Benefits of Cacao

Cacao is the most natural and purest form of chocolate, made from gently roasted cacao beans. Cacao is commonly confused with standard cocoa powder, but they are processed differently.

While cocoa is processed at high temperatures, cacao is mostly raw. The cacao beans used for cacao are fermented and cracked, but not heated to extremely high temperatures. This maintains the pH and the natural antioxidants.

My favorite brand of cacao is Navitas Organics.

Benefits of Cacao:

High in Antioxidants

Cacao is very high in antioxidants that have a wide range of health benefits. The polyphenol antioxidants are great for your skin and help you look and feel younger. The antioxidants have been shown to neutralize free radicals on the skin and boost the production of collagen, which contributes to fighting the signs of aging.

Improve Cognitive Function 

The same polyphenols that help with your skin, have shown to aid in reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This is because of their ability to help prevent oxidative stress from damaging parts of your brain.

In addition, the flavonoids in cacao have a positive effect on the brain and improve cognitive function by enhancing blood flow to different nerve tissues. Not only do the flavonoids improve cognitive and visual tasks, but they have been shown to improve thinking skills in older adults that have mild cognitive impairment.

Rich in Magnesium

It is very common to be deficient in magnesium. Magnesium is important to the function of the human body. It is a major player in over 350 enzyme reactions in your body, many of which involve energy metabolism. Not only is magnesium great for an energy boost, but it is amazing for muscle growth, your teeth, and stress.    

Boosts Gut Health

Cacao is rich in polyphenols, which interact directly with the gut microbiota. These compounds have been shown to have prebiotic activity, helping to fuel good bacteria, while reducing the number of pathogenic ones.⁣

My favorite way to incorporate cacao into my diet is drinking my CACAO SMOOTHIE. Check out the recipe below.

---

I use Navitas Organics Cacao products

Gut Health Cacao Smoothie

Blend Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana⁣

• Handful of spinach ⁣

• 1 date ⁣

• 1 tbsp flax seeds

• 1 tbsp cacao powder (Navitas Organics)⁣

• 1 cup dairy-free milk or water⁣⁣⁣

• Top with cacao nibs (Navitas Organics)

If you make this recipe and enjoy it, be sure to tag @AKFunctionalNutrition on Instagram!