Clients often ask - ‘Can I still eat chocolate?’ I am a self professed ‘chocoholic’ (though it is no secret). We all have a vice and this is one of mine and I believe moderation wins when we are in a balanced state.
Theobroma cacao is considered to be the food of the gods. Over the last past decade, I have also grown to connect, honour and cultivate the ceremonial rituals around cacao to enhance the energetic benefits. Cacao taken in this way can be healing, induce mental and emotional clarity; especially around love, purpose, intuition and personal growth. Personally it helps me to feel present, softer and be in a state of surrender and connect to my creativity.
Cacao, like many plants is considered to have her own intelligence and the more we live in harmony with the plant-world the more we can gain healing benefits and connect to a deeper-rooted wisdom.
Regular commercial chocolate bars can be highly processed at high temperatures with added sugars, preservatives and undesirable artificial flavours and additives - obviously not good! However pure and raw cacao offers protection from free radicals with its incredible antioxidant properties, helping us to counteract the effects of exposure to stress, pollution, chemical and encourages more health and vitality.
𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 𝙗𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙨:
Improves focus and memory
Elevates mood and lifts depression
Contains phenylethylamine - ‘the love molecule’ which increases levels of endorphins in our brain - has a similar chemical effect when we are we fall in love or are on top of the world.
Contains anandamide -‘the bliss molecule’ (‘ananda’ is the Sanskrit word for ‘bliss’), a neurotransmitter produced in the brain that triggers a desire for substances when we feel physically, mentally or emotionally stressed.
Supports infertility
Gently stimulates sexual desire
Contains magnesium and iron
Increases vata and pitta - reduces kapha (without sugars)
If you have tried 100% raw cacao, you will know that it has a very bitter taste (rasa), it has a pungent aftertaste (vipaka), light and dry, with a heating energy (virya). It is rajasic (stimulating in nature) to the mind and can be difficult on digestion so a little goes a long way.
𝘾𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙤 𝙑𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙖
Raw < - > processed
Prana (life force energy) < - > no life force
Balancing for all dosas < - > imbalancing for all doshas
Anti oxidant < - > create toxins (ama)
Heart opening < - > Heart clogging
Satisfies the energy body < - > satisfies mind craving
While in Peru, a few years ago I loved getting involved in the bean to bar process. The chocolate flavour develops through the fermentation processing of the bitter alkaloids present in the seeds of the cacao beans. The are then dried, cleaned, roasted and shelled to extract the cacao nibs.
Like many sacred plants - we can all be more conscious of how they are sourced and harvested. #ethicalfarming
How do you like to eat your chocolate?
