The Superfood Experiment! Cacao and Maca...

Ok – here it is Saturday and I’ve been doing this for 3 days now… Do I feel any different? I have noticed a slight reduction in my nightly cold sweats, I feel more alert, and feel I am able to concentrate better - which I like - Now onto Cacao…

Cacao – “Every study on chocolate is pointing to the same conclusion: there is something in chocolate that is really good for us. That something is the raw cacao bean, the nut that all chocolate is made from. The Cacao bean has always been and will always be Nature’s number-one WEIGHT LOSS AND HIGH ENERGY food. Cacao beans are probably the best-kept secret in the entire of history of food” (page 34 of Superfoods book)

WOW - this stuff is amazing! So let’s go on …Cacao has the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food in the world. By weight, cacao has more antioxidants than red wine, blueberries, acai, pomegranates, and goji berries combined, and is a very high source of magnesium which is the greatest alkaline mineral – if you recall from the Gogi Berry, the benefit of balancing the alkaline-acid in our body is weight loss. Just 2 table spoons of cacao in its powder form is 120 Calories and contains 4 grams of fat, 16 carbs, 9 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein, 48 mg of calcium, 4 mg of iron, and 168 mg manganese.

Listed below are some of the other minerals that can be found in Cacao and their benefits to the body (pages 40-45):

Iron - is part of the oxygen-carrying protein hemoglobin that keeps our blood healthy and fights against anemia.
Chromium - helps balance blood sugar.
Manganese - assists in the oxygenation of the blood and formation of hemoglobin.
Zinc - plays a critical role in the immune system, liver, pancreas, sexual fluids, and skin.
Copper - helps to build healthy blood and strong immunity
Omega 6 Fatty Acid
PEA - is a major class of chemicals that we produce in our bodies as we fall in love.
Anandamide – is an endorphin that our body naturally produces after exercise.
Tryptophan-critical for the production of serotonin.
Serotonin- is the primary neurotransmitter in the body and is involved in sleep, depression and memory
Fiber – helps with the digestive system and helps clean the intestines.

In David’s superfood book there are also many, many different recipes that use these products – I’m a simple smoothie girl myself -

Next up - Maca!!

Maca – is also known as Andes Aphrodisiac…why? Because Maca is an adaptogen, which means it has the ability to balance and stabilize the bodies glandular-hormone system, cardiovascular system, and musculature. It increases energy, endurance, oxygen in the blood, physical strength, neurotransmitter production and libido. It supports the adrenal, and the thyroid to help improve moods and healthy hormone production. (page 70).

According to Beth M. Ley, PhD (Maca: Adaptogen and Hormone Regulator) pg 72. “Women with menstrual irregularities using maca have experienced greater consistency, while women with hot flashes, mood swings, and most associated peri-menopause and menopause symptoms have diminished dramatically using Maca… (Please say it’s true!!!) It is also known to improve the following (pg 71) – Anemia, chronic fatigue, depression, Infertility and sterility in humans (and if you're interested, live stock), lack of libido, malnutrition, menopausal symptoms (yeah!), poor memory, stomach cancer, and stress tension. This one for me is an all around win / win for us ladies!

…. And for the men in the crowd, according to Garry F. Gordon, former president of the American College for Advancement in Medicine (73-74) – “We all hear rumors about various products like maca. But using this Peruvian root myself, I personally experienced a significant improvement in erectile tissue response. (good grief) I call it nature’s answer to Viagra. What I see in maca is a means of normalizing our steroid hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen (ok ladies, this may help us in this dept too). Therefore, it has the facility to forestall the hormonal changes of aging. It acts on men to restore them to a healthy function status in which they experience a more active libido”

1 Tbsp of Maca is 50 calories and contains 11 carbs, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein, 67 mg of calcium, 16 grams of manganese, and 254 mg of potassium!

Well that’s it for this week – I’m beginning to think I’ve bitten off more than I can chew here, so much information, so little time, but I have to say I’m finding all this very interesting. Next week - Bee Products (Honey, Pollen, Propolois, and Royal Jelly) and Marine Phytoplankton… I can hardly wait!