Now, let’s watch the videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iScs0uzQZFk&p=8AB3004B11E5C8F2

• Supports killing viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and other illnesses.
• Supports killing bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, and other diseases.
• Supports killing fungi and yeasts that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash, and other infections.
• Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites.
• Provides a nutritional source of quick energy.
• Boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance.
• Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.
• Improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.
• Relieves stress on pancreas and enzyme systems of the body.
• Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis.
• Helps relieve symptoms and reduce health risks associated with diabetes.
• Reduces problems associated with malabsorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis.
• Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth.
• Helps protect against osteoporosis.
• Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.
• Relieves symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and stomach ulcers.
• Improves digestion and bowel function.
• Relieves pain and irritation caused by hemorrhoids.
• Positive effect on inflammation.
• Supports tissue healing and repair.
• Supports and aids immune system function.
• Helps protect the body from breast, colon, and other cancers.
• Is heart healthy; improves cholesterol ratio reducing risk of heart disease.
• Protects arteries from injury that causes atherosclerosis and thus protects against heart disease.
• Helps prevent periodontal disease and tooth decay.
• Functions as a protective antioxidant.
• Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promote premature aging and degenerative disease.
• Does not deplete the body’s antioxidant reserves like other oils do.
• Improves utilization of essential fatty acids and protects them from oxidation.
• Helps relieve symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Relieves symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
• Reduces epileptic seizures
• Helps protect against kidney disease and bladder infections.
• Positive influence on dissolving kidney stones.
• Helps prevent liver disease.
• Is lower in calories than all other fats.
• Supports thyroid function.
• Promotes loss of excess weight by increasing metabolic rate.
• Is utilized by the body to produce energy in preference to being stored as body fat like other dietary fats.
• Helps prevent obesity and overweight problems.
• Applied topically helps to form a chemical barrier on the skin to ward of infection.
• Reduces symptoms associated the psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.
• Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin.
• Softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking.
• Prevents wrinkles, sagging skin, and age spots.
• Promotes healthy looking hair and complexion.
• Provides protection form damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation form the sun.
• Helps control dandruff.
• Does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do.
• Has no harmful or discomforting side effects.
• Is completely non-toxic to humans.

It has the most amazing combination of only a few but high quality ingredients, this is a summary of the healthy benefits:

Antioxidants: RAW Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. In fact, it has up to four times the quantity of antioxidants found in green tea. Health benefits of these antioxidants include:

* Promote cardiovascular health – Help dilate bloods vessels, reduce blood clotting, improve circulation, help regulate heartbeat and blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
* Protect from environmental and metabolic toxins – Help repair and resist damage caused by free radicals, and may reduce risk of certain cancers.

Neurotransmitters: By increasing the levels of specific neurotransmitters in our brains, RAW cacao promotes positive outlook, facilitates rejuvenation and simply helps us feel good.

* Serotonin – Cacao raises the level of serotonin in the brain; thus acts as an anti-depressant, helps reduce PMS systems, and promotes a sense of well-being.
* Endorphins - Cacao stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the “runner’s high” a jogger feels after running several miles.
* Phenylethylamine - Found in chocolate, phenylethylamine is also created within the brain and released when we are in love. Acts as mild mood elevator and anti-depressant, and helps increase focus and alertness.
* Anandamide - Anandamide is known as the “bliss chemical” because it is released by the brain when we are feeling great. Cacao contains both N-acylethanolamines, believed to temporarily increase the levels of anandamide in the brain, and enzyme inhibitors that slow its breakdown. Promotes relaxation, and helps us feel good longer.

Essential Minerals: RAW Cacao beans are rich in a number of essential minerals, including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese. Don’t let yourself fool: processed (=roasted cacao may come in all types of qualities on the market, yes, the price will mostly tell you, but the mineral content is very low compared with RAW Cacao)

* Magnesium - RAW Cacao seems to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and helps regulate heartbeat and blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency, present in 80% of Americans, is linked with PMT, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and joint problems.
* Sulfur - RAW Cacao is high in the beauty mineral sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails and hair, promotes beautiful skin, detoxifies the liver, and supports healthy pancreas functioning.

