An Introduction to Cacao Nibs

I think it is safe to say that a big number of people out there tend to have a soft spot for chocolates. Chocolate is something that has been proven to be a very dominant food item in the market throughout these years.

Whether it may be cakes, drinks or even dairy chocolate, we all tend to love it. But how many of us are aware of the rarer, purer form of this chocolate which is the cacao nibs. These cacao nibs are showing at up more places on an even more frequent basis. From fancy restaurants to the grocery shelves, they can be found at an increasing amount of places now.

Most commonly known as cacao, or Theobroma cacao, is the source of original, natural chocolate. It originates from the seeds of the fruit of the cacao tree, but what most of us tend think of as chocolate contains no cacao at all which means it does not contain its healthful, packed with nutrients such as phytochemicals that our bodies need. Organic, raw cacao is also considered to be a super food containing a variety of unique phytonutrients, including high amounts of sulfur, magnesium and phenylethylamine.

These traits provide many benefits to our bodies, such as focus and alertness, while also ensuring you are in a better mood. Cacao nibs have higher antioxidant activity in comparison to tea, wine, blueberries and even goji berries. Ultimately, it’s the flavonoids in cacao that makes it an above-and-beyond food and sets it apart from anything else out there. There is also a plethora of different ways that this super food can be implemented in Malaysia with our daily meals. And for the market in Malaysia, the cacao nibs are something that is bound to grow over time and create a bigger market altogether.



The Benefits of Cacao Nibs

These cacao nibs help you maintain muscle and nerve function. Cacao nibs are one of if not the best magnesium-rich foods around. Magnesium is a mineral that is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in our bodies, and the cacao nib contains around 272 milligrams per 100 grams. Magnesium is very much a key to muscle and nerve function, keeping the rhythm of your heart steady. Because of its higher magnesium content, along with the effects of epicatechin, cacao improves your muscle structure and enhances the nerve function.

Besides that, they also help you to shed some weight and keep your regular size going. Yes you are able to lose weight by eating these cacao nibs. Now, it’s crucial for you to keep this in check, as cacao is high in fat and calories, but if you have pure cacao or cacao nibs, you can gain lots of fiber, which makes you feel fuller. Do not get confused with the chocolate bars found at the grocery stores because you don’t get any dietary fiber when you eat a bar of chocolate, but only an ounce of cacao nibs has nine grams. That makes cacao nibs ultimately high-fiber food. The fiber found in cacao may also help keep your bowel movements regular. In a clinical study, subjects were given cocoa powder supplemented with high-fiber cocoa bran twice daily for two to four week periods, left aside by a three week period in which cocoa was not being consumed.

The frequency of bowel movements had increased and issues of constipation had decreased during the periods which the cocoa powder was consumed. The raw cacao in these supplements was the reason behind the constipation relief. It also helps in preventing anemia, where iron is compulsory for red blood cell production so as an iron-rich food, cacao can help prevent anemic symptoms.



You can achieve a 6 percent of your recommended daily iron intake consumption per ounce from raw cacao nibs. Iron deficiency has the side effects like fatigue and malaise. Thankfully, the properties of iron are abundant in cacao. To ensure even better and proper absorption, pair it with a good vitamin C source like a piece of fruit. Cacao nibs can also help you to treat diarrhea. Cocoa beans have been historically used as a treatment for diarrhea due to the polyphenols that the cacao contains, which inhibits certain intestinal secretions. In a study carried out at the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the dose-dependent effects of flavonoid compounds present in cacao, or molecularly closely similar compounds, were tested, which resulted in the possible prevention of the building up of fluid in the small intestine that’s associated with diarrhea.

And finally, they are also able to help you enhance your mood. Neurotransmitters are the little messengers in our brains that tell our bodies how to react or behave, which affect our mood. Cacao and cacao nibs have this astonishing effect to act on those neurotransmitters. Chocolate in the cacao form stimulates the brain to release certain particular neurotransmitters, like euphoria, that may trigger emotions. There are mainly two chemicals that cacao produces in our bodies when eaten.

First is phenylethylamine which is a chemical that our bodies make naturally. We produce this, an adrenal-related chemical, when we are excited, which is what causes the pulse to rise, helping us with more focus and awareness. The other is anandamide, which is a lipid found in cacao renounced as the bliss molecule. It has received this name due to the natural molecular shape, which closely represents that of THC, the active ingredient found in marijuana.



The Uses & Ways of Cooking With Cacao Nibs
Cacao nibs are often found with the hints of fruity or nutty flavors that have been added. For anyone that is used to eating milk chocolate, cacao and cacao nibs may seem very different, having a bitter taste. However, it can be a different taste and incredibly delicious once added with homemade trail mixes, smoothies, sauces and in baking. Savory dishes are certainly an easier way to incorporate cacao and cacao nibs. Here a few easy methods to make this super food work.

First of all, they can be easily put together with salads. Try adding it with vitamin C foods such as bell peppers, broccoli and citrus fruits to help elevate the absorption of the amounts of iron that it contains. Including it into salads with a citrus dressing and walnuts can add to that special secret ingredient of yours. Aside from that, they can be incorporated with your smoothies. While you want to become more conscious of how much you consume, especially if mixing it with other high-fat foods, it is the perfect touch to almost any healthy smoothie recipe.

Also, you can try adding these cacao nibs to make a healthy and delicious quinoa breakfast bowl. It is delicious in other nutrient rich super foods such as quinoa, chia seeds and especially delicious and made even better when combined with coconut. It is highly recommended to check out certain breakfast bowls recipes online to know how this can be incorporated with your breakfast bowls. And lastly, you can also use these cacao nibs as a special and secret ingredient into a special sauce of your choice and liking. Even though you may get way more nutrition when it is not heated beyond 104 degrees F, you still get the benefits. Try mixing and adding it with your next pot of chili, mole sauce or pasta sauce. You are sure to make something delicious.

In a nutshell, these cacao nibs are the source of original, natural chocolate that contains a variety of unique phytonutrients, also having a high number and amounts of sulfur, magnesium and phenylethylamine. The cacao nibs may also help you to maintain your muscle and nerve function and it helps you to lose weight and keep you regular, promotes the prevention of anemia, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, provides treatment against and for diarrhea, and enhances your mood.

This form of rare, pure and raw chocolate provides an abundance of benefits for you and your body. This is also a better option for people looking for something that can be easily put together into meals and taste very good. This is something people are bound to opt for in the near future simply due to the fact that these cacao nibs are very versatile and pack a punch for anyone looking to have their meals elevated from a standpoint that benefits your body and mind altogether.