Chocoholics, rejoice! David Wolfe, author of our new release Superfoods: the Food and Medicine of the Future lists cacao as one of his top superfoods that will heal your heart (both physically and emotionally), boost your mood, and even help you lose weight. Not for nothing does cacao’s Latin name theobroma cacao translate to ‘food of the gods.’
But before you reach for that bag of leftover Easter candy, let me clarify. By chocolate* I mean raw cacao whose enzymes and nutrients haven’t been destroyed by heat and whose beneficial properties haven’t been cannibalized by refined sugar, dairy products, and preservatives. Back away slowly from those pastel M&Ms.
Fortunately, raw chocolate is every bit as delicious as its sugary, over-processed counterpart (which the folks at North Atlantic can readily attest to). In his profiling of the top ten superfoods, David Wolfe offers a thorough look at cacao, its botany, history, and chemistry. Bursting with antioxidants, omega-6 fatty acids, seratonin, and other elements and amino acids essential to health and happiness, cacao is ‘food of the gods’ indeed.
Although David Wolfe offers a number of highly nutritious and delectable cacao recipes, one of which can be found here, he also offers faster options for dark chocolate junkies and anyone short on time. Try:
- Blending cacao powder into your favorite beverage — give your coffee or tea an extra kick!
- Topping your favorite dessert with cacao nibs instead of chocolate chips.
- Making trail mix with cacao nibs, goji berries, raw nuts, etc.
- Eating cacao nibs straight from the bag. Go on, you know you want to.
Of course, David Wolfe examines other highly beneficial superfoods, too, including goji berries, bee products, maca, and spirulina (which is not, as I initially thought, something to be found in the pasta aisle). But one may as well start with chocolate*. Unlike spirulina (as it turns out, a type of algae), cacao offers an exceptionally gentle, familiar, and delicious introduction to a whole new world of healthy eating.
CLICK HERE to read all about Superfoods.
CLICK HERE to see all of David Wolfe’s books (including Naked Chocolate)
CLICK HERE to visit David Wolfe’s website and buy cacao powder and nibs.
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Hi, interesting post. I have been pondering this topic,so thanks for writing. I’ll certainly be subscribing to your blog. Keep up the good work
I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.