Raw Cocoa Nibs

Raw cocoa, aka raw "chocolate"! If you like chocolate or in my case love chocolate then you will love raw cocoa nibs. Cocoa ( pronounced ca-cow) is the raw nut that chocolate is made from. The nuts are formed in a cluster inside of a pod. The pod grows not on a limb of the tree but right out of the tree trunk. If you go to google pics and look it up you will see what I mean.

According to Bernard Jensen's research the heart muscle needs two minerals more than any other mineral. These minerals are magnesium and potassium. Magnesium is 18 times greater in the heart muscle than in the bloodstream. It is always low when there are heart problems. Magnesium increases the strength and vigor of the heart muscle. Magnesium decreases coagulation of the blood, lowers blood pressure, and strengthens the heart. Magnesium is found in abundance in cacao beans, they are higher in magnesium than any other food. Some people believe the reason pregnant women crave chocolate is their need for magnesium. Magnesium balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and is associated with good mental health. It is also believed that over 80% of Americans are deficient in magnesium. I know a physician (neurologist) who is curing migraines simply with magnesium supplementation. Magnesium has been shown to stop 80% of premature labor! Magnesium is very important for the human body and most of us are deficient in it.

Cacao is also rich in Sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails, hair, nice healthy skin, detoxifies the liver, and supports healthy pancreas function. Sulfur is also used by some to help detoxify mercury in the body.

According to research, anti-oxidants such as epicatechins and polyphenols are found in abundance in raw cacao beans. Cacao nibs are reported to contain 10 grams of anti-oxidants for every 100 grams of beans. That means 10% anti-oxidants!! In 100 grams of processed cocoa powder there is approximately 0.05 grams of antioxidants (this is only 5%). Even this percentage is quite high , though half of what they find in raw cacao beans. Cocoa powder when compared with red wine has twice the anti-oxidants and three times that of green tea. This was published in the American Chemical Society's Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewed publication and entitled "Cocoa has more Phenolic Phytochemicals and Higher Antioxidant Capacity than Teas and Red Wine."Unfortunately a normal chocolate bar contains approximately 500 milligrams per 100 grams or .5%.

The anti-oxidants in cacao are considered to be highly stable and easily available to human metabolism. The following are published Anti-oxidant ORAC levels per 100 grams:

Dark Chocolate	13,120
Milk Chocolate	6,740
Prunes	5,770
Raisins	2,830
Blueberries	2,400
Blackberries	2,036
Kale	1,770
Strawberries	1,540
Spinach	1,260
Raspberries	1,220
Brussel Sprouts	980
Plums	949
Alfalfa Sprouts	930
Broccoli	890

ORAC test examines the anti-oxidant levels of foods. The higher the ORAC score, the higher the level of anti-oxidants present in the food.

Cacao definitely can increase a person's energy substantially. Cacao contains the stimulating methylxanthines: theobromine and a small amount of caffeine. Theobromine makes up 1-2 percent of the cacao bean. It stimulates the central nervous system, relaxes smooth muscles and dilates blood vessels. This is why it has been used to treat high blood pressure. Theobromine has about a quarter of the stimulating powder of caffeine. It is also a mild diuretic and have been used as a medicinal drug when heart attack resulted in an accumulation of body fluid.

Theobromine is a cardiac stimulant. This is why dogs should not eat cacao or chocolate. It has been known to cause a cardiac arrest (heart attack) in dogs, because of the stimulation to the heart. Dogs lack the enzymes necessary to metabolize quantities of theobromine in excess of 100-150 mg/kg of the dog's body weight.

Estimates on exactly how much caffeine is in cacao differ depending on the source. However, it is generally agreed that chocolate is a poor source of caffeine. For example a cup of hot chocolate has 1/20th the amount of caffeine as a cup of coffee. Sources say you would find somewhere between 25 milligrams to 0 milligrams in a cup of hot cocoa. And you would need to eat 800 grams of milk chocolate (1.8 pounds) to get the same amount of caffeine as you would find in one cup of coffee.

Fascinating research done in homeopathy showed caffeine contained in a heat-processed or cooked food had a stimulating effect on the body, however, that stimulating effect was not present when the caffeine came from a raw food. In one experiment they made a hot drink using roasted cacao beans in boiling water. This beverage produced an excitement of the nervous system similar to that caused by black coffee and an excited state of circulation demonstrated by an increase in pulse. When the same beverage was made with raw, un-roasted cacao beans, neither effect was notable.

There are also naturally occurring biochemicals in cacao beans that increase the activity of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals). These chemicals help us with our ability to pay attention and stay alert. PEA, for example, is elevated when we are captivated by a good book, movie or focused on something. PEA is an adrenal-related chemical, greatly elevated when we are in love and "euphoric". Is this why chocolates are traditionally given on Valentines Day?

A natural biochemical called anandamide (called the Bliss Chemical), helps us to feel happy and "bliss". Anandamide is naturally produced in the brain and present while we are feeling great. It is also found in cacao. In addition, MAO (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors are found in cacao. These inhibitors actually produce favorable results when consumed by allowing more serotonin and other neurotransmitters such as anadamide, dopamine, etc. to circulate in the brain. These enzyme inhibitors actually decrease our bodies' ability to breakdown anandamide and other brain chemicals making these good biochemicals stay around longer. This makes us feel good from eating cacao.

MAO inhibitors make one younger as they allow more neurotransmitters to remain in the bloodstream. A major difference seen between adults and children. With lower levels of MAO inhibitors there comes a decrease in neurotransmissions, creating physical rigidity, less creativity, less joy, and more aging. Cacao being an MAO inhibitor, helps to stop this type of aging phenomenon.

So you see that raw cocoa is a health food. Not only is it a health food but it really a super food. It was revered by the ancients as the food of the Gods. It was used by the Aztec as money. If you watched the movie Apocalypto, then you saw raw cocoa nuts and maybe didn't know it. Remember when they were selling slaves in the square and one of the buyers dropped his bowl full of what ever on the ground and was scrambling for them. That was cocoa nuts or beans.

If you ever want to try cocoa nibs then we do have them in the store for sale. We also sometimes have some open to try. Come on by and we will talk about real chocolate.

Fullbrights Nutritional Center
430 Sardis Rd
Union SC 29379
864-427-0073
fnchealth@gmail.com
Fullbrights Myspace

Goji

Have you heard of goji. Well me neither until a year or so ago. These great tasting little berries have a secret that has been hiding from us until now. You see in Tibet they call these little berries, happy berries. The reason for this is because when you consume this wonderful food daily it naturally makes you happy all the time. Now I am not talking about some kind of illegal happiness like weed gives you. I am talking about an all natural feel good all the time kind of thing. Too good to be true, not really.
The berry tastes good. It makes you feel good. Got to be a catch. There is , it is good for you too. Yea, not only is it good for you, it is great for you!! You could literally live of this stuff. Not only can you live off of it, you can also do very well at it. I'm not going to bore you with all the research and data, you can do a quick google search for that. I will tell you that I have been trying it for myself and it does seem to do what it claims. I feel great. Thought I would pass it on.
If you want to find goji berries, we have it Fullbrights Nutritional Center. We have it the juice, pill, and whole dried berries. Call us at 864-427-0073

Check us out on myspace. http://www.myspace.com/fullbrightnutritioncenter