Cacao as a superfood...not convinced

[teachingking]

Okay, I've been reading David Wolfe interviews online and watching youtube videos in which he is constantly referring to raw Cacao as a Superfood. In fact, he says it has been the primary factor in his diet for many years. It really peaked my curiosity so I went and bought some raw Cacao nibs and raw Goji berries. I ate about two tablespoons of an even mix of Goji/Cacao.

Impression: Stimulant, stimulant, stimulant

I experienced the same type of high so familiar from my coffee days. David says that the caffeine in Cacao is negligible but I just don't buy it. It has only been a couple of hours, and I'm already feeling slightly burned out the way I used to when coming down from coffee. WTF?

I have been really impressed with David so far, but this makes me wonder. Thoughts?

[shine72]

You know, I thought at first, whatever. I just love chocolate. But then there was a day where my 11 yr. old was REALLY not wanting/focusing on doing his math (he's advanced for his age). He just was NOT in the right frame of mind. He ate a bunch of raw chocolate sauce, and then said I few minutes later he felt very calm and peaceful and was more than happy about doing math.

So I don't know, but anything that'll put a kid who isn't feeling his math into REALLY feeling his math, is awesome in my book!:D

[JennaBoBenna]

I've always thought about why chocolate is okay for humans and not for animals...but I haven't done enough research to pick a side :o
The only negative side effect I have had with cacao was putting wayyyy too much into a mylk and I was all jittery and shakey after. That was a year or so ago.

[GlimR]

I've never been a coffee drinker but have had a cup here and there over the years and it wires me out like crazy. I used to get wicked sinus headaches (before raw) and coffee was the only thing that would make them go away but all I could drink was 1/2 cup because of the caffeine effect.

I drink a super drink almost every morning w/raw cacao powder and nibs in it as well as other super foods and have never once felt that way. I have energy but nothing that feels speedy to me at all.

Must be an individual thing like everything else is.

[StarFire]

Okay... I don't have an opinion - but I just wanted to say - thanks for this post cuz I am going to watch and see what the consensus says here. I've been wondering the same thing myself - cuz I dont drink coffee or eat caffeine stuff....so I'm very curious.

goji berries were yummy - but I didn't notice a 'high feeling' or a intensified energy level -- but I did get very constipated -- and I have found that everytime I eat them -- that is the result...(and believe me I drink TONS OF WATER EVERY DAY....)

now as far as cacao - I enjoyed eating it raw - only cuz I kinda liked that bitter taste - but I didn't notice a high... ??

of course on those rare occasions when I would drink coffee - I would fall asleep! So maybe my body doesn't react like a normal person???

this post will be an interesting read for sure!! ;) :D

[teachingking]

I am assuming it was the Cacao, not the Goji, that provided the stimulant effect. I should point out that I am very sensitive to things I imbibe. I often feel effects when others don't. Not sure why.

[exurb]

First of all, I will say in general that the notion that a superfood has to cost $20 and come from some far away exotic place and be something outside the lexicon of our familiar foods is getting old.

Pumpkin is a !@#$%! superfood. Buy a pumpkin for $1.50 and send the $18.50 to Darfur.
http://www.msf.org/msfinternational/invoke.cfm?objectid=FE22EFB5-8318-4DD6-98F21420E6EA1874&component=toolkit.article&method=full_html&CFID=1568744&CFTOKEN=38188087

There are many superfoods and they are not only exotic expensive things from faraway places.

Now as for raw cacao, as a gourmet type I prefer its flavor to that of roasted cocoa.

When I first went raw I ate all sorts of raw cacao, and felt great. Then when everyone freaked me out about the cacao, and its dubious rawness also, I stopped eating it and didn't feel as good. Go figure. Was all that newfound raw energy I had just the darn cacao? That's just what I experienced.

I am sensitive to caffeine and don't drink coffee anymore. If I use a little cacao as a flavoring (today I actually dug it out of the cupboard where it's been for months and made a shake with frozen bananas, vanilla, and raw cacao). It tasted amazing. I enjoyed it. I am still here.

As for its superfoodness, I'm really sick of the whole lot of so-called superfoods. The raspberries and blackberries in my backyard are every bit a superfood as much as anything dried out that sat around for a year and came from across the planet. Apples are a !$%^&*! superfood. Blueberries. Carrots. Raw Almonds. ETC ETC.

