Raw cacao has a plethora of health benefits.  

Cacao is proven to: 

 

* Lowers blood pressure:

Cacao is full of flavonoids, wich are proven to help lower blood pressure, prevent blood clots and improve the bloodflow to your heart and brain.

 

* Reduce diabetes risk:

Cacao is filled with antioxidants, wich may effect your bodys response to insulin. Research also shows that the flavonoids in Cacao can improve the way your bodu metabolizes glucose if you allready have diabetes.

* less risk of heart disease: 

Studies have shown a link between the flavanols in cacao to higher nitric oxide levels in the blood. Nitric oxide will help to keep you arteries relaxed, wich will help your blood to flow better.

Cacao is also a proven way to lower your LDL (Bad cholesterol) and reduce inflammation. Both will lower your changes on a stroke or heart attack.

 

* Mood improvement:

Cacao contains: flavonoids, ,Ca==caffeine, ,serotonin and tryptophan.

All these natural ingredients are proven to make you have less symptoms of depression. Long-term research is still worked on.

 

* Improved brain function: 

Epicatechin is a specific flavonoid wich can help your brain health with better blood flow and cognition. This could lower the risks of dementia. More research is still being done.

 

* Enhance performances: 

A small study showed that cyclists who ate dark chocolate (wich is allmost the same as raw cacao) used less oxigen and recovered faster than cyclists who did not ate the dark chocolate. This is the cacao influencing the way your body uses nitric oxide. Larger studies are still needed.

 

Cacao Powder Nutrition

Cacao powder provides more nutrition than cocoa powder and can be a healthier substitute in recipes. Cacao powder provides:

• Iron
• Phosphorus
• Manganese
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Fiber

Cacao side effects.

As with ANY herb, you can experience some slight side effects whilst you are getting used to drinking raw cacao. 

Some side effects can be:

* Light head eache.

* Nausia  / stomach ache.

* Slight dizzyness

* Intense emotions

It is always important to not drink more than the max amount of 45 gr of Cacao per serving and keep yourself hydrated with some extra water after the ceremony. This will also help to flush out all the negative.