Tag Archives: raw cacao chocolate

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Why Food Really Is Our Medicine PLUS Raw Organic Cacao Balls Recipe!

one of the subjects I’m studying at Uni at the moment is called the “Science and Medicine of Food”, and I have to admit, the more I learn about eating whole foods, the more I’m convinced that Hippocrates, (the father of Western medicine), was on the money when he famously said “Food is Medicine”.

Hippocrates believed that illness stemmed from inadequate nutrition and bad eating habits, and if people could learn to improve their eating habits then optimum health would be restored. He also taught other health practitioners to “Leave your drugs in the chemist’s pot if you can heal the patient with food.”

My how the world has changed.

Fast forward to 2014 and most people are on some kind of medication for some kind of illness or ailment.

So I’ve decided to share a Raw Organic Cacao Balls recipe (courtesy of one of my lecturers from Endeavour College) which I made this afternoon and it’s GOOD FOR YOU. Yay, finally some chocolate that we can eat guilt free!

These cacao balls make for a yummy treat (after work, before work – heck, even whilst you’re at work!), particularly when you’re feeling weary and in need of an energy boost.

A quick word on Chocolate, always use RAW ORGANIC CACAO! It’s super high in minerals and antioxidants, and on the ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), which shows the antioxidant values of food it sits around 25,000-50,000 compared to around 4,000-6,000 in red wine. Sorry red wine drinkers …

Raw Organic Cacao Balls

1 cup singular or mixed raw nuts
1 cup pitted medjool dates
½ cup pepitas (or alternatively sunflower seeds, or mix both)
¼ cup goji berries
2-3 heaped dessert spoons of Organic Raw Cacao Powder
1tsp vanilla concentrated extract
1 tbsp raw organic honey
1 tsp organic cinnamon
Desiccated coconut for rolling (Mrs Flannery’s)

(Option – Add 1 tbsp unhulled tahini paste, or maca powder, or spirulina, or protein powder).

Process all of the ingredients, except the coconut, into a food processor until a good crumbly consistency (for about a minute on high).

Roll into walnut sized balls, and then roll in desiccated coconut, and enjoy (makes about 30), or 20 if you make them bigger.

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Raw Cacao Chocolate: A Treat That Will Give You Some Oomph! Even After An Early Shift …

Whether it’s night shift, early shift or even an afternoon shift, working 24/7 is certainly hazardous on your health – particularly when you’re wondering around like a zombie thanks to a life of constant sleep-deprivation.

So in times of a much-needed pick me up, have you ever reached into the refrigerator for some chocolate only to feel guilty afterwards?

Well have I got some good news for you!

Try these Raw Cacao Chocolate Treats With Coconut Flakes as they will not only give you energy, but they’re actually good for you too.

(Yes that is not a misprint!) Let me explain why.

Cacao is the seed of an Amazonian fruit tree which is the main ingredient found in chocolate. Often referred to by the Ancient Mayan and Aztec civilisation as “the food of the gods”, raw cacao has many health benefits including:

* A high source of magnesium which helps balance brain chemistry and build strong bones
* Increases energy, focus and alertness
* Helps to diminish appetite
* Contains no sugar
* Touted as the number one source of antioxidants of any food on the planet!

So how do you make these wickedly good for you treats? Quite simply and easily using the following recipe below:

Ingredients

1/2 cup pure raw chocolate cacao nibs
1/2 cup cacao powder
3/4 cup almonds
1 tbsp. coconut butter
1/4 cup agave syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. organic coconut flakes

Method

1. Throw everything into a high performance food processor and blend until thick.
2. Press firmly and flatten onto plate
3. Allow to set in freezer for 45 minutes
4. Break into small pieces and store in freezer until ready to eat!

Note: These treats are incredibly addictive so best not have too many before bed time!