Wellness.
photo by Professor Nisao Ogata
“Wellness is the state of being in good health, especially as an actively pursued goal”
To eat foods that nourish us and to rest deeply. To enjoy our senses and share our time with those we love. To feel safe and to have access to care when it’s needed. Wellness is an expression of both our physical health and the health of our mindsouls, the flow of spirit. Cacao compliments and encourages wellness. It has grown with us for thousands of years and with the right conditions it can become our beloved chocolate.
Iron - Cacao has loads of iron, a mineral that serves several important functions, its main being to carry oxygen throughout your body as a part of red blood cells. Breathe in deeply- Red blood cells also removes carbon dioxide from your body, transporting it to the lungs.
Calcium - Cacao is rich in calcium, a mineral that is necessary for life. In addition to building bones and keeping them healthy, calcium enables our blood to clot, our muscles to contract, and our heart to beat. Our body cannot produce calcium on its own and when our diets do not provide enough it takes calcium back from our bones making them more fragile over time.
phosphorus -Cacao has high levels of phosphorus. A mineral that is involved in the body’s energy production and manages how your body stores and uses energy. Phosphorus reduces muscle pain after exercise and aids in the filtration of waste in your kidneys. Phosphorus helps grow, maintain, and repair tissue and cells, produces DNA and RNA and balances the use of other vitamins and minerals.
Magnesium -Cacao is rich in magnesium, which helps regulate neurotransmitters as they send messages throughout your nervous system and brain. Magnesium, named the 'helper molecule' because it acts as a ‘cofactor’ in more than 600 of biochemical reactions!
zinc -Cacao has lots of zinc which helps keep your immune system strong. Because it is necessary for immune cell function and cell signaling, a deficiency can lead to a weakened immune response. Zinc is considered an essential nutrient, meaning that your body can’t produce or store it. For this reason, you must get a constant supply through your diet.
flavonoids - Dark chocolate has more flavonoids than any other antioxidant-rich food such as red wine, green and black tea, or blueberries. Flavonoids are naturally-occurring compounds found in plant-based foods that have been shown to have a number of health-benefiting properties including anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-cancer activity.⠀
Theobromine -a compound found only in cacao, is a subtle long lasting stimulant with mood improving effects. In addition to acting as an anti-inflammatory, it relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi in the lungs and dilates blood vessels making it useful for high blood pressure therapies. Because of the unique stimulatory effect on the central nervous system (and mainly on the medullary respiratory center) it is also being investigated for therapeutic uses related to the respiratory system.
Phenylethylamine (or PEA) is a neurotransmitter - "a chemical substance that is released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse..." - Oxford Dictionary / PEA works by stimulating the brain's pleasure center - the same area stimulated during peak orgasm and PEA is also said to be the chemical produced in the brain when a person is in love. Chocolate has the highest concentration of PEA found in any food.
Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. Its presence in the the brain aides our ability to think clearly and to plan. It helps us strive towards goals, focus on our objectives, and find things around us interesting. Another type of neurotransmitter, dopamine is made in the brain by transforming the amino acid "tyrosine" and its production is triggered by phenylethylamine.⠀
Anandamide was named by scientists after the Sanskrit for divine joy "Ananda" because of the blissful sensations it produces. The British Journal of Pharmacology reports Anandamide is an "endogeneous ligand" of cannabinoid receptors that induces pharmacological actions similar to those of cannabinoids. As well as anandamide itself, chocolate contains two chemicals known to slow the breakdown of anandamide and the re-uptake inhibitor , N-linoleoylethanolamine. Chocolate might therefore work by prolonging the action of this natural stimulant in the brain, extending the blissful sensations.
Serotonin -is made from the essential amino acid tryptophan, which is abundant in cacao! Serotonin is mostly found in the digestive system but also is found in the central nervous system and blood platelets. The many benefits of serotonin are well studied, it helps us feel happy, calm and well focused. It is known to help reduce depression and regulate anxiety. Serotonin assists the body heal wounds and maintain bone health.⠀⠀⠀