The crucial difference between cacao and chocolate is that the former is the product of a plant - the cacao tree - while the latter is the product of processing the seeds of the same plant.
What is cacao?
Theobroma cacao is the full name of the cacao tree and also means "the food of the gods". Its soft white flesh is rich in countless seeds the size and shape of a flat bean. This is the precious cacao. After these seeds have been fermented and roasted, the so-called cacao powder is obtained - in addition to the cacao butter - which determines the taste of countless food specialities worldwide.
What are cacao nibs?
Cacao nibs are gently roasted small pieces of raw cacao beans. For this purpose, the cacao bean is not completely ground, but only "crushed".
How is chocolate made from cacao?
Chocolate is made by mixing cacao powder with a sweetener (we only use raw agave syrup and dates for our raw chocolate). Cacao powder is, therefore, an ingredient of chocolate.
Why is raw chocolate better for your health?
Classic mass-produced chocolate is made by roasting, grinding and then mixing cacao with refined sugar, milk powder, hydrogenated fats, preservatives, and other additives, leaving virtually nothing of its original nutritional value.
The best way to take advantage of the nutritional value of cacao is to consume it in the purest form that nature has created for us - in the form of unroasted cacao beans.
Healthy and nutritious
Cacao is one of the so-called "superfoods" that contains about 300 chemically identifiable substances, making it an extremely complex food.
Cacao is primarily the main source of magnesium in nature, with magnesium considered to be one of the least abundant elements in the current diet. It is also a source of a very wide range of other minerals and vitamins. According to scientific evidence, cacao is the richest antioxidant plant. It provides about 10% of flavonoid antioxidants, which is three times as much as in green tea and 20 times more than in roasted, commercially available cacao powder.
Cacao has a stimulating and relaxing effect on the human body. Substances that have been studied by scientists from this point of view include anandamide, arginine, dopamine, tryptophan, and phenylethylamine.
Anandamide is a substance that is naturally present in the human brain and is associated with pleasant feelings of happiness. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and precursor of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that affects moods and emotions, among other things. Phenylethylamine (PEA) in the brain causes the release of dopamine, another mood-converting neurotransmitter.
Thanks to these chemicals, unroasted cacao is a true antidepressant, which causes good mood and happiness, including aphrodisiac effects. Cacao also contains significant amounts of theobromine (1-2%). Theobromine stimulates the central nervous system and the heart, relaxes muscles, dilates blood vessels and has a diuretic effect.
At Lifefood, we love this Superfood
We at Lifefood quickly discovered the invaluable properties of this precious superfood. Not only because we love chocolate, but also because the delicious product provides valuable nutrients. Delicious and healthy at the same time? Sounds like the perfect combination to us.
In addition to raw cacao powder from certified organic cultivation, we also offer 100% pure and raw cacao butter. This is not only ideal as a basic ingredient for homemade delicacies but can also be used as a body lotion and a facial cream due to its delicate structure. A real all-rounder. However, if you are a real "chocoholic" and want to try the basic ingredient in its true form, you can have a very special taste experience with our raw cacao beans from the Theobroma cacao plant.
This is precisely this combination that gives our variety of chocolates the silky and soft “melt in the mouth” feel. Whether you are a fan of fruity flavours or perhaps you prefer bitter or crunchy chocolate, we can satisfy most palates!
Both our Lifebar energy bars and the Lifebar protein bars with natural cacao are ideal as a snack or for a healthy breakfast in the morning. In addition to cacao, they also contain raw almonds and a hint of vanilla.
Breakfast lovers can prepare a satisfying meal with our delicious porridge made with cacao, dates, quinoa and much more. In the Life Breakfast Blueberry Chia Protein Granola you will also find the delicious cacao nibs. The protein powder made from natural ingredients is particularly suitable for a quick breakfast on the go or after sports. Once again, we have taken advantage of the wonderful properties of this Superfood.
Cacao as a genuine superfood
Unfortunately, everyday chocolate found in most shops has fallen into the category of "unhealthy food". Too much high-sugar chocolate can lead to obesity, and potentially even acne and allergies. However, all this applies to mass-produced chocolates made from roasted cacao with added sugar and additives. It is more than likely that allergies and acne are due to the content of milk derivatives and other additives in some products, as raw pure cacao does not cause such problems.
Unroasted, pure cacao preserves all nutrients which would otherwise be reduced by heat treatment or some other form of processing. Chocolate made from raw cacao is the best chocolate in the world.
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