it’s potential health benefits. Can chocolate possibly be considered a health food?  I guess that depends who you ask….. before we delve down that rabbit hole, lets look at the nutritional profile.

Chocolate is full of nutrients. The 2 main minerals it contains are Magnesium (good for our bones, our heart, our blood, helps us relax, sleep & improve our energy and may alleviate symptoms of PMT) as well as Sulfur, the beauty mineral (supports healthy hair, eyes, skin and teeth). It is also packed with 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).  In fact, chocolate is rated 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 the caffeine content (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 react to chocolate and find it incredibly stimulating thus it is wise to avoid in the evening but for some people, as surprising as it seems, raw 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 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.

Provided of course that we are supporting 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 cacao as large corporations have no incentive to be ethical. Our power is in our purchasing choices so why not try to opt for chocolate companies who don’t support the slave trade of children or damage the earth by pumping pesticides into the soil along with all the other ingredients that are added to a commercial chocolate bar. Without wanting to sound too opinionated, we do all have a choice with what to do with our money. So if you do currently invest in some of the mainstream Chocolate companies, you may wish to start opting for a more ethical brand. Find out more here - http://www.slavefreechocolate.org/ and have a look at Raw Living chocolate who sell a range of inspiring brands you will want to choose to invest in.