Essential fats: There is a misperception that chocolate is fattening. In truth, the fats in cocoa butter are healthy fats. Cacao contains oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, also found in olive oil, that may raise good cholesterol. Also, substances found in cacao are known to help reduce appetite.

Important note- To fully benefit from chocolate’s wide array of nutrients, eat chocolate that is as close to its natural state as possible. Whole cacao beans and nibs are best. You lose many of the health benefits when you eat commercially produced chocolate.

If you are using whole beans, simply crunch them between your fingers to loosen and remove the peel. You can use the beans whole or grind them in a spice mill/coffee grinder or food processor. Then add them to smoothies, teas, desserts, raw food bars or any dish that calls for the delicious flavor of chocolate. They are especially good when used in recipes with our vanilla beans. Here are some more detailed suggestions for enjoying the exquisite flavor of cacao:

1. Try eating them straight, a tablespoon at a time. Chew thoroughly and experience the taste extravaganza of raw (or roasted) chocolate.
2. Sprinkle on yogurt, granola, desserts, etc.
3. Make a delicious chocolate shake with dairy or nut milk, coconut oil, a frozen banana, agave nectar, and cacao beans or nibs.
4. Add agave nectar, yacon sweetener, or honey to the raw cacao nibs and chew!
5. Freeze cacao nibs with sweeteners (agave nectar or honey is fantastic). Eat cold.
6. Blend powdered cacao into herbal teas with the Peruvian superfood maca.
7. Add cacao nibs to ice creams for the healthiest chocolate chip ice cream in the world.
8. Create a raw chocolate bar! Blend the following raw ingredients together: cacao, agave nectar, carob powder, maca, coconut oil, and cashews. Pour into a mold and freeze.
9. Grind whole beans or nibs into a powder and combine with coconut oil to make a chocolate sauce. Use in cookies, brownies or other raw or baked desserts. (Check out in our Recipe section)
10. If you have a Champion juicer, you can make unsweetened baker’s chocolate by running the nibs or unpeeled whole beans through it. To make a “liquor” run the powder through the Champion several more times until it separates into powder and liquid.
11. Make a scrumptious chocolate nut fudge. In a food processor or blender, start with your favorite nut (cashews or almonds are particularly good) and add coconut oil, agave nectar or honey, coconut flakes, cacao beans, vanilla, and a pinch of Royal Himalayan salt.

Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa Torr. Fabaceae (Bean or Legume Family)

Mesquite is a small tree or shrub, usually armed with straight, very stout spines that produces edible fruits called legumes, beans, or pods. A signature plant of the South Texas Plains and Mexico, mesquite, perhaps more than any other plant, is characteristic of the region. This plant was used in many different ways by native peoples. Its nutritious pods were highly valued as an important food resource rich in sugar and protein, its hard wood was used for making tools, musical instruments, and fuel, and the plant had medicinal and ritual uses as well.

The fruit is a bean or legume, slightly curved usually measuring 6-10 inches. The fruit or pod ripens into a light tan or brown pod that encase the seed.

Historic and ethnographic records indicate that almost every part of the mesquite tree has a use. The Pima Indians of southern Arizona referred to the mesquite as the “tree of life”. The pods were consumed with any  meal raw, also grouned and made to flatcakes. Cahuilla utilized Mesquite  blossoms, green pods and dried pots. Blossom were consumed raw or roasted, squeezed into balls and consumed. Green pods were very often juiced. The ground dry mesquite flour was moistened with water and then hardened again.

Medicine:
Mesquite gum, herbage, roots, and bark were used in medicinal applications. Leaves were often used in topical applications. Mescalero Apache ground or mashed leaves and mixed them with water, and applied the mix to the afflicted area, especially eyes. Mesquite gum, exudate that collected in cracks in the bark, was dissolved in water and applied to the eyes (Hrdlicka 1908).

