Question about RAW Chocolate (Cocoa)

[jamesey]

Hi,

Why are their some worries about eating Raw Cocoa?I've just bought recently the boook Naked Chocolate by David Wolfe and Shazzie - they explain in great detail how great it is - a superfood, the best antioxidant
food you can have, and full of minerals such as magnesium which is good for the brain and lots of other feel-good chemicals. ..

So why is it some people aren't sure about eating cocoa? I've read here on this board saying they only want to eat cocoa "now and again" and i've even read people try to remiain caffeine free, thus not eating cocoa...

Please i'd love to know some answers to why people have question marks about this when some sources just say how its the best food ever!!!

[goodbeets]

Dear Jamesey,
I am a big lover and ingester of cacao BUT some folks get a real negative reaction from the caffeine, any caffeine so they stay away. Plus, some try to eat locally when they can which cacao is not unless you live in more tropical regions. I love it and it helps me to stay raw and it is so yummyyyyyyyy.

[verseaurainbows]

First of all i bought into the whole David Wolfe thing completely and pigged out on the stuff...then came the nausea, dizziness, and my cheeks went bright red! Also, i became highly addicted, so dispite this didnt stop consuming the raw beans for a while

Then i actually stopped to think. I mean those things are damn hard to shell. This would, in my mind, suggest were not supposed to be eating many at all, it should be a "treat" food, not a staple! This is what David Wolfe says on his website:
"People always ask me what I eat. Raw, organic Cacao Beans are the primary food in my diet. They have inspired me to eat less and live more"

That, to me, is simply crazy. This is just the SEED of a fruit, and many seeds contain small amounts of toxic substances and most certainly should not be consumed in large quantities. Its not natural and this most people know. I kind of resent the fact id been sold it as this amazing eat-as-much-as-you-like superfood without having ben told the negative side

Im sure its bursting with antioxidants. But its not something that should be consumed daily, imo. I now have it about once a week

Also theyre fermented before being sold i think. Apparently the seed left completely alone tastes nasty, another indicator its not something to be eating a lot of

Oh and it raises the heart rate A LOT and stops some people sleeping

Still. i do have to admit its VERY yummy:) and i do still enjoy my "treat" days VERY much

Everyones bodies will react differently, Im sure some people do just fine with cacao, but still making it "the primary food" in your diet seems strange

[amyambro1]

i agree with you, rainbows.

[klomasius]

I have it pretty much once a day in either smoothies, raw chocolate, puddings, ice creams etc.

I have no problems at all with it, but I do know that some people have elevated heart rates, sleeplessness and other negative effects.

I don't see a problem with using it every day and in quantities like several teaspoons of powder with maybe some cacao butter as long as you don't suffer from the negative effects.

My partner seems to have developed a reaction to it now, with his mouth going sore when he has one of my choc smoothies.

But many people are allergic to seemingly banal foods such as oranges and lemons, sesame seeds, tomatoes, etc. So just because some have allergic reactions to a food, doesn't make it unsafe for everyone IMHO.

Check with your body and listen to what it has to say.

[Zuri]

In addition to what others said too much cacao leads to an acidic environment in the body. IMO, all things in moderation apply here. I know at the Anne Wigmore Insitute they don't eat it for the reason I stated above. When I ingest it in almond milk smoothie form I don't feel anything but a bit of euphoria. I'm lucky I don't get any ill effects.

[goodbeets]

Of course I can't be certain but I think this may be one of those things that is to each their own. I love the taste of whole bean cacao. I know others who have spit it right back out. Maybe MY body needs the nutrients, maybe another's body does not. Maybe this stuff works great as a staple food for Mr. Wolfe. I love green smoothies but If I overdo it I gag, 3 0r 4 a week is good for me. Others can do it as a fast. Live and let leve, what a lovely motto!

[Care4raw]

That stuff is loaded with caffeine. I might as well of had a Starbucks drinking fest. I was up almost all night. As I am raw longer I must be sensitive to stimulants. The chocolate gave me such an out of body feeling.Before raw being so mis~aligned and speeded up would have been normal.Wow..

