Chocoholics Celebrate! Raw Cacao Nibs Named One of the Healthiest Superfoods on the Planet

The headline above might have you asking some questions right now, like "what's a superfood?" and/or "what are cacao nibs?" Well, you're about to get plenty of answers to those questions, and more. More importantly, once you've finished learning all about why cacao nibs are the best food you've never eaten, we'll help you get started with some delicious - and nutritious - cacao nib recipes.

What - Exactly - are Cacao Nibs?

Let's start with some basics: cacao nibs are a superfood. Superfoods are raw, natural foods like fruits and vegetables that contain an obnoxiously high amount vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. In general, the darker or more colorful a food is, the higher its nutritional content. And as you can see from pictures, cacao nibs definitely fall into that category. Cacao nibs are the dried, crushed seeds which come from the fruit of the cacao tree. They are also used to make chocolate. But the ways in which chocolate and cacao differ are as significant as they are abundant.

What Makes Cacao Nibs Such a Miraculous Superfood?

Unlike chocolate, cacao nibs are not processed at all. All chocolate starts out as cacao, but not all cacao becomes chocolate. When cacao is processed into chocolate, its nutritional content is severely degraded. Furthermore, the addition of sugar and other ingredients also decreases the health benefits of pure cacao. Because cacao is a bitter, lower-calorie food compared to regular chocolate, it can be a bit of an acquired taste. But once you get past the lack of sweetness, and you realize how much nutrition you're getting from each nib, you'll start to appreciate the depth and rich taste of pure cacao.

Antioxidant Properties

Most raw fruits and vegetables contain nutritious plant compounds called flavonoids. In a way, flavonoids are like pokemon; science is still discovering how many there are, and what each one is capable of. But there is one common, nearly undeniable consensus: flavonoids are powerful antioxidants.

The more antioxidants you can get in your diet, the better. As time marches on and your body gets older, your cells begin to suffer damage from a process called oxidation. Antioxidants, in case you couldn't tell from the name, protect against this oxidation process. The more antioxidants you consume, the younger and more vivacious you will feel, all the way down to a cellular level. Antioxidants can do everything from giving you more energy to improving your metabolism to slowing the physical signs of aging - and more!

Neurological Health

When you eat raw cacao nibs, it triggers the release of endorphins in your brain. You know how when most people eat chocolate, they immediately feel better - no matter how bad their day has been? Well, cacao nibs create that same warm, fuzzy feeling inside you. But the feeling is much stronger when you consume raw cacao.

One of the released endorphins is a little something called PEA (phenylethylamine). This endorphin stimulates the adrenals in a way that enhances mental focus and awareness. In other words, it gets you jazzed up and excited. Another endorphin released when you eat cacao nibs is called anandamide. It has a cute little nickname - the "bliss" molecule - in large part because it has a very similar molecular structure to that of THC.

Cardiovascular Benefits

The micronutrient content of cacao nibs provides some truly excellent benefits for your cardiovascular system. High concentrations of potassium and magnesium help reduce blood pressure while enhancing blood flow to the parts of your body where you need it the most (including your brain). Cacao nibs also contain large amounts of iron, which can help you fight off fatigue and anemia.

Metabolic and Digestive Health

Raw cacao is extremely high in fiber. Unfortunately, most modern diets today are dangerously insufficient when it comes to fiber. The less fiber you consume on a daily basis, the more likely you are to suffer from poor gut health, chronic inflammation, disease, insomnia, and even mental health struggles. To make a long story short: fiber is important!

But fiber isn't just good for holistic, full-body health. It's also great for anyone who's trying to lose weight. When you eat fiber, it keeps you feeling fuller for longer by slowing down your digestion. Also, like we mentioned earlier, it releases happy endorphins in your brain which can help stave off any stress-induced comfort snacking you may be tempted by. As if all of that weren't fantastic enough on its own, eating cacao nibs is also great for regulating your insulin resistance, which can help protect you from metabolic diseases like diabetes.

Out of curiosity: are you having problems with regularity, or with trying to fit into your skinny jeans from last summer? Well, raw cacao can kill both of those problems with one stone. The high fiber content in cacao nibs helps your body clear out your colon on a more regular basis. And the less weight you're carrying in your lower abdomen (thanks to having an active digestive system) the easier it'll be to zip up and button your favorite pair of jeans!

How to Get More Cacao Into Your Diet

The best way to maximize the health benefits of cacao nibs is to incorporate them into your favorite cold/room temperature foods like salads, smoothies, trail mix, etc; the only limits are your imagination. You can also add them to spaghetti, mole, or chili sauces if you wish. Just keep in mind that once the temperature exceeds 104 degrees F, the antioxidant content of the nibs starts to break down.

Without further ado, grab yourself a bag o' nibs and get started with these fantastic recipes!

Superfood Berry Smoothie Recipe

This bittersweet, refreshing treat is choc full of powerful antioxidants to keep you feeling energized and revitalized all day long.

• 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1/2 cup strawberries
• 1/2 cup red grapes
• 1/2 cup raspberries
• 1/2 cup blueberries
• 1 oz cacao nibs
• A splash or two of water (to make blending easier)

Put all ingredients into your favorite blender or smoothie maker. Blend until your desired consistency is reached, and enjoy! You can also replace dairy yogurt with coconut, soy or any other vegan alternative. Or, you can use a dairy free milk instead.

Alternatively, you can put a green twist on it and get an extra dose of vitamins A, K, C, and B6 by throwing some leafy greens into the mix:

• Superfood Green Smoothie with Cacao Nibs

Overnight Chocolate-Banana Oats

Overnight oats are an excellent breakfast option, especially for the busy working man or woman. That's because you can prepare them the night before. This shaves more time off your morning routine, and helps you get a nutritious start to your day.

• Chocolate Banana Overnight Oats

Cacao and Cacao Nib Salads

Cacao nibs are great for sprinkling on top of salads. This is especially true if you're talking about a mixed greens salad with sweet additions like strawberries, tiny orange slices, or cranberries. The high vitamin C content will help your body absorb the iron in the cacao nibs more easily. Or you can get creative and make your own cacao-flavored salad dressing:

• Cacao Vinaigrette Salad Recipe

Cacao Nib Chocolate Fudge

Chocolate is made from cacao - so it only makes sense to incorporate it into your favorite dessert recipes, right? From cakes to pies to cupcakes and more, anywhere you might otherwise used baker's chocolate, cacao nibs are a powerfully healthy substitute. Likewise, if your recipe calls for dark chocolate, you can use nibs instead and neutralize the bitterness with a natural sweetener like honey or stevia. Start here with this Cacao nib chocolate fudge recipe, but don't be afraid to experiment and get creative!

• Healthy Cacao Nib Chocolate Fudge

With all of the health benefits that cacao nibs have to offer, it won't be long before everyone is eating them. Once the word gets out, this cacao-licious and nutritious trend is likely to explode. When it does, you can say you were into them before they were cool, and wear your 'Nibster' badge with pride. Happy nibbing!