Chocolate & Raw Cacao: Balanced Wisdom from Experience and Our Roots

By Brian Self, CNH, MH, CCI ~ Health & Lifestyle Coach, Teacher and
Whole Food Culinary Artist





Brian: "After embracing healthier eating about 7 years ago I gave up chocolate because I had read that it was not healthy and was bad for the skin, nervous system, liver, etcetera.  About 3 or so years ago I heard that chocolate and raw chocolate was now all of a sudden OK.  In fact... I was hearing and reading it was loaded with antioxidants, nutritionally potent and was told it was one of the best foods we could eat.  I was also hearing that chocolate and raw cacao were superfoods and nutritional foods.  And hey... after denying and depriving myself of chocolate for so long because I believed it was bad and unhealthy I jumped on the bandwagon and dove right into chocolate and raw chocolate decadence!  

This article has been manifesting ever since I began to face and embrace this experience.  This article is dedicated to Our People and the wisdom of the Earth.  I was guided to write this to help bring balance to those struggling with their relationship to chocolate.  I have no vested interest in chocolate so this has come to me through non-biased, direct experience and the wise teachings of our elders and those whose story has not been spoken of in much of the one-sided information about chocolate and raw cacao that is floating around.   

The story and information I share with you now has been very humbling, educational and enlightening to say the least.  It is about embracing the bigger picture and wisdom of our elders, intuition and the foundations of whole food nutrition and herbology.  

Emotional & Chemical Alchemy of Chocolate & Raw Cacao  

After many years of experience and research, heart-to-heart conversation with Native Americans and friends in the field of herbology and nutrition, I began to understand and now believe that chocolate and raw cacao is a medicine, or strong herb and I avoid calling it a superfood or nutritional food.  

I believe a superfood is a deeply nourishing plant/food that contains high levels of essential minerals and vitamins that does no harm and does not contain strong alkaloids or drug like compounds.   Chocolate and raw cacao contain significant levels of theobromine, theophylline, caffeine and phenylethlamine.  Any plants that contain chemicals ending with the suffix "ine" can do harm and hurt the body if used habitually.  

When used in this way these chemicals have a tendency to burn out the adrenal glands, dry up the fluids in the colon, leach calcium out of the body and bones, create headaches, irritability, moods swings, anger, anxiety, panic and throw the body out of balance. Because of this, chocolate can lead to addiction for some because we tend to get a rush from the stimulants {theobromine & caffeine} and the "feel good" chemicals that mimic the chemistry of being in love {phenylethylamine}.   I think it is safe to say that love is what we are all really hungry for! 

I personally have gotten addicted to chocolate and raw cacao.  It did not make a difference for me whether it was raw chocolate or not.  I rarely ever meet someone who gets frenetically addicted to salads, green vegetables, blueberries, milk thistle or ginkgo which are all high in antioxidants and do not contain strong alkaloids.  I believe when we use chocolate and raw cacao to get our antioxidants and magnesium we are "robbing Paul to pay Peter".   This is a trade off; whereas using a superfood like Pure Synergy, or herbs like Milk Thistle and Ginkgo to get antioxidants and greens for our magnesium we are not playing a trade off with the systems of our body.  Now some people can eat chocolate and raw cacao with no problem, just like eating broccoli or kale and receive the antioxidants.  But others will be affected by the alkaloids in chocolate and raw cacao.    

I can easily tell by the bitter taste of chocolate in its raw, unprocessed form {without sweetener added} that it is not a staple food.  Anything that is bitter or strong tasting would be nature's way of telling us that this is a powerful plant or medicine.  Have you ever wondered why chocolate can cause death in dogs and also how it often makes small children sick?   Chocolate needs to be processed and sweetened to make it tasty and enjoyable.  

Plants containing strong alkaloids and drug like compounds have been used traditionally as medicine in times of great need.  The elders and native medicine men/women have used chocolate to help dilate the bronchioles when someone was in the throws of an asthma attack or had severe lung congestion because caffeine, theopheline and theobromine are excellent bronchiole dilators.  Chocolate and raw cacao has also been used traditionally as an aphrodisiac and tool for sexual enhancement for both men and women.  And wow... it sure can be a great experience and work wonders when honorably used in this way.  

Our beautiful elders and natives wisely know and continue to teach us that we need to respect these type of plants.  It is called "Food of the God's" for a reason, my wise Native American friend Adam told me just recently.  He said this is because  "raw cacao is a very powerful plant and has been honored traditionally and used with great respect in ceremony.  That stuff ain't no joke and I am now seeing people all amped up on raw chocolate and addicted to it.  When we eat chocolate it is always after a meal or ceremony, it is not the meal and is used with great honor and respect."   

I would like to suggest that we begin to look at the bigger picture and make our choices about chocolate, raw cacao and our health based on experience, education and wisdom that comes from remembering that "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts".   The very real experience and negative reaction people are having and the importance of balance that tends not to be revealed regarding the more complete and whole history of chocolate, elder wisdom and respect of this plant has been taught all along and can be found with some deeper digging past the hype on the surface and into our sacred roots. 

Let us remember as well that if we do choose to eat chocolate to honor it and enjoy the experience of it without guilt.  Guilt actually draws us right back into what we are trying to overcome.  Chocolate can be a tasty and delightful experience for most if not overdone and eaten consciously with a reverence and respect for the roots and sacred use of this herb.  I have found the Wild Bar by Ancient Sun to be more balanced in it's composition and effect on the body for those of you that would like to try some very high quality organic raw chocolate.   

May we also be aware and understand that the emotional issues around chocolate and sweets can be more strongly addictive than the chemistry of this herb and go hand in hand because these chemicals mimic what we experience when we feel love, are mentally stimulated and feeling elated or passionate.  They induce feelings and states of being that we tend to look upon as higher, more positive and loving.  We are usually in such a hurry to get to feeling good, feeling happy and feeling love. 

I know from my own experience that it is possible to create these things in our lives by following our hearts, being of service and living our soul purpose.  We can also create great body chemistry through nutrition that is balanced without the strong foods being used to band-aid emotions and hurts.  When we take care of ourselves and do what makes our heart sing, brings us joy and love - then there is seldom a need for chocolate or other drugs. Sometimes we forget that what we are looking for outside is within us.  

With great honor and respect to all...

Ahoe! 

Sincerely Yours in Heart & Soul, Health & Healing 

Brian Self
Heart and Soul Health Services
"Serving the Earth and Human Family"
Po Box 232124
Encinitas, CA 92023 
(858) 220-3128
brian@heartandsoulhealth.com
www.heartandsoulhealth.com

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