Part of being raw to me is not needing some magic "product" for everything.

I don't buy goji berries even though the cost is not a factor for me. I don't see the need for them when we have amazing local fresh berries.

teach, I looked cacao up on the nutrient database (in general terms not specifically the NFL stuff). It has PER 100 g of cacao, 78 mg caffeine, 2634mg theobromine. Now it also has an EXCELLENT mineral profile and good folate, as well as lutein+zeaxanthin. It is also 18% protein.

If the stimulants are not an issue, cacao is a decent food, especially if it gives you pleasure to enjoy it. If you expect it to have no stimulants, it's not for you.

[dreamrawalwz]

I had the same impression. If anything gives you that "high" or jittery feeling, then it isn't a superfood, but rather a toxin/poison and your body is trying to show you that. I havn't had caffine for years, but then I had some raw cacao pie thingy and I was up ALL night and talking non-stop. Caffine is not good for the body. We read that about coffee and how caffine is bad and we agree. Why is it then a "superfood" when it's in raw chocolate. I don't get it. I havn't done research on it much, so this is just from what little I have read. Is that just an excuse to eat the chocolate? That isn't towards anyone, just thinking to myself.

[teachingking]

Exurb,

"Teach", I love it. Look, I don't know what a freakin superfood is. All I know is that the word gets thrown around quite a bit. I'd like to think that the food you grow in your garden is enough. It's tough when the "gurus" of raw food are basically telling you it isn't. I think your post provides excellent perspective, so thank you.

As for the issue of Cacao being a stimulant, I guess I should say I wasn't suprised. It is was it is. I just thought that perhaps, since it is being touted as a "superfood", it might not come with side effects. I love getting "high", but am tired of highs that leave you low. So maybe it isn't for me. I'll probably try it again sometime and see if my results vary.

[honey_bee]

Of course people feel "side effects" of cacao. It's the caffeine. You have to be careful with consuming too much of any stimulant, as it's hard on the adrenals. Every time you get an artificial boost, once it begins to wear off, your poor adrenals have to compensate and over time, it really wears on them. Working in the field of holistic health, I can't tell you how common adrenal fatigue is. It's not to be taken lightly, as it commonly leads to hypothyroidism. Modern life is hard enough on our adrenals; let's not be adding fuel to the fire. If you need energy, try Rhodiola- it strengthens the adrenals, improves concentration,inhibits the release of excess cortisol, helps us adapt to mental and physical stress and, for some people, has antidepressant effects. Cacao is a special "extra", not a main course!

[luckitri]

Well you know they say that we "Americans" fall for all that, obscure berries, coffee beans excreted by feral cats, pond scum from lakes that the locals say are polluted, whereas I tend to think that each locale must have its own local superfoods and that we just need to find what they are. (Loved your post exurb.)

shine, ADHD kids given coffee will calm down and act normal. Not saying your son is ADHD (although many exceptionally bright ones are.) But it is a known fact that many of the adult stimulants act differently in the childs body.

Haven't tried many of these raw superfoods yet but chocolate/cacao and coconuts are tough ones to pass up.

[shine72]

Well you know they say that we "Americans" fall for all that, obscure berries, coffee beans excreted by feral cats, pond scum from lakes that the locals say are polluted, whereas I tend to think that each locale must have its own local superfoods and that we just need to find what they are. (Loved your post exurb.)

shine, ADHD kids given coffee will calm down and act normal. Not saying your son is ADHD (although many exceptionally bright ones are.) But it is a known fact that many of the adult stimulants act differently in the childs body.

Haven't tried many of these raw superfoods yet but chocolate/cacao and coconuts are tough ones to pass up.

Actually luckitri, he DID have all but one of the symptoms before raw. Now he doesn't. It was just that particular day for him with the chocolate and the math. So you weren't really too far off the map on that one. There are just certain days where he'll tell me "Mom, today is a chocolate day". He doesn't do that very often. But on the days where he does, I follow his lead. Just like I listen to my body since going raw, he has learned to listen to his. And I trust in that more than in any particular food.;) KWIM?

[garden granny]

I love raw cacoa in my smoothies, but if I use more than a spoonful, I can't get much sleep. It's like drinking 2 or 3 cups of coffee (back when I used to drink coffee).

[lydias]

i agree it is a stimulant

for those dealing with health problems I would be very careful and see how it effects you

I had someone prescribing it to me for the magnesium content, I got sicker and sicker.... until I figured out what it was

I think if you have a healthy immune system then your body might can handle it.

