Cacao – It’s the Healthy Part of Chocolate!
Posted by Susan | Posted in Healthy Eating | Posted on 25-01-2013
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Are you a lover of all things chocolate? If you are, then you’ve probably heard about some of the many health benefits of this dark God. The healthy part of chocolate is cacao which is a seed/bean grown on the cacao tree. These beans are called nibs when separated from the seed’s hard shell before creating chocolate liquor or powder.
Cacao contains over 300 compounds including the antioxidants theobromine, phenylethylamine (PEA), serotonin plus vitamins A, C, E, pantothenic acid, B1, B2, B3 and minerals magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and manganese.
Theobromine, PEA, and serotonin are all mood enhancers which may account for the blissful feelings you experience when eating chocolate. Studies have shown chocolate may help improve blood circulation, cholesterol levels, and boost brain power.
Cacao’s ORAC score (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is near the top of the list for antioxidant capacity. ORAC measures the effectiveness of an antioxidant to absorb free radicals that cause cell or tissue damage—the higher the ORAC score, the higher the ingredient’s antioxidant power.
However, as with any food, moderation is key as chocolate does contain calories and fat which may cause weight gain if consumed in excess. Replacing you morning coffee with a raw cacao beverage is a healthy alternative to consider as it is loaded with antioxidants and bliss-inducing compounds. A great supplement to consider is Miessence BerryRadical which contains not only certified organic cacao powder but the antioxidants certified organic acai berry, goji berry, raspberry, blueberry, and strawberry powder. The ingredients are freeze-dried to preserve freshness and BerryRadical contains no chemicals, preservatives, or fillers. Find your bliss the healthy way—give BerryRadical a try!


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