Susan

http://www.rawmazing.com
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Raw Food Classes =-.

~Joanna

While cacao is an anti-oxidant, it is also a stimulant … having too much cacao in one go can overstimulate your central nervous system, as well as your heart and your brain. This can cause you to feel quite hyper and then drowsy (the side-effects of having too much). Be aware that cacao nibs are quite potent and having 4-5 is probably enough, having a handful is overdoing it. Now who – I ask – eats just 4-5 nibs at one time?

Here are the ORAC scores for the Top 10 Antioxidants Foods (per 100 grams)

1) Raw cocoa powder 95,500
2) Raw cacao nibs 62,100
3) Roasted cocoa powder 26,000
4) Organic Goji Berries 25,300
5) Acai Berries 18,500

Cacao rates at the top, but remember this is based on 100 grams – and it’s not a good idea to eat 100 grams of cacao. It is recommended not to exceed 40 grams (4-6 tsp) of cacao in a day or the stimulant qualities supersede the benefits.

Cacao is rich in calcium, yet it contains oxalic acid which interferes with the body’s absorption of calcium. Not only does oxalic acid prevent cacao products from being good sources of calcium but oxalic acid also interferes with calcium absorption. Double whammy.

Also, one must be very sure that the cacao they are consuming is certified as Organic Raw Cacao – if it is not then you are consuming a whole lot of chemicals from irradiation and spraying of chemicals which are standard practice in growing cacao beans.

So there’s my 2 cents on cacao. I know that David Wolfe would seemingly have us nurse our babies on cacao and eat it by handfuls, but I lean toward the other end of the spectrum … with perhaps having some cacao on the very rare occasion … maybe once a month or so … but give me a handful of blueberries any day!