Brain Food

Raw cacao has unique substances that increase and balance all the neurotransmitters in the brain and make people feel like they got a dozen free hugs. These are denatured when improperly processed and heated. I buy 10 lbs. of raw organic cocao powder from a reputable company for $109 shipped. I put 45 grams and some other goodies in a gallon of water and drink 1 pint every 2 hours.
(Wales)
09/30/2013
Hi Mike,
I have Cacao but its in its raw form. I know it's classed as a super food and full of great vitamin's and minerals an a lot of other good stuff. Thanks for posting about the neurological effects as I did not know this. The one I have can't be be made in to a drink, so I will keep an eye out for a powder version. Love Andrea C xxxxxxx
(Anon)
10/21/2017
Copper in Raw Cacao

Raw cacao is a good source of copper, for those who are copper deficient or seeking a natural source of copper. Copper is important for many body functions, a lack of copper can be often confused with iron deficiency as both show symptoms of anaemia and supplementing with high doses of Vitamin C, iron and Zinc can cause a copper deficiency as it offsets the copper balance unless you are also supplementing with plenty of copper that is bio available, I recommend natural sources of vitamins as supplements have different molecular structure and for the most part synthetic.
I'm not a doctor and not giving medical advice.
I'll keep that in mind, my husband has an Iron deficiency, and also just got out of the hospital because of bleeding ulcers.
(Philippines)
02/28/2022

In the morning, I always have a mug of raw cacao hot chocolate(and water) every day. The cacao I take is made direct from the locally-grown cacao beans with minimal chemical processing. In the Philippines the natural cacao is sold as raw, large, circular, dark-chocolate "buttons" that are very cheap to buy. And a mug of cacao + water actually tastes like dark Swiss chocolate containing no milk or sugar. I've always loved and preferred the taste of dark chocolate and have never really liked the heavily processed and sugary milk chocolate cacao products that are sold in all the supermarkets.
The way Filipinos prepare and make their hot cacao drink is they first pour a mug full of water into a pan, add 4 or 5 large, raw cacao "buttons" and then carefully bring it to a gentle rolling boil, stirring it all the time. After about 5 mins, when the cacao is the right thickness and consistency, remove the pan from the heat and pour the cacao + water into a mug and add sugar. But I always drink my cacao with no sugar. One of the reasons I drink the raw cacao is because it helps to provide essential minerals in their natural form such as: calcium, copper, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium and phosphorus.
Cacao also contains a small amount of caffeine and a much larger amount of theobromine, which are both beneficial for the body. Theobromine also helps to improve cognitive performance, lowers cholesterol, promotes sleep etc and is highly beneficial to the body:
https://drugs.selfdecode.com/blog/theobromine-benefits/
By the way -- and just to be absolutely clear -- theobromine does not contain any bromine.
Hi Bill,
This was a wonderful read, thank you! I use cacao every day added to my decaf coffee. About a tbsp, and been doing that for about a year now. I also make fat-bombs with my cacao that are delicious and Type 2 diabetes/Ketogenic diet-friendly! Do good to see someone post on it, and enjoy it as well :) I get the best I can which is the Better Body Foods organic. I can't get the type you have but I am good with this brand, and its ingredients.
Thanks again!
Hypertension

I am using 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder with 1 cup warm milk at night. I gave up Losartan BP meds. My Bp is now normal.
God Bless
Raw Cacao Powder Recipes

Do any of you use raw cacao powder? I can't believe how much better it tastes than the regular cocoa powder from the store that I have used all of my life.
Supposedly raw cacao powder has more nutrients than the processed stuff. (Makes sense to me! )
Here are a couple of recipes:
My 5 year old's favorite breakfast - he calls it "Chocolate Museli"
- 1/2 cup dry quick oats
- 1 teaspoon raw sugar
- 1 teaspoon cacao powder
- pinch of salt
Mix together. Pour milk onto it, or kefir or yogurt. Mix and eat.
This is also good with sliced bananas or blueberries in it.
Chocolate Banana Milkshake
- 2 ripe bananas, frozen and broken into chunks
- 1.5 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
- 2 T. raw sugar
- 2 cups milk, kefir or yogurt.
Blend together in a blender until smooth. Add more milk if it is too thick for your taste. Add more banana if you want it thicker.
My children love this for a snack on a warm afternoon.
Enjoy!
~Mama to Many~