The Benefits of KAKAO
To learn more about ceremonial-grade cacao, we recommend our 2-hour Cacao Workshop and the 3-day online immersion with the Spirit of Cacao under "Trainings" in the top menu.
Also available: The most recent podcast interview Makenzie did that covers Cacao's science, benefits, usage in daily life and a bit about the KAKAO story.
When approached with intention, KAKAO can assist you in coming out of the head and into the heart. It helps your body and mind become more receptive and open to all forms of meditation, contemplation, introspection, connection and creativity!
Working with cacao intentionally can also support us in powerfully accessing our emotional body, something we humans often neglect.
One of the most beautiful things about KAKAO is that it partners well with just about anything; dancing, singing, writing, journaling, time in nature, connecting with a friend or romantic partner or simply meditation/contemplating. It is as simple as setting your intention and inviting the cacao into your heart.
You can drink KAKAO daily as a part of your daily ritual or whenever it calls to you. Cacao's powerful yet gentle energy can assist with opening up the heart, releasing blocked and/or stuck emotions, vulnerable heartfelt expression, accessing our strength of heart, expressing ourselves honestly and authentically, and receiving creative inspiration.
Most people find KAKAO to be grounding, warming and clarifying.
Whole cacao beans contain many compounds that are known for eliciting the sensations of bliss, euphoria, love and connection. Primary effects include:
- Improved mood
- Enhanced creativity
- Enhanced cognitive function
- Prolonged focus
- More energy (without the jitters or the crash)
- Relief from the effects of stress
- Relaxation (a calming of the nervous system)
- Easier access to emotions and feelings
- Deepened meditations and inner-work
- Euphoric connection to self, others, and nature
- An open and receptive heart
- Increased confidence in communication
- Feelings of bliss and connection
- Increased blood circulation and digestion
The Science of KAKAO
There is significant spiritual history with this plant, and it has been revered and used in ceremony for thousands of years. Furthermore, there is scientific evidence that backs cacao's blissful effects. Cacao, when sourced properly, is loaded with unique plant compounds known for their beneficial effects on human physiology, especially the heart, brain, and body. These compounds have been well researched amongst scientists and academics. While they all work together to produce cacao's ceremonial effects, exploring these compounds individually is the best way to properly grasp just how profound ceremonial drinking chocolate can be.
1. Theobromine: hence the scientific name, theobroma cacao. Theobromine is one of the finest members of an alkaloid class of compounds known as xanthines. Theobromine has been proven to lower blood pressure, increase serum HDL cholesterol (the good kind), and enhance lung functioning by opening up air vessels via smooth muscle relaxation. Theobromine also enhances cognitive function by increasing blood flow and oxygenation to the brain and doubles as an antioxidant capable of mitigating oxidative stress and reducing inflammation. For those that love to exercise, theobromine also blocks adenosine receptors, enabling a short-term increase in muscular contractility.
2. Tryptophan: An essential amino acid and the sole precursor for the neurotransmitter serotonin, commonly known as the "feel-good chemical." Serotonin is well known for its ability to combat stress and improve our mood by promoting the feelings of comfort, contentment, happiness, and relaxation. Serotonin can also improve sleep, provide relief from the symptoms of depression and anxiety, modulate pain thresholds, and increase our sense of emotional well-being.
3. Phenylethylamine (PEA): better known as "the love drug" for its association with infatuation, this is the compound your brain releases naturally when you're falling in love. PEA stimulates the central nervous system to release the body's natural opium-like compounds called endorphins. This is somewhat similar to the sensation of orgasm. PEA also signals the body to promote the sensation of alertness, focus, and mental acuity, all while elevating one's mood, speeding up metabolism, and boosting memory.
4. Anandamide: Sanskrit word meaning the "bliss molecule," Anadamide is best known for its role in producing the feeling of happiness. Anandamide is an endogenous cannabinoid found naturally in cacao and the human brain. While anandamide won't leave you in a mind-altered state, its happiness producing effect does offer some protection against stress-related psychiatric diseases including major depression, generalized anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anandamide also plays a role in memory, appetite, sleep, and pain relief.
5. Magnesium: every cell in the body contains this mineral and requires it to function. Magnesium helps increase energy, calms nerves, aids in digestion, and relieves muscle aches and pains (among a whole host of other benefits).
6. Copper: a mineral required for biological processes such as iron transport, glucose metabolism, and infant growth and brain development.
We could go on touting the health benefits of whole bean, heirloom drinking chocolate. It can all be summed up with this epic quote:
"After water, cacao is the single healthiest substance you can put in your mouth. It can easily replace a number of psychiatric drugs for mood, plus it produces the same chemistry in the brain that occurs when we fall in love." - Chris Kilham, WellBella