The Cocopa boiled the inner bark in water given internally to newborns. Both mesquite gum and powdered mesquite bark have antiseptic qualities (Gifford 1933). The Pima treated diarrhea with an infusion of mesquite roots or gum. Astringent qualities of mesquite bark were also utilized by the Pima (Curtin 1949).

Benefits:
Mesquite is rich in calcium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, iron, zinc; highly absorbably protein, rich in lysine and high dietary fiber. Although the taste is sweet, the intake can balance and stabilize the blood sugar and also lower the glycemic load of high carb foods. This is good news for diabetics as well as athlets and weight watchers.

Applications:
1 Tablespoon of mesquite powder added to any drink, smoothie or water will help keep the hunger away for up to 4 hours and balance energy and stamina for up to 6 hours. Mesquite can be blended with grains, rice flour (70% flour und 30% mesquite) in all kind of pastries, cakes and breads, topping for vegetable dishes and fruits, added to salad dressings, desserts and goes great with raw cacao powder, lukuma powder, coconut water, coconut milk, spirulina, maca, agave.

1. PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

Chocolate scores well in all researches done for protective effects against heart disease.

• lowering blood pressure
• anti-inflammation
• anti-platelet function
• higher HDL, decreased LDL oxidation
• flavonoid content may reduce risk of cardiovascular mortality
• flavonoid content may reduce risk of CHD mortality.

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=16390538

http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/166/4/411

2. ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

Research has shown that the antioxidant effects of cacao are helpful in arteriosclerosis. They were supperior to vitamin C, vitamin E and probucol.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15777537?dopt=Abstract

3. OXIDATIVE STRESS

Lowering oxidative stress is an issue for anybody with a busy lifestyle, but specially for athletes and people in recovery. The high amount of Magnesium and antioxidants in raw cacao can help lowering the risk in sport injuries as well as shorten up the recovery time of illnesses any kind.

4. CHOCOLATE’S POLYPHENOLS ON BOWEL HEALTH

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15087264?dopt=Abstract

5. BLOOD SUGAR AND DIABETES

Studies have shown that the dietary intake of raw cacao products has a positive impact on a stable low blood sugar and can help diabetes.

http://www.naturalnews.com/021961.html

Please find a lot of great article about health and of course, chocolate in Mike Adam’s, the health ranger, site:

http://www.naturalnews.com

Also check out the website of the World Cocoa Foundation:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15087264?dopt=Abstract

1) Raw cocoa powder* 95,500
2) Raw cacao nibs* 62,100
3) Roasted cocoa powder 26,000
4) Organic Goji Berries* 25,300
5) Acai Berries* 18,500
6) Dark Chocolate 13,120
7) Milk Chocolate 6,740
8) Prunes 5,770
9) Raisins 2,830
10) Blueberries 2,400

Source: US department of Agriculture/Journal of American Chemical Society
*Brunswick Laboratories MA, USA

Dried Cacao beans

Cacao Beans are extraordinarily nutritious!

Magnesium: Cacao seems to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium is one of the great alkaline minerals. It helps to support the heart, brain, and digestive system (it fights constipation). Magnesium is also important for building strong bones. Magnesium balances brain chemistry and has a strong influence on feelings of ease and happiness. This is likely the primary reason women crave chocolate during the monthly cycle. Magnesium is the most deficient major mineral on the Standard American Diet (SAD); over 80% of Americans are chronically deficient in Magnesium! Cacao has enough magnesium to help reverse deficiencies of this mineral.

Iron: Cacao contains 314% of the U.S. RDA of iron per 1 ounce (28 gram) serving. Iron is a critical mineral in nutrition. Iron is part of the oxygen carrying protein called hemoglobin that keeps our blood healthy.

Chromium: Chromium is an important trace mineral that helps balance blood sugar. Nearly 80% of Americans are deficient in this trace mineral. Chromium plays a significant role in detoxifying the liver from alcohols which build