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Health & Beauty Benefits: Cacao Edition

by Komal
Health and Beauty Benefits of Cacao
Yay! Welcome to the first 2017 edition of ‘Health and Beauty Benefits Of.”

In 2016 your favorite blog post was all about turmeric and I am SO excited you all enjoyed that post. It has given me more fuel to bring you more content surrounding spices and herbs and using them for health and beauty benefits.

Today is all about Cacao. Ya know, the yummy active ingredient in chocolate, also known as the cocoa bean.

If you have a sweet tooth you will be surprised to know that raw cacao is good for you!

Hooray, right?!

Known as a superfood, raw cacao can improve memory, increase serotonin, create energy and shed fat.

Raw cacao has 4 times the antioxidant content as regular processed dark chocolate and is completely different than the chocolate that you find in stores, which is processed with sugar and other ingredients.

Basically if you want to reap the benefits of cacao you must keep it in its natural form, unprocessed and raw.

So what does raw cacao taste like?

Glad you asked!

Cacao today is fermented instead of roasted like most chocolate which helps take away the bitter taste and preserves the antioxidants.

Franklin and Whitman Oak Lane Face Mask

The taste is strong and is similar to unsweetened cocoa powder.

Ok, so let’s be real: who likes unsweetened cocoa powder? NOT ME. I once tried to add it to my milk thinking I would have this delicious chocolate milk….but…it was gross. Stick to the sweetened powder if you are trying to make chocolate milk. It will make you feel like a kid again.

So what are some benefits of cacao?

Prepare to be amazed.


Health Benefits of Cacao: 

Cacao has the “highest plant-based source of iron known to man.” 

A natural aphrodisiac (I think we all know this one!)

Prevents aging with the same antioxidants that are in green tea and red wine.

Boosts Energy with concentrations of magnesium.

Stimulates the kidney and bowel movements.

A natural anti-depressant.

Fights cardiovascular disease.

Has huge amounts of fiber.

High levels of potassium.

Helps prevent sunburns.

Cancer fighting properties.

Contains healthy fats similar to those in olive oil.

Lowers blood pressure.

Improves circulation.

Enhances physical and mental well-being.

Has a shit ton of vitamin nutrients in it!


Cooking/Health:

The possibilities are endless with cacao. Throw it into your daily smoothie, make protein balls. Add it to some almond milk with honey for a hot cocoa effect. Sprinkle a teaspoon onto your morning oatmeal, add it to your coffee, even grab cacao nibs and toss them into your freshly cooked vegetables.

INDULGE YOURSELF PEOPLE!
Beauty:

Usually for this part of the article I share a cooking/health recipe or a beauty recipe that I have created. Today is a little different.

I think you all get the point…I like natural things. LOL. That is why I am super excited I found Franklin & Whitman. They are an “all natural, plant-based, cruelty-free” company that specializes in products to help nourish your skin and hair.

They have many natural products but my favorite is the ‘Oak Lane Face Mask’ made from raw cacao, turmeric and active charcoal. Franklin and Whitman Oak Lane Face Mask

I’ll let them explain the amazing benefits of this mask.

“This amazing, nourishing treatment makes your skin smooth, soft and supple. Featuring such powerhouses as organic raw cacao, turmeric, activated charcoal, and Moroccan Rhassoul Clay it will leave your skin feeling renewed and radiant. Our all-natural, preservative-free formula has the unique ability to both nourish skin and reduce breakouts. Rhassoul Clay is a high-quality soothing clay sourced from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco that is formed by a natural combination of volcanic activity and geothermal changes. It boasts a high negative charge that can help draw out blackheads and other impurities from skin. Polyphenol antioxidants found in raw cacao belong to the same group of antioxidants as green tea and red wine. These anthocyanins and catechins protect your skin cells from premature oxidation or destruction and can keep you looking and feeling younger longer. Turmeric helps to clear acne scars and inflammation but also reduces oil secretion by sebaceous glands. Turmeric works wonders when it comes to improving complexion and fighting common skin problems like acne, pimples, dark sports, redness and many other skin-related problems. Acting as a magnet to attract and absorb dirt and oil, Activated Charcoal, made from coconut shells, aids in detoxing your skin from daily pollutants. This facial mask, gentle enough to use on a regular basis, is in powder form to ensure freshness for each time you use it, and dismisses the need for any chemical preservatives.”

This mask is fucking awesome. Simple as that. It immediately opened up and minimized my pores + my skin felt  suppppperr soft after. 

Stay tuned for more reviews of their products. I plan on going through all of them.

Hope you all have a great weekend! xx

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10 comments

Courtney Bentley January 6, 2017 - 3:44 pm

Love love love this post! I love cacao on everything and add it to my yogurt in the afternoon for a little energy boost 🙂
Courtney Bentley || http://www.courtneyvioletbentley.com

Reply
Komal Patel January 6, 2017 - 4:48 pm

Thanks Courtney! What a great idea! I am going to try that today ❤

Reply
Andi January 6, 2017 - 4:23 pm

This is amazing; I wrote about turmeric in 2016 and it was my most loved post too?! Happy to have cacao in my arsenal of wellness now too! Thank you lady! xoxo! Andi | http://www.ouiwegirl.com

Reply
Komal Patel January 6, 2017 - 4:49 pm

That’s awesome! Send me the link, I would love to check it out!

Reply
Dayna January 6, 2017 - 5:01 pm

Wow, thanks for such an awesome post! So fun and informative. Can’t wait to incorporate cacao more. xo Dayna // http://daysbyday.com/

Reply
Komal Patel January 6, 2017 - 8:24 pm

Thanks Dana! Btw your site is gorge!!

Reply
Amanda Maxwell January 6, 2017 - 8:33 pm

Shoot anything that will help my memory! I cant seem to remember my name half the time. Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Komal Patel January 9, 2017 - 7:43 pm

Right!

Reply
Tessa January 9, 2017 - 4:26 pm

I love this entire post, I definitely want to start incorporating more cacao into my everyday life!! I absolutely love your informative posts, and I cannot even wait to read more!! Love it!

xo, Tessa – http://www.simplytess.co

Reply
Komal Patel January 9, 2017 - 7:43 pm

Thank you tess! That means so much! Loving your site also!

Reply

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