Unlocking the Sacred Power of Cacao

You may have heard some of the recent news reports boasting about the health benefits of chocolate, though it has not just recently become a prized resource. This ancient treat has been enjoyed for generations and is part of a rich cultural history in South America — and with reason.

Cacao Can Heal

Cacao, the bean from which chocolate is made, has been said to have healing properties as well as benefits for both the heart and brain. Studies have shown that those with high blood pressure can benefit from a daily dose of dark chocolate. Cacao is also rich in antioxidants, which may help to prevent diseases like cancer
. In fact, cacao contains antioxidant properties in much higher quantities than common food-sources lauded for being rich in antioxidants, such as red wine or green tea. Best of all, chocolate is known to make people feel good almost immediately! Studies have shown that pure forms of chocolate (meaning rich in cacao) can provide short-term feelings of euphoria, and an overall feeling of comfort.


Now, in saying that, you must realise that standard mainstream chocolate, like Cadbury, contains copious amounts of processed sugar, preservitives, sweeteners and more chemicals.Supermarket chocolate has been processed so much that the flavoniods have been destroyed in the manufacturing process, loosing all health benifits, so you are just consuming chemicals and calories. It is also packed with refined sugar.

The good news? Is that you can make your own chocolate. With using real organic cacao powder which has 4 times as many antioxidant flavonoids as red wine, and 21 times more than green tea. Cocao is a source of phytonutirients like cardio-protective polyphenols, beta-carotene, aminos, protein, omega 3, calcium, zinc, iron, copper, sulphur, potassium and possibly the best food source and muscle relaxing, stress relieving magnesium, so you can eat as much as you like.

Ingredients for chocolate balls:
1. Cocao beans(if you buy the beans, roast the on high temp in over for around 40 minutes until the peel starts cracking. Unpeel the peel and then grind the beans to a powder) or you can buy cocao powder already made.
2. Agave syrup
3. almonds
4. oats
5. water
6. olive oil or extra virgin coconut oil if you like the coconutty taste.

Directions:
1. Put Cocoa powder in a bowl.
2. Add some water and olive oil and agave syrup. Taste and if you would like it sweeter add more agave, thicker add more powder, smoother add more water. Get creative.
3. Add chopped almonds and oats (you can add anything, mint, fruit etc)
4. Roll into ball!
5. Ready to eat or put them into the freezer to harden.