Cacao beans are 100% pure dark chocolate with a strong dark bitter chocolate flavour! Eating raw cacao is known to diminish the appetite. Therefore eating chocolate in its raw form helps one to lose weight by allowing you to eat less. The recommended daily intake is 5 to 20 whole beans. Although I am a chocoholic, I can only manage 3 to 5 beans per serving and because I have a very sweet tooth, I combine it with a few raw almonds to enhance its taste. The kilojoules in the beans are next to nothing and my craving for normal sugar- and fat-filled milk chocolate is gone instantly!
I came across more interesting information about dark chocolate in a book called Foods to fight cancer. High quality dark chocolate contains phytochemicals that may help to prevent the development of cancer and cardiovascular disease. A few cacao beans have twice the polyphenol content of a glass of red wine and about as much as a cup of green tea brewed for the correct length of time. Proanthocyanidins make up a large percentage of the weight of the cacao beans and are renowned as powerful antioxidants. The beans contain 10 grams per 100 grams of flavone antioxidants and make cacao one of the richest sources of antioxidants of any food.
Its anti-depressant properties are also worth mentioning. Cacao is a great source of well-studied neurotransmitters, which help alleviate depression and are associated with feelings of well-being. Cacao is also a fantastic food source of heart-supporting magnesium. Organic cacao beans (raw chocolate) are available in health shops. See the packaging for a recipe and more uses.
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