Our story begins in ancient Central America, where cacao grows in the Amazon Rainforest. A Mayan woman grinds fermented and dried cacao seeds in stoneware into a cacao paste. She then mixes it with water, chili peppers, and cornmeal. She stands and pours the mixture into a container below. She keeps pouring from the container into another container until the mixture is a nice frothy drink. It’s much more bitter than the hot chocolate we drink today because it doesn’t have sweeteners and junk. They knew what was up with that yummy bean back then. Cacao was known for its invigorating, mood-enhancing, and aphrodisiac qualities as early as 4,000 years ago. They knew what was up with chocolate.
These health benefits and qualities are still available if you’re using the right kind of chocolate correctly. They knew what they were doing even before modern scientific research told them chocolate was good for them. The Mayans had enough cacao for everyone to enjoy the sacred bean. They later started using it as currency with the Aztecs, but the Aztecs approached it a little differently. And the way they did it was pretty stupid.
Only the elite Aztecs could enjoy cacao. The 16th century Emperor Montezuma was said to drink a lot to improve his success with the ladies, and some records show 3 gallons a day. (1) That’s a lot of cacao! While he drank so much, it was forbidden for women to drink it because of its stimulating effects. Well, he would have had more success if he had been giving some of that sweet cacao to the ladies. Emperor or not, cacao is going to improve your success.
Chocolate Equals Success with the Ladies (and the Guys)
Well, ideally, only one lady. That’s all we need if we keep her happy, right guys? There are massive benefits to enjoying good quality cacao, but some of these benefits will directly impact that success with the ladies. Hear what we’re saying? There’s a bit more to share about that…
Chocolate and Good Feelings
For starters, chocolate puts us in a darn good mood. It mimics the activity of neurotransmitters and can help us produce some neurotransmitters that can cause a massive mood change – a mood change for the better.
It helps balance those mood-regulating hormones. Chocolate boosts dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin. These love chemicals tell your brain you are calm, relaxed, and ready for love. Chocolate is the highest serotonin-based food on the planet, AND it helps your gut make more of it. Phenylethylamine (PEA) is a neurotransmitter found in our body at higher levels when we are in love or experiencing the euphoria of love. This love chemical is also in chocolate.
Cacao is great for women’s hormones. It boosts neurotransmitters and balances hormones. Doc deals with hormones every day, and he says you absolutely need cacao to build healthy hormones. Yes, ladies! Guys, go get some cacao for your ladies!
The response in men is very different, likely because they don’t have as many hormones to regulate. So, men understand this: women relate chocolate to sex. So again, men, be very good to your wife, or she will replace you with a chocolate bar. Ladies, please don’t replace men with a chocolate bar!
Chocolate and Theobromine
Good, old raw cacao dominates in one area that significantly affects our brain: theobromine. It’s also why chocolate gets a bad rap. Everybody thinks chocolate has a lot of caffeine, but it’s only there in small amounts. It’s theobromine that gives chocolate its stimulating effects.
Theobromine is a sister chemical to caffeine. It has a mild stimulating effect and enhances the mood. Chocolate gives us a euphoric effect and makes us feel good. It fits right in with many other great chemicals in cacao. Theobromine is also a vasodilator. It dilates blood vessels and pores, allowing for better absorption of nutrients. Bonus suggestion for the guys- get some nice cacao butter for a massage. That extra theobromine will ensure all the good stuff will get in there to make her feel good. Ladies, I suggest this coffee mask that also has cacao.
Chocolate and Nutrients
Speaking of nutrients– cacao is packed with them. The amount of magnesium, zinc, iron, phosphorous, chromium, and other nutrients is astronomical for a food. The amount of magnesium it gives you is a great reason to enjoy cacao.
Magnesium increases energy, calms your nerves, and relaxes your muscles. Here’s an important one: Just so your chocolate plans don’t get derailed… it prevents migraine headaches. Try this delicious GF Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe.
Chocolate and Antioxidants
Blueberries are known for their high levels of antioxidants. Cacao has 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries! What are antioxidants good for? When you bite an apple and then set it down, it will brown after a while. That means it’s oxidizing. Antioxidants help with aging and absorb the free radicals in your body. Free radicals are toxins and pollutants we come in contact with daily. So, having more antioxidants is a good thing.
Chocolate and Cardiovascular Health
You cannot discuss chocolate and love without mentioning its fantastic heart benefits. Those who eat chocolate are less likely to have a heart attack or cardiovascular event. It lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow from the heart to the brain. Why is this important to know? Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women and men. Cacao is rich in polyphenols and flavanols that reduce inflammation, making your cardiovascular system much healthier. A little chocolate can keep your heart going and loving.
Keep That Chocolate Pure
When Doc was in graduate school, he was learning about all the amazing benefits of chocolate. So, he went out and got a really high-quality chocolate bar. Blech. It was really bitter! I don’t know how the Mayans did it, but they enjoyed the benefits.
When mixing chocolate with other ingredients, remember to avoid things that don’t belong there. Milk and chocolate don’t belong together, and most chocolate bars have milk in there. Stay away from processed sugars and artificial sweeteners in your chocolate, too. Enjoy your raw cacao mixed with a healthy sweetener like xylitol, honey, stevia, or maple syrup.
You can also dip fruits in it and add it to other healthy foods. Adding that raw cacao to some of the greatest nutrients will move our body toward improved skin, mood, heart, blood pressure, and other massive benefits.
On the flip side, theobromine is still in the crappy chocolate. When you eat crappy processed chocolate and crappy sugar, the theobromine will drive all the bad things like chemicals and sweeteners into your body. When they process chocolate, they add caffeine. People who don’t understand chocolate think it’s bad for you. No, your Hershey’s Kiss is bad for you with its processed milk, caffeine, and other nasty things.
If you have crappy chocolate and the theobromine drives all the crappy ingredients into your body, guess how you will feel. Yeah, that’s right- crappy. But you aren’t going to be that person. You stayed with us this far. Now you know better!
Chocolate for Life
Chocolate is one of the best foods on the planet. There are so many massive benefits that we could go on forever. We can’t stress this enough: Feel free to go to the grocery store, the health food store, or Amazon (not the forest) to find the good stuff and indulge. You don’t have to grind it into a paste yourself, but you do have to get the good stuff. Don’t hold back on the chocolate for benefits that can make you feel better, live a happier life, and have better hormones. It tastes good, and it has massive health benefits. You got it now – get that chocolate for life.
Check out the Cacao Quick Tips!
