The beans then can be processed in many ways. The cacao fruit tree produces cacao pods, which are cracked open to release cacao beans. In addition, cocoa has been used to treat anemia, mental fatigue, tuberculosis, fever, gout, kidney stone symptoms and even low libido. What do cacao nibs do for you? Several supposed health effects of cocoa are supported by research studies, including fighting oxidative stress, improving heart function, stimulating the nervous system, facilitating digestion and gut health, and improving kidney and bowel function. In fact, cacao was so highly valued that ancient native people celebrated it in a variety of ways. It’s been cultivated throughout Mexico, Central America and South America since the Early Formative Period and was used as a food, a medicine and even currency. The indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica have enjoyed cacao since before the time of Christ. The use of cacao for health purposes dates back at least 3,000 years. In fact, theobroma cacao is said t o mean “food of the gods,” and many experts consider cacao to be a “ super fruit.” It comes from the seeds of the fruit of the cacao tree, which has been prized throughout history. What Are Cacao Nibs?Ĭacao nibs are cacao beans that have been cracked, fermented and broken into smaller pieces.Ĭacao, or theobroma cacao, is the source of dark, natural chocolate. How do you choose the best types of cocoa/chocolate that will provide the most benefit? Keep reading to find out. Unfortunately, what most of us think of as chocolate contains no real cacao at all - which means it does not provide these valuable compounds. These characteristics provide many benefits similar to the benefits of dark chocolate, such as reduced inflammation and improved focus, alertness and mood. Believe it or not, cacao nibs are one of the best sources of polyphenols and have more antioxidant activity than tea, wine, blueberries and even goji berries. Real, organic, raw cacao is a superfood containing a variety of unique phytonutrients, including high amounts of flavonoids, sulfur, magnesium and phenylethylamine. And thanks largely to this cold weather favorite, we’re all familiar with cocoa and other forms of healthy dark chocolate - but what about cacao nibs? There’s nothing like cozying up to the fireplace in the winter with a frothy cup of hot chocolate.
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