[The Forager]

Teachingking, off topic but your music is amazing.

[Eveleaf]

I don't know if I buy all the hype about cacao, but I admit frankly that I don't really care. I don't like carob and I *adore* the taste of cacao. I've never had any jittery or bad side effects and it helps keep me raw.

Le Shrug. :p

[teachingking]

angiecbc, You've just made my day. Thank you.

[soulstar]

Ditto what she said.
Beautiful music TK


Barefoot is such a sweet song....


Soulstar

PS The first time I ate raw cocao nibs they kept me up half the night. Now I use one spoonful at a time in a smoothie occasionally and I have no ill effects that I can notice.

[Eva]

When I was a kid, I sometimes drank coffee to concentrate, then got diagnosed with ADD, took Ritalin and coffee for many years (and into adulthood). I stopped both when I went raw earlier this year, and a lot of my anxiety has disappeared. I really think that the stimulants were the biggest problem in my life.

I have had some cacao nibs since going raw, and I have found that it is not good for me to have regularly because of the way it makes me feel. That said, until I ran out of it a few weeks ago, I did use it every once in a while when having a tough time concentrating. And the taste of a banana cashew cacao mylk shake is groovy. :)

P.S. If anyone cares, most of my "problems" related to "ADD" have all but disappeared since going raw, getting more water and exercise, and getting rid of the stimulants! (Which is AMAZING after many years of dealing with so many different challenges!)

[britaniefaith]

I love love love cocoa nibs and cocoa powder and cocoa anything really but I am so incredibly sensitive to caffeine that whenever I eat it, I get a fast heartrate, blurred vision and I feel sick sick sick. I find that if I allow myself just a LITTLE bit, I am okay but I can never just have a LITTLE bit of chocolate!!! It's too good... so for now, I'm sticking to carob because I dont seem have a problem with it and I actually love the taste of it, sometimes even more than cocoa!

P.S.
I'm not convinced about cocoa being a "super-food" either. To me, the ultimate super-food is simple, APPLE.

[samariah]

i've never had carob, what exactly is it?

[barose]

Cacao doesnt stimulate me at all. I feel much more calm and at peace when I eat it. I sometimes have a few beans before bed even. During the day, I feel I can read, concentrate on work, etc when I'm normally all over the place mentally. I WISH there was something (besides coffee) that would keep me up though!

[luckitri]

samariah, I have not had it since I was a kid. My parents were vegetarian for awhile (until it became apparent that we weren't growing right) and they fanatically regimented us from having any kind of normal life with other kids for fear that we might eat some tainted normal food. We had already tasted chocolate before they learned about carob. Carob is not an acceptable substitute IMHO at all. I never wish to taste that stuff again.

I suppose if you know that it does not taste like chocolate and never will taste like chocolate you can enjoy it for what it is.

[luckitri]

Yes OT, but ditto angiebc. Teachingking - love your music. You play like I would in my dreams. ha ha. Big ouch for me - just had to sell my entire record collection. Lots of out of print and irreplaceables and signed.

[exurb]

luckitri, your post about carob, LOLOL... Someone made a great independent feature ranting on his hippie parents who celebrated every special occasion with frickin' carob. He it totally in line with your mini-rant... if you're interested I could try to figure out what film it is. I'll try to search opne of my databases for "carob" and see what happens.

An acceptable substitute for chocolate, if chocolate is unavailabe, is sex.:cool:

[burbinski]

Hey Teach, does it really matter, enjoy what ever your body is telling you to. Besides what folks like to call Cacao is really coco and they rip you off with such high prices for the junk, but then i guess if you can be fooled in to paying a weeks pay of a few grams then by giving it a special name like cacao you feel better getting riped off.:D

As a side note, music is fantastic, since you in Prescott hope to see you at the Raw Spirit Festival in Sedona in October

[teachingking]

Okay, I have to confess. I had Cacao today and I really enjoyed it. I had about 1 Tbs this morning. Good energy and state of mind, kind of put a shimmer on my day. I'll be curious to see how I feel tomorrow morning. I don't want to make a habit out of it if it's going to be an "up and down" kind of thing, but damn, it is tempting:)

Thank you all for the encouragement regarding my music. I truly deeply appreciate it!!

Burbinski, I'm definitely considering attending at least one day of the festival.

