Well, that may be a little bit of a reach, but more and more scientific evidence is revealing that raw cacao beans are a boon of nutrition! We’ve posted before about the healthier chocolate bars there are to eat that still taste really yummy while providing their goodness. But if you’re ready to get serious about getting the most you can that’s when you turn to raw cacao. Cacao beans are the source of all chocolatey goodness, but if you consume them without processing or added sugars then you are tapping into major physical benefits (plus they still taste good). To mention a few of the reasons to start adding these little brown wonders to your diet, they contain:
- Magnesium, and other essential minerals including calcium, sulfur, zinc, iron, copper, potassium, and manganese
- Polyphenols called flavonoids, with antioxidant properties
- Vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B5, B9, E
- Essential heart-healthy fat: oleic acid a monounsaturated fat
- Protein
- Fiber
To get the full story go to this article, Raw Chocolate: The Superfood You Never Had! If you’re not keen on just snacking on them by the handful we can attest that they go well in smoothies, yogurt, hot cereals, etc. The best immediate benefit Melissa noticed was that sugar cravings were better managed, which is huge for her and anyone else who struggles with wanting to eat sweets on the regular. The picture of the cacao nibs above is the one we’ve chosen to buy; they seem to accessible in almost every health food store and vitamin/supplement store. If you prefer another brand let us know! Also, feel free to share your experiences with this “superfood.”