A Chocolate Recipe To Warm Your Soul

The history of chocolate is as rich as its flavor. Chocolate is made from seeds of cacao trees (Theobroma cacao), which originate from the Upper Amazon Rain Forest.

At one time, cacao seeds, or beans, were thought to be more valuable than gold and were used as currency by the Aztecs.

Today, cacao is continuing to prove its worth by being labeled a top superfood thanks to its health-boosting goodness.

A Boatload Of  Benefits

Raw cacao is definitely something you want to start incorporating into your diet if you haven’t already. It’s loaded with antioxidants — more so than even acai and blueberries. Antioxidants help to fight off free radicals which are responsible for causing cellular damage that leads to signs of aging and serious diseases like cancer.

Along with its abundance of antioxidants, cacao is rich in vitamins and minerals — including calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and magnesium. These vitamins and minerals are vital for boosting energy levels, memory, clarity and immunity.

When you combine cacao’s antioxidants and vitamins you are left with a healing powerhouse.

It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory – and we know that inflammation is the root of many conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Cacao is linked to numerous heart benefits including lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

Along with keeping your heart healthy, cacao works wonders on your brain. It boosts cognitive health and neuroplasticity — the process by which the brain creates new neural connections (This has been shown to help patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia.) In addition, cacao can help elevate your mood by increasing serotonin levels.

As if those healing properties weren’t enough, cacao helps your overall health by being supremely gut-friendly. It works as a prebiotic, full of fiber that helps create good bacteria to keep your tummy healthy and happy.

How To Eat Cacao

Raw cacao, unlike its roasted “chocolate” counterpart, has a pleasantly bitter taste. That’s why it is cold-pressed into a powder or broken into little nibs so it can be added to all types of food such as desserts, smoothies, drinks, granola bars… the possibilities are endless.

I recently stumbled upon this perfect wintry recipe, and now I’m hooked on it! You should definitely give it a whirl. It will help you to stay warm, happy, and healthy!

Hot Cardamom Tahini Cacao

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk of choice, such as vanilla almond milk
• 5 tbsp organic cacao powder
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• 2 tbsp tahini
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 green cardamom pod contents freshly ground (or 1/4 tsp ground cardamom)
• optionally ground cardamom, chopped pistachios, or cinnamon for garnishing

Instructions

• In a saucepan over medium heat combine all of the above ingredients.
• Whisk continually until all is smoothly combined, beginning to bubble and appears frothy.
• Carefully pour into mugs, and sprinkle with a little cardamom or cinnamon if desired.
• Enjoy!

In fact, one could put together all these ingredients, minus the milk, and package for a fun Christmas gift for someone… sharing awesome recipes is caring!

Stay curious,

Nick Polizzi
Host of Proven: Healing Breakthroughs Backed By Science
& Founder of The Sacred Science