Posted on: Oct 28, 2021
The use of raw cacao powder is becoming more and more popular as the world continues to investigate the benefits of raw products and veganism.
Cacao powder is made from cacao beans. The powder is made by cold-pressing raw unroasted cacao beans. This process removes the fat (Cacao butter) and keeps the living enzymes in the Cacao.
Some confuse Cacao with Cocoa. The main difference is Cocoa is roasted and Cacao isn’t.
In this article, we are going to talk specifically about the health benefits of raw Cacao powder as well as how you can use it, and where you can buy it.
What is Raw Cacao Powder?
Raw Cacao powder is the production of an unroasted Cacao bean cold-pressed into a powder form. Cacao powder is used widely in a variety of food products including chocolate, brownies, cookies, cakes, and other chocolate-based treats.
Raw Cacao comes from the Cacao tree which grows in various regions all over the world. Approximately 70% of the world’s Cacao beans come from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Cameroon. The Ivory Coast and Ghana are by far the biggest producers and produce more than 50% of the world’s supply.
Is Cacao Powder healthy?
Cacao powder has been shown to have many health benefits.
It’s packed with flavonoids which are compounds that are found naturally in a range of fruits and vegetables, including Cacao.
Flavonoids can help your body to fight toxins and are rich in antioxidant activity.
Having flavonoids in your diet can help to decrease some of the chronic health conditions we see in modern society.
What are the health benefits of Cacao Powder?
- Lowering blood pressure
Maintaining healthy blood pressure is important as high blood pressure is associated with many of the health concerns we face today.
Having high blood pressure can impact your physical wellbeing negatively and put you at a higher risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Cacao powder is full of flavonoids which have been shown to reduce blood pressure as well as improve blood flow.
- Help prevent blood clots
Blood clots are gel-like collections of blood that can form in your veins or arteries. Clotting is normal but it can become dangerous when they don’t dissolve on their own.
Cacao powder and chocolate have been shown to thin your blood. The flavanol within the chocolate slows down platelet clumping which can reduce the chance of blood clots.
- Reduce the risk of diabetes
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy.
It’s also the fastest-growing health condition in the modern-day.
Research has shown that a compound found in cocoa could help or treat type 2 diabetes as it can help to boost insulin production.
- Reduce inflammation
Inflammation is a process by which your body’s white blood cells and their protection mechanisms, prevent infection from outside invaders such as viruses and bacteria.
Some research has shown that cacao powder can reduce inflammation due to flavonoids.
- Reduce stress
Stress can play a major role in many of our lives. Whether we’re coping with stress during a working day or because of some sort of personal reason. Many of us experience it one way or another.
Due to its high levels of magnesium and valeric acid, cacao is an excellent source of banishing and reducing stress!
Of course, all of these health benefits do not mean that you should start bulk buying cacao to improve your physical and mental wellbeing.
Everything must be taken in moderation and adding cacao as a small part of your diet, may help to provide you with some of the health benefits above.
How can I use raw cacao powder?
Cacao powder can be used in a variety of recipes and below are just some of the ways you can experiment with it.
Mixing a teaspoon of cacao powder with some boiling water, almond milk or even oat milk is a delicious recipe to give you that warm, relaxing hot drink in the evening.
Baking a cake doesn’t have to be with your typical ingredients. Instead of adding chocolate or syrup, why not try cacao powder to give you that sweet chocolatey fix.
Porridge
Many of us opt for some additional sweetener when having porridge. A dash of cacao powder may just give you that sweet kick that you need to start your day.
Smoothies
Smoothies can often be bitter and in some instances tasteless or inedible. A teaspoon of cacao powder may be the missing ingredient to give it that sweetness and mask the bitterness.
Oat bars often need a sprinkle of something sweet to give them that delicious flavour. Rather than using unhealthy sugars, why not try cacao powder?
Where can I buy cacao powder?
At Creative Nature, we sell our very own raw cacao powder which can be used for your baking and flavouring needs.
You can buy a range of cacao-based products on our website.
Some of these products are:
Cacao nibs, protein bars, oat bars, and more!
Can I give Cacao-based products as a healthy gift?
Absolutely!
Cacao-based products are a fantastic gift idea.
Not only are the cacao products at creative nature allergen-free, but they are a healthy alternative to some of the junk food gifts that are available on the market today.
Companies and organisations even buy healthy cacao-based products to support staff wellbeing and even consider it as part of a lunch and learn session.
The sweetness of the cacao gives it the edge so individuals don’t feel like it’s a bland health gift, and the raw ingredients ensure its purity and healthy state.
For more information on cacao and to understand the difference between cacao and cocoa, check out our blog here