Even Hershey’s has capitalized on this connection with their famously marketed ‘kiss’ chocolates. What better way to give your lover, or desirable acquaintance, a figurative and symbolic message in a wrapper?
To the ancient Aztecs, cacao was known as Yollotl Eztli, meaning ‘heart blood’. Believing that cacao was a food for the heart and that it would stimulate and invigorate the heart center.
So how does chocolate actually effect the heart? Read on.
Magnesium
Perhaps one of the most direct links of cacao and the heart is it’s large amounts of magnesium. For every 5g of cacao, you’re getting over 27mg of Magnesium. (source)
Magnesium is essential for daily proper functioning of the heart. Magnesium becomes depleted in the body when we’re under stress, are taking pharmaceuticals, or have a poor diet, and as such is widely deficient in most North Americans. Reports show that North Americans consume less than half the United States’ Recommended Daily Intake. And many believe the recommended intake to be far less than optimal (source). While essential for the heart, magnesium also helps the body to reduce acid, fend off stress, and build strong bones and teeth.
Lower Blood Pressure and Blood Vessel Health
Cacao is known to help lower the body’s blood sugar. How does this work? There is a group of compounds in chocolate called flavonoids which help to lower insulin and insulin resistance. This allows the body’s natural defense mechanisms for removing excess sugars to be improved. While reducing blood sugar, cacao also helps to improve blood vessel health. (source) (source)
Cacao and Improved Cholesterol
The flavonoids in cacao as well as a saturated fat found in cacao called oleic acid have been shown to improve good (HDL) cholesterol and lower bad (LDL) cholesterol. (source) While chocolate was given a bad wrap during the 80’s and 90’s when all saturated fats were considered harmful to the body, we now know that the right kind of saturated fats are actually essential to maintaining good heart-health. (source)
Theobromine
The stimulant effects of cacao can largely be given to it’s content of theobromine. A molecule similar to caffeine in structure, it is one reason that cacao is often associated with improving focus and providing energy. Also a wonderful molecule for the heart, it helps to lower blood pressure and is known as a cardiovascular stimulant and vasodilator, meaning it stimulates the heart and dilates blood vessels— also a reason why cacao is considered an effective aphrodisiac.
Though similar to caffeine, theobromine does not stimulate the central nervous system, so it’s effects are often more gentle and subtle to those of caffeine. Also with a half life of 6-10 hours of consumption, theobromine’s effects are less noticeable and longer lasting than caffeine.
This molecule is the reason that chocolate is deadly to canines. They don’t possess the ability to properly break-down and digest theobromine. Fortunately, humans are able to assimilate theobromine with out any ill effects and though we can digest it efficiently, it is still important to find one’s balance and comfort level with this powerful and ancient food.
It’s interesting to think that in today’s world chocolate is often associated with obesity, diabetes, and poor health. Like so many ancient, sacred, and wild foods, the corporate world has toxified the quality and appreciation for these foods by over processing, by adding sugar and milk products, and through the natural outcomes and demands of mass production and consumerism. Considered sacred in the regions of ancient Mexico, chocolate has come as a ‘food of the gods’ and become a food for the obese and unhealthy.
Fortunately for us, many of these ancient and sacred foods are making a come back (especially cacao), and with small and large producers alike striving to bring the value and joy back into food, high quality and powerful cacao is more readily available than ever.
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