2. Natural Remedy for Anxiety<\/a>
3. High in Iron<\/a>
4. Skin Health Benefits<\/a>
5. Major Source of Antioxidants<\/a>
6. Rich in Calcium<\/a>
7. A Great Source of Flavonols to Promote Brain Health<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
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There are many health benefits of raw cacao powder and plenty of reasons why you should incorporate it into your diet. The first thing you should know is that raw cacao powder is considered a superfood because of its many health benefits. <\/strong><\/p>\n Superfoods are ultra-healthy foods that are very nutrient-dense. Superfoods are disease-fighting, brain-boosting, and even anti-ageing foods. Besides that, superfoods have many health benefits such as high quantities of essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.<\/strong><\/p>\n Raw cacao is a natural, plant-based superfood from Amazonian trees. Cacao beans are the seeds inside the Amazonian fruit tree. Raw cacao is rich in magnesium, zinc, and iron while also being a great source of antioxidants.<\/p>\n What\u2019s the difference between cocoa powder and cacao powder? It\u2019s all in the processing method. The difference is just a letter. Cocoa powder isn\u2019t nearly as healthy as cacao powder, because it is chemically processed. \u00a0It is made by roasting cacao beans first. This process loses many nutrients, flavonols and antioxidants.<\/p>\n Many health gurus swear by the coveted raw cacao powder. It is made from cold-pressed, raw cocoa beans.<\/strong> This cold-pressing process retains the living enzymes and nutritional content of the beans.<\/p>\n Cacao beans are not often consumed raw. Cacao beans are the source of all chocolate and cocoa products on the market. However, when you eat a store-bought chocolate bar, you are not consuming raw cacao.<\/strong> It\u2019s true that raw cacao may not be as easy to find in stores, but it\u2019s worth hunting it down because of all the health and beauty benefits of raw cacao powder. Below are 7 benefits of consuming raw cacao:<\/p>\n One of the best health benefits of raw cacao powder is that it\u2019s high in magnesium. It\u2019s important to get magnesium<\/a> in your diet because magnesium can improve your brain function and mood. The consumption of magnesium has been linked to better mood and brain health. If you increase your consumption of magnesium, you may also find that you experience a more regulated nervous system, and feel less stressed.<\/p>\n Magnesium also helps boost your immune system, regulates your blood pressure, and contains anti-inflammatory benefits. Getting enough of this mineral in your diet can help prevent diseases such as Alzheimer\u2019s disease and type 2 diabetes. Magnesium can even help relieve menstrual cramps and muscle tension. These are only some of the many<\/em> health benefits of magnesium.<\/p>\n Raw cacao contains many essential vitamins and minerals that fight depression and reduce anxiety. Raw cacao contains the amino acid tryptophan, which helps enhance feelings of relaxation while boosting your mood and even improving your sleep.<\/strong> Your body converts L-tryptophan into one of the brain\u2019s most important \u201chappy\u201d chemicals, serotonin.<\/p>\n If you can naturally increase your brain\u2019s serotonin levels by consuming raw cacao<\/strong>, you might start noticing an improved mood and reduced anxiety.<\/p>\n Fun fact: raw cacao is the highest plant-based source of iron. \u00a0No wonder vegans<\/a> love raw cacao. It\u2019s crucial to get enough iron, as iron deficiency can lead to a wide array of health problems.<\/strong><\/p>\n Your body needs iron to make haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that enables oxygen to be circulated throughout your body. If you\u2019re iron deficient and your body doesn\u2019t have enough haemoglobin, your muscles and tissues won\u2019t be getting enough oxygen to function properly, and you\u2019ll likely develop a condition called anaemia.<\/p>\n A low iron diet could lead to extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dry skin, depression, and cold hands and feet due to poor circulation.<\/p>\n This is why consuming iron-rich foods is so important for your health.<\/p>\n Pro tip: To reap the maximum benefits of this plant-based source of iron, combine it with some vitamin C. In other words, after you drink your raw cacao smoothie, eat an orange if you can. Or, simply add a source of vitamin C to your smoothie along with the raw cacao powder.<\/p>\n You could see skin improvements by eating raw cacao and applying it to the skin topically using creams that contain it.<\/p>\n Raw cacao\u2019s high levels of antioxidants help fight skin ageing and rejuvenate the skin. <\/strong>Furthermore, since raw cacao is a natural anti-inflammatory, skin redness can be soothed <\/strong>with this ingredient. Therefore, raw cacao is a known natural skin healer and skin protector.<\/p>\n Eating raw cacao regularly can also improve blood flow and circulation. Since blood carries oxygen and nutrients to your skin, improved blood flow will likely improve the skin\u2019s complexion.<\/p>\n A diet high in antioxidants can help lower your risk of many cancers and diseases and help fight ageing. Antioxidants prevent damage from free radicals by fighting free radicals in your body. (High levels of free radicals in the body are linked to multiple diseases and cancers.)<\/p>\n Free radicals are dangerous molecules that attack the good molecules that promote essential bodily functions. By fighting free radicals, antioxidants are your protector<\/strong> and your health booster.<\/p>\n It\u2019s common knowledge that blueberries (another superfood) have lots of antioxidants, but did you know that raw cacao contains 40 times more antioxidants per 100g than blueberries? It\u2019s safe to say that consuming raw cacao is the best way to get your antioxidants.<\/p>\n We\u2019ve known about the importance of calcium since we were kids. Your body needs calcium to build strong bones. <\/strong>Your muscles and your heart also require calcium in order to properly function. That\u2019s why our mothers often reminded us to finish our glass of milk. However, did you know that a serving of raw cacao powder contains more calcium than a glass of cow\u2019s milk? Try mixing raw cacao powder into your glass of milk for a calcium-rich drink full of nutrients.<\/p>\n Flavonoids are naturally occurring compounds found in plants, and have many health benefits. The sub-group of flavonoids, known as flavonols, are found in raw cacao.<\/p>\n Cocoa flavanols are the special phytonutrients found in raw cacao beans. The cold-pressing process used to create raw cacao powder won\u2019t destroy these flavanols. Flavanols, therefore, get absorbed into the bloodstream when you eat raw cacao. What happens when flavanols accumulate in the hippocampus of the brain? Cognitive function in the brain can improve.<\/strong><\/p>\n1. High in Magnesium<\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/circledna.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/content_images_assets.prenetics.com_blog.circledna.com_wp-content_uploads_2021_07_09170518_photo-1565448772412-0b1200339026-e1625821545673.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n2. Natural Remedy for Anxiety<\/h2>\n
![\"circlemagazine-circledna-benefits-of-cacao\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1595178156906-2396ef837b0f?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8Mnx8YW54aWV0eXxlbnwwfHwwfHw%3D&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&w=1000&q=80\")
3. High in Iron<\/h2>\n
4. Skin Health Benefits<\/h2>\n
5. Major Source of Antioxidants<\/h2>\n
![\"circlemagazine-circledna-benefits-of-cacao\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1606207427769-c2cf263abc32?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxzZWFyY2h8MXx8YW50aW94aWRhbnRzfGVufDB8fDB8fA%3D%3D&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&w=1000&q=80\")
6. Rich in Calcium<\/h2>\n
7. A Great Source of Flavonols to Promote Brain Health<\/h2>\n
![\"circlemagazine-circledna-benefits-of-cacao\"](\"https:\/\/images.unsplash.com\/photo-1612942601088-ab13681275ec?ixid=MnwxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1000&q=80\")