The Beauty of Cacao Nibs
Looking for a healthy, nutrient dense and superior snack choice? Look no further than the might Cacao Nib – a great way to enjoy some healthy snacking while providing your body with a lot of nutrition.
Cacao nibs are essentially eating the cacao bean itself as they have been roasted, separated from their husks and broken into smaller pieces. When we use the word ‘Cocoa‘ it is usually in reference to the processed, final product. Cacao is how any form of chocolate starts out as the beans come from the Theobroma cacao tree.
Cacao nibs are the least processed and most natural form of chocolate. The lack of processing and sugars do give them a bit of an acquired taste as they have a distinctive bitter but somewhat nutty flavour. They do however have lots of uses as you can add them into smoothies, as a topping on desserts, use in baking or even just snack on right out of the bag.
Here are our top reasons for including them in your everyday diet:
- Antioxidants
In my opinion this is the best reason to eat cacao nibs or dark chocolate in general. Antioxidants help fight off free radical damage in the body which can cause DNA damage, premature aging and even cancers. Think of antioxidants as firefighters putting out a blaze. And cacao is one of the highest sources of antioxidants
- Fiber
There is a huge amount of fiber in just a one ounce serving of cacao nibs. This can help control your blood pressure and blood glucose levels. This fiber can also help lower blood cholesterol as well as helping keep bowel movements regular.
- Potassium
A small serving of cacao contains around 183 mg of potassium! Potassium is crucial for life, it is key in heart, kidneys and other organs to function properly. Potassium is found in a lot of foods including cacao nibs!
- Improved Mood
Chocolate and cacao help stimulate the brain into releasing neurotransmitters that can trigger feel good hormones. One of those unique neurotransmitters released by cacao is phenylethylamine. This “love drug” releases endorphins giving us alertness, contentment and a better sense of well-being.
Available in our Mad About Mocha Cold Brew Coffee and our super food Cheeky Monkey Smoothie!
ifc shop 2096B, Podium Level 2