cacao overload?

[IamLoved]

Hey all!

Yesterday I got some raw cacao. I am a very big chocolate lover so I was pretty excited to have something. I made myself a chocolate banana shake using 3 Tbsp of cacao powder like the package directed. It was really chocolatey and very yummy but then I started feeling weird. This was yesterday afternoon. I started feeling dizzy and got a huge headache. All I wanted to do was curl up in bed and go to sleep, but with 6 children that is just not going to happen. Now here it is morning and my head still hurts and I still feel fuzzy. I have had raw cacao before in dessets and never had a problem. Do you think it was just too much all at once? I followed the directions!

[agumble]

I had the exact same problem! My theory is that our bodies are now super sensitive to whatever we put in them, and we're reacting to the caffeine. I seem to be addicted to the stuff because there were a few days where I was binging on cacao and just couldn't seem to stop. Then when I finally forced myself to stop eating it, I ended up with the worst migraine I've ever had. Almost had to stay in bed for the day. I feel like I'm experimenting on myself, because I guessed it was from the cacao, so I ate a tiny bit of it and sure enough my migraine lessened a little (they say that if you're going through caffeine withdrawal that adding some will lessen the symptoms). Not everyone seems to react this way to it, but I definitely do, so I empathize with you. I think the trick is to eat it in very very small amounts, and in my case, to force myself not to binge on it. That shouldn't be a problem now just thinking about how much my head hurt last time!

[Marin Mom]

I got really wired the first time I tried the shake too-put way too much in. I now use 1 spoon cocoa and a little agave for sweetness and just plain feel good now!

[IamLoved]

Yeah,

I think next time I make it (if there is a next time) I will only use 1 Tbsp. My head still hurts!

The funny thing is, like I said, I never got that reaction from desserts with cacao in it. Also I was never a major caffiene person to begin with. No coffee and drank mostly water only.

I'm still planning on using it to make my triple chocolate cheesecake for Christmas. Hmm, maybe I'll make a vanilla cream sauce to go over the chocolate cheescake instead of the chocolate though. Like I said, my head still hurts, so now I am a little afraid of the cacao.