PLANT DESCRIPTION

Documented Properties & Actions:

Antiseptic, diuretic, emmenagogueue, parasiticide, vulnerary

Plant Chemicals & Nutrients

Include: Acetic-acid, aesculetin,

Alanine(Activates muscles and immune system booster)

alkaloids, alpha-sitosterol, alpha-theosterol, amyl-acetate, amyl-alcohol, amyl-butyrate, amylase,

(The Bliss Chemical) A neurotransmitter called anandamide (n-arachidonoylethanolamine), has been isolated in cacao in quantities significant enough to affect the brain. Anandamide is a cannabinoid naturally found in the human brain. Anandamide is a lipid (fat) known as "the bliss chemical" because it is released while we are feeling great.

Arginine(new muscle builder,supports immune system and detoxifies the Liver),

ascorbic-acid, ascorbic-acid-oxidase, aspariginase,

Beta-carotene(Immune system booster,Defends against free radical attack, aids digestion, Vision enhancement and cornea protector ),

beta-sitosterol, beta-theosterol, biotin, caffeic-acid,

Caffeine

Every source or author on chocolate will give different estimates of how much caffeine is present in cacao. However, it generally agreed that chocolate is a poor source of caffeine.

Calcium(promotes stronger bones and Calms nerves) improves cholestrol levels

campesterol, catalase, catechins, catechol, cellulase, cellulose, chlorogenic-acid, chrysoeriol-7-o-glucoside, citric-acid, coumarin, cyanidin, cyanidin-3-beta-l-arabinoside, cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-glycoside, cycloartanol, d-galactose, decarboxylase, dextrinase, diacetyl, dopamine, epigallocatechin, ergosterol, ferulic-acid, formic-acid, fructose, furfurol, galacturonic-acid, gallocatechin, gentisic-acid, glucose,

Glutamic-acid(Reduces alcohol/sugar craving),

glycerin, glycerophosphatase,

Glycine(Calms nervous system) ,

glycolic-acid, glycosidase, haematin, histidine, i-butyric-acid, idaein, invertase, isobutylacetate, isoleucine, isopropyl-acetate, isovitexin, kaempferol, l-epicatechin, leucine, leucocyanidins, linalool, linoleic-acid, lipase, luteolin, luteolin-7-o-glucoside, lysine, lysophosphatidyl-choline,

Magnesium helps the body use calcium and Vitamin C, promotes tranquility, converts sugar into energy, helps the neuromuscular activity of the heart, moderates mood swings, reduces migraine headaches and supports healthy bowel function. Magnesium is concentrated eighteen times greater in the heart muscle than in the bloodstream. Magnesium is the primarily mineral missing when heart problems occur. Magnesium increases the overall vigor of the heart muscle. This mineral also decreases blood coagulation thus lowering blood pressure and helping the heart pump more effectively. Raw Cacao, of course, is a fantastic food source of heart-supporting magnesium. Promotes tranquility, moderates Mood Swings, Relaxes Muscles - especially Bowel, Legs, Back and Brain, Reduces migraine headaches

maleic-acid, mannan, manninotriose, mannose, melibiose, mesoinositol, methylheptenone, n-butylacetate, n-nonacosane, niacin, nicotinamide, nicotinic- acid,

nitrogen(Nitric oxide is a short-lived signaling molecule essential to vascular homeostasis, including vasodilatation, the researchers said. Circulating nitric oxide is thought to be a "storage pool" of this important molecule, which can compensate for local nitric oxide deficits and restore vascular function where needed).

Phenylethylamine (PEA)

PEA is a chemical found only in Cacao and AFA Blue Green Algae that increases the activity of neurotransmitters (brain activity and chemicals) in parts of the brain that control our ability to pay attention, track, create, imagine and stay alert. Elevated PEA levels occur when we are captivated by a good book, movie, relationship or project; this happens specifically during those moments when we are so focused that we lose all track of time, food, and the outside world.

Phenylalanine(improves mental clarity and sugar cravings reducer),

phlobaphene, phosphatidyl-choline, phosphatidyl- ethanolamine, phosphatidyl-inositol, phospholipids, phosphorus, phytase, planteose, polygalacturonate, polyphenol-oxidase, polyphenols, proline, propionic-acid, propyl-acetate, protocatechuic-acid, purine,

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) Immune system booster and relieves PMS,

quercetin, quercetin-3-o-galactoside, quercetin-3-o-glucoside, quercitrin, raffinase, raffinose, reductase, rhamnose,

Riboflavin(boosts physical energy,defends free radical attacks, reduces eye fatigue,

rutin, rutoside, saccharose, salsolinol, serine, sinapic-acid, stachyose, stearic-acid, stearodiolein, stigmasterol, sucrose, syringic-acid, tannins, tartaric-acid,

Theobromine is also a mild diuretic (increases urine flow) and has been used as a medical drug in cases where a heart attack had resulted in an accumulation of body fluid. Keep our cacao nearby in your First Aid Kit!

Theobromine is a cardiac stimulant. This is a reason why it has been used to treat high blood pressure. One of the reasons why dogs should not eat cacao or chocolate is because this food can cause cardiac arrest. Dogs simply lack the enzymes necessary to metabolize quantities of theobromine in excess of 100-150 mg per kilogram of the dog's body weight.

Theobromine makes up between 1-2% of the cacao bean. Theobromine stimulates the central nervous system, relaxes smooth muscles, and dilates blood vessels. Theobromine has about 1/4 of the stimulating power of its sister molecule caffeine.

Thiamin (Vitamin B1) increases energy, improves mental attitude, tension reliever,

threonine, trigonelline, tyramine, tyrosine, valerianic-acid, valine, vanillic-acid, verbascose, verbascotetrose, vitexin

Nature's Stress Buster (Anti-Depressant Properties of Cacao)

Cacao helps relieve depression and exhibit feelings of well being. Cacao contains monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO Inhibitors) that improve our mood because they allow serotonin and dopamine to remain in the bloodstream longer without being broken down. Cacao contains anandamide which delivers blissful feelings. Cacao also contains B Vitamins, which are associated with brain, nervous system, blood cells, antibody formulation, metabolism, skin and muscle health. All this makes cacao a natural sedative!

CACAO RECIPES from our customers and Others

From Isabelle Orr in Virginia

2 young coconuts, water + flesh

1 vanilla bean, whole

1 Tablespoon cacao beans

1 TBSP Maca Powder

Put all in Vitamix and be prepared for a taste of paradise...

From Michelle, From SAD to RAW

20 cacao beans

10 dates 3/4 c. finely shredded coconut 1/2 c. almonds 1 Tbl. vanilla powder 3 Tbl. carob powder 3 Tbl. Mesquite powder 3 Tbl. Yacon Syrup 3 Tbl. oil (olive, sunflower, or sesame) 1/4 tsp. Maca (optional)

Combine in food processor til well blended. Roll into small balls, then roll into shredded coconut for a light covering. Chill.

Sue's Chocolate Turtles From Sue Harris, Raw Foodist

1/4 c. almond butter 1 c. coconut oil (melted in bowl) 2 tsp. vanilla 2 T. carob powder 3/4 ground cacao nibs (peeled cacao beans) or cacao powder( from Got Cacao) 1 c. slivered almonds 1 c. walnuts 2 c. raisins dash mesquite dash agave nectar

Mix, spread on wax paper or teflex sheet. Chill, break and serve.

From Kevala Parker's New Zealand Friend

"the world's nicest breakfast"

use oat groats, dried fruit, nuts, seeds and cacao all soaked overnight, then mixed with grated apple and lemon juice, 1 tbsp coconut oil and flax oil, plus cinammon and fennel seeds.