The Health Benefits of Cacao | Dagoba Xocolatl Bar

The Dagoba Xocolatl Bar: The Health Benefits of Cacao

The Digestive and Cardiovascular Advantages of Capsaicin (Chilies)

Rare organic chilies add a very subtle spicy (but not hot) flavor to Xocolatl. Chilies (Capsaicin) and substances that contain chili peppers are among the most studied of food substances in medical, pharmaceutical, and nutrition research. Although many of the claims about chilies have yet to be substantiated by scientific research, some of these uses have been around for hundreds of years, and many people still rely on their health boosting properties.

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Rare organic chilies for digestive and cardiovascular health – and a hint of spice
Organic nutmeg for traditional therapeutic properties and distinct flavor
Virility boosting organic maca for enhanced rich nutty-vanilla taste

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Capsaicin is the pungent active principle of capsicum, the dried ripe fruit of various chile peppers. Long used as a food spice and as an aid to digestion, chilies were once thought to aggravate stomach ulcers. Thailand researchers dispelled this fear and were among the first to notice that people who consume large amounts of red chili peppers experienced a lower incidence of thrombo-embolism, or potentially dangerous blood clots.

Scientists then looked at the medical records of countries where hot spicy foods were regularly consumed, and found that people who eat a diet high in red peppers experience a much lower incidence of blood clotting diseases. Scientists have now concluded that capsicum does indeed possess fibrinolytic activity, meaning that it is able to break down blood clots. New research is focusing on capsicum's potential ability to act as an anti-inflammatory agent, and aid in controlling pain.

Besides being one of the most flavorful and healthy ways to add spice to your food, the following medicinal properties have been attributed to chilies:

Improves your digestion by stimulating stomach secretions
Contains vitamins A, C, and E, folic acid, and potassium
Has a slight laxative effect if you have constipation
Triggers the release of endorphins
Unclogs stuffy noses by irritating mucus membranes

According to the World Health Organization, in the countries where diets are traditionally high in capsaicin, the cancer death rates for men and women are significantly lower than they are in countries with less chili pepper consumption. And there's even more good news about capsaicin – it has been linked to increases in your metabolic rate and may help you burn calories more efficiently!

The Many Traditional Therapeutic Properties of Nutmeg

Complex and tangy, nutmeg gives Xocolatl its distinct flavor. Nutmeg has long been appreciated for its aromatic scent and in some instances thought to possess magical powers - possibly due to its hallucinogenic properties. Nutmeg also enjoys a reputation as a potent aphrodisiac, as extolled in the Kama Sutra. Historically, the spice was so valued that the Dutch traded Manhattan Island to the British in return for a tiny nutmeg-producing Indonesian isle.

Because nutmeg possesses some minor but uncomfortable potential side effects (if consumed in high quantities in most cases, however) – ranging from headaches to nausea and vomiting – it is not used medicinally as often as cinnamon and ginger. This is unfortunate because nutmeg contains outstanding antioxidant and antimicrobial qualities. According to the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2003, vol.51, no.6), nutmeg has also been shown to help protect your liver; and like ginger, it's considered a digestive aid that helps reduce flatulence and diarrhea, and can help increase concentration and provide other benefits as well.

Please be advised that taking too much nutmeg can cause nausea, hallucinations, swelling and shock. However, even with generous culinary usage these adverse side effects will not be induced.

Ancient Root May Hold the Key to Boosting Your Virility

Maca gives the Xocolatl bar a burst of vanilla-nutty flavor. Grown in Peru's Central Highlands, maca is an annual plant that is cultivated for the nutritional and medicinal value of its fleshy root.

Used for thousands of years by the native peoples of Peru, legend has it that Incan warriors would consume maca before entering into battle to gain fierce strength. But after conquering a city, the Incan soldiers were prohibited from using maca, to protect the conquered women from their powerful sexual impulses.

Maca's reputation is emerging again today as people discover that the plant really does boost libido, sexual function and overall energy. As a result, a number of scientists have turned their attention to studying the properties of this ancient root.

The list of ailments for which traditional herbalists recommend maca is extensive--from lubricating stiff arthritic joints to easing respiratory illnesses. Yet actual evidence that it works for most uses is still pending.

The herb is most often compared to the energizer and stress-adaptor, Siberian ginseng. However, maca has yet to undergo the same rigorous testing that Siberian ginseng has. Specifically, maca may help you:

Counter fatigue and energize the body – today, many sources tout maca as a fatigue-fighter and general tonic to counter lethargy, memory loss, and other ills that can result from depleted energy stores. Recent analyses indicate that the maca root is rich in calcium, protein, iron, phosphorus, fiber, and mineral salts.
Treat impotence and boost sex drive – only recently been studied in any systematic way, it remains unclear exactly how the plant works to affect sex drive; some sources say it relates to the plant's sterols, which can act to normalize steroid hormones like testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen.

In-depth analysis of maca has shown that it contains two groups of novel compounds, macamides and the macaenes – agents believed to be directly responsible for maca's sex-boosting powers.

It's important to note that currently there is no evidence that maca can treat erectile dysfunction, even though it is often erroneously touted as a cure for this condition.

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