[trinity082482]

Honestly.. I used to eat Goji soooo often... and other super foods.. and I didnt feel super. I didn't feel bad either.. honestly.. I didnt feel anything.. I did not feel healthier.
Because of the price, I just stopped buying them. If they had given me more energy or something to keep me intrigued, I might have stuck with it. :rolleyes:

[SuziS]

I do love cacao, but I stopped eating it because I haven't been feeling well and have been trying to eat more simple foods. I am not totally sure what I think of it. I have to say it never kept me up and I felt good eating it, so I think I need to order some more! By the way, I LOVE your music, especially the first song! Awesome!

[sueko]

Wish I could try the cacao, it's not available locally and it's pricey over the net :( Is it better to get the nibs or the powder?

Aaron - Your music is beautiful

[juliebove]

samariah, I have not had it since I was a kid. My parents were vegetarian for awhile (until it became apparent that we weren't growing right) and they fanatically regimented us from having any kind of normal life with other kids for fear that we might eat some tainted normal food. We had already tasted chocolate before they learned about carob. Carob is not an acceptable substitute IMHO at all. I never wish to taste that stuff again.

I suppose if you know that it does not taste like chocolate and never will taste like chocolate you can enjoy it for what it is.

I remember staying with my aunt who was and still is a big health food nut. She had these malted milk balls. Should have known better because they looked too good. I took a big handful. Only then did I find out they were made with carob. Pppppyuck!

I didn't know what to do with them because she was the type who would not let you waste food and if you took something you had to eat it. I knew if I put them in the trash she would see them. Guess I didn't think about flushing them down the toilet, but then kids don't usually think about stuff like that. I wound up buring them in the dirt of a potted palm. If she found them in there, she never said anything to my mom about it. I just knew there was no way I was gonna eat those things.

[sbaker]

i used a lot of cocao in shakes, never noticed a good or bad feeling , but never paid attention. Now that i am pregnant it REALLY gives me heartburn and makes me feel like its too acidic, even though that may be in my head:) I stopped taking maca because i read it wasn't good when pregnant either... but i will tell you out of all the things they claim to be a super food...maca was great stuff, i got tons of energy with no down at all... and i crave the malt flavor/smell others seem to detest! it was like a lasting coffee rush, with no real downside...and it could be the reason i got pregnant;)

[sbaker]

juliebove.....

i did a similar thing, i bought about 20$ worth of raweos before i realized they were made of carob, and i detest carob!!! but the dogs can eat them as a treat!!!!

[RaWonderWoman5]

I had some for a treat last night after my workout and was up until 12:30pm. Note: I was super tired when I came home from the gym. I guess I need to eat it in the morning or when I need a bit of a pick-me-up.

[Eva]

Ever since this thread I've been waiting for my local HFS to get more cacao in stock. They special ordered it for me...

Since so many people on this thread were talking about Aaron's music, I finally am sitting here listening to it. I stopped my stepson from doing his reading so he could hear it too. It's grrrreat! Any CDs out or anything??? wow wow wow. :)

[Lindazkewl]

Hi, all. I have a bag of Cacao nibs but I don't have a clue what to do with them. I have a blender; no food processor. Any ideas? :)

[blaqberry]

Hi, all. I have a bag of Cacao nibs but I don't have a clue what to do with them. I have a blender; no food processor. Any ideas? :)

...a few nibs sprinkled on top of a fruit mix, "mmmm" :)

[barose]

I buy my nibs in whole bean (much fresher than the ones already processed/chopped). If I dont want to use a blender or processor, I use my heavy marble rolling pin to crush them, but you can use anything heavy.

[Revvell]

Teach....

LOVE your music and I don't normally like that type but your voice is lovely as is the music. Did you write it?

As far as cacao goes... well, I don't know. I just did an interview with David but, far as I know, chocolate has caffeine.. BUT, never having been a coffee drinker, I can eat/drink cacao/raw chocolate with no jittery effects. I usually have SOME chocolate dessert lurking in the fridge for when I want it which is rare yet, nice to have.

Revvellicious

[teachingking]

Revvell,
Yes, the music (and the voice) are mine:) Thank you for the feedback. I really appreciate it.
Aaron

P.S. Is your interview with David posted on your site?

[Revvell]

P.S. Is your interview with David posted on your site?

Here: http://rawfood.revvell.com/ :)