Cacao

Cacao is a superfood that is full of nutritional elements and neurochemicals that work together to make you feel fantastic! Some of the important nutritional elements of cacao are minerals such as magnesium, manganese, calcium, copper, iron, zinc and potassium.

 

Cacao consists of over 50% cacao butter which is an extremely healthy fat that enables the metabolism of the nutritional aspects of cacao, and prolongs it’s affects without a crash in energy!

 

Cacao is one of the best sources of magnesium! It is one of the seven essential microminerals essential for life and one of the most deficient minerals in our diet. A 1oz serving of Keith’s Cacao has just over 100mg of Magnesium!

 

Cacao is a fantastic source for antioxidants! Antioxidants protect your cells from damage from free radicals which are unstable molecules the body produces due to environmental and other stresses. Free radicals can cause oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of cacao support that body and may also have a positive impact on immune health. Antioxidant power and strength is measured with an ORAC value, and 100g of cacao has an ORAC value of over 55,000!

 

In addition to nutrients, cacao contains neurochemicals, also known neurotransmitters, which act like messengers telling our bodies what to do: influencing our mood and affecting our energy, alertness, and concentration. Cacao also contains compounds with psychoactive properties such as theobromine and caffeine.

 

Theobromine is a long-lasting stimulant like caffeine, but caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and theobromine the cardiovascular system. Theobromine lifts the energy and mood for an extended period without a crash like caffeine. Keith's Cacao is consistently high in Theobromine and low in caffeine.

 

Cacao also has Phenylethlamine (PEA), the 'love chemical', stimulates the brain chemistry of feeling in love. Supports the nuerotransmitters, can be used in place of dopamine, elevating dopamine levels, which elevates attention and mood!

 

Another neurochemical in cacao is Anandamide, the ‘bliss molecule’, a cannabinoid found naturally in the brain, present after exercise and associated with the feeling of a ‘runners high’. Anandamide binds to endocannabinoid receptors producing endorphins like dopamine, serotonin and PEA. Cacao also has anandamide inhibitors, so it adds anandamide and then also helps it stay in the body longer!

 

Cacao has Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOI's), which inhibit the metabolizing of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, so keeps them in the body for longer! If you take anti-depressants that are MAOI’s or SNRI’s, the combination can potentially cause issues if you take a high dosage of medication, as they are both affecting the neurotransmitters. Most people who take low to medium dose anti-depressants find it is safe to take smaller servings of cacao. Always listen to your body, and only start with a small amount to see how it feels.

 

Cacao is also an entheogen, a psychoactive plant medicine! Plant based psychoactives release naturally occurring chemicals in the body that alter brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior! Cacao is psychoactive, not psychedelic.