[Cabosun]

let your body tell you what agrees with it and what does not. we are all so unique and while raw cocao may agree with some, it may not with others:)

My own personal experience is a good one and I have no problems with it. I used it for the first time over the weekend when I made raw fudge. I am now sitting here drinking MACA with cocao:p

[subbacultcha]

It doesn't work for some people, some people are more sensitive to compounds in cacao, mainly caffeine.

I LOVE it though! I really notice the difference in my mood when I have cacao and maca!!! In fact I am in a cacao-induced bliss state right now :rolleyes: I ordered some raw chocolate bars to give to my friends and...erm...:o

[maui_butterfly]

its a stimulant. not a food. anything that boosts you will drop you (maca, cacao, fo ti, and other superfood/drugs -- these things have been used traditionally as MEDICINES, not FOODS, and there is a difference.)

i also agree that everyone is different. :)

something to think about: http://www.living-foods.com/articles/toxiccacao.html

[lore-ah]

It doesn't work for some people, some people are more sensitive to compounds in cacao, mainly caffeine.


I am a recovering caffeine addict but wanted to try cacao to flavor up some things that were getting boring. Also I read people put it smoothies with maca to mask the taste.

WELL

I have not had caffeine since 9/1 and I am jumping out of my skin. I probably should have started with a smaller amount!

[Eva]

I sometimes get a little bit of a belly ache when I eat chocolate (even raw)... I thought it was something I was mixing in, but I was reading recently about ulcers. Chocolate is an irritant for ulcers (which I have one that is healing) and can stop the healing process.

I also find it to be addictive in the same way coffee was for me, but to a lesser extent.

It's not something off my list of foods I can ever have in moderation... but I really, really don't buy into it being some sort of mega super food. That just doesn't make sense that something so "super" would stop healing or be addictive.

[GlimR]

Everyone reacts to it differently. I have never been able to do any kind of caffeine, would get the jitters, racing heart, etc...cacao does not EVER affect me that way..weird huh?:rolleyes: I use it in almond mylk and in recipes, avo pudding...never have had any kind of negative reaction.

[subbacultcha]

I am a recovering caffeine addict but wanted to try cacao to flavor up some things that were getting boring. Also I read people put it smoothies with maca to mask the taste.

WELL

I have not had caffeine since 9/1 and I am jumping out of my skin. I probably should have started with a smaller amount!

I'm also a recovering caffeine addict but haven't gone cold turkey...yes, I still commit the heinous crime of drinking coffee every so often and oolong tea on a regular basis :eek: I don't crave cooked food, I just crave COFFEE :rolleyes: But even with my continued caffeine consumption the cacao affects me in a completely different way! I want to run around and hug everyone I see when I've had it :o

[Eilene]

I LOVE chocolate sooooo much and eat it every day. I don't overdo it though...at least I don't think I do!

[RawSweetie]

I *think* I'm noticing that the raw cacao gives me an alert, bouncy kind of energy that I really like! Buuuuut....I'm finding that it is an adjustment to feel this way. It's new. :) I need to get used to it.

[NoGMO!]

what's up with the fermentation and microbes? is cacao not supposed to be fermented? :confused:
the cacao I have smells very fermented. does that mean it is of poor quality?

[HopSkip&Jump]

Cacao makes me feel the same way that coffee used to make me feel.
Never energetic, more a peaceful feeling as if I am at peace with the whole world - and I just love everyone! It works great to nibble on a bean before going to the dentist!! :D
But, because of this (I suspect the caffeine) I try to limit my intake to only a few times per week. Some times it is nice to feel so spaced out, but mostly I dislike it - I am bit of a control freak! :o

[Douglas]

Well I watched David Wolfe's Video on Youtube and he is saying that it does not have any Caffine in it. When I found out it had alot of it in the bean. I said now wonder I was so charged up from it. I felt so wired up on it. So You can't always belive some of the people out there telling you things are so good for you. He sells it on his site for way more then I got it for too. So I like the guy and I think he has helped many. But I think he is in it for the money too. Doug in Calif...:eek: