As said earlier, Cacao nibs are formed after a cacao bean has been fermented, dried, and roasted. Then taken out of its husk and broken into little chunks or bits. Just like macadamia nuts, they have crunchy, tender, and chewy mouth-feel. Cacao nibs are raw chocolate chips that are not yet processed and no refined sugar has been added. They have a bitter chocolate flavor.
Today we will focus on the health benefits you will get from consuming cacao nibs.
Cacao nibs are packaged with phytonutrients such as magnesium, flavonoids, sulfur, and phenylethylamine and hence the name SUPERFOOD.
The cocoa nibs’ antioxidant activity is more than that of tea, wine, goji berries, and even blueberries.
- Cacao nibs prevent cell damage
By now you have already confirmed that cacao nibs are rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are important as they absorb the free radicals that cause cell damage.
- They fight oxidative stress and stimulate the nervous system.
Eating cacao nibs promotes the release of serotonin, a feel-good, hormone produced by the brain that lifts your mood and treats mental fatigue. Cacao nibs protect the cells from oxidation and this keeps you feeling young.
Do you remember the story of the Aztecs in the “gods of chocolate” article?
“The Aztecs believed that cacao was holy as the cacao pod was symbolically used in human sacrifice rituals (Coe and Coe, 2013). Every year they would choose a well-built slave to be sacrificed in honor of their god (Quetzalcoatl) and for forty days he would be treated as the “god” himself and at the end of the forty days he would give up his life. If he got scared of dying, the Aztecs gave him a chocolate drink which would make him “unconscious” and would return him to his cheerfulness. The Aztecs culturally relied on chocolate to bring joy to everyone that drank it. It was kind of an alcoholic drink, if you drank it you became cheerful and all your worries disappeared”
The phenethylamine compound in cacao nibs triggers the release of endorphins and other feel-good chemicals in the brain. These chemicals boost the mood and stabilize it. This explains why women love chocolate during their menstrual cycles.
- Improve the functioning of the heart.
Cacao nibs contain flavonoids. These are anti-inflammatory antioxidants that protect the arteries and the heart. They:
- Prevent blood clotting by thinning the blood
- Prevent heart diseases
- Improve blood circulation
- Prevent stroke
- Lower the blood pressure
- Improve overall kidney, digestion, gut, and bowel functioning
Cacao nibs are high in fiber and this stimulates the bowel and other digestive enzymes. They help keep the glucose levels in the body stable.
- Help in weight loss.
Cacao nibs contain nutrients that naturally suppress appetite. This keeps you feeling full all the time and in turn, leads to low-calorie intake in the body. The properties in the cacao nibs also reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, and fasten the fat-burning process in the body.
Lastly, according to research, cocoa has been used to treat anemia, tuberculosis, fever, kidney stone symptoms, and low libido.
Do you now see why it is important to get some cacao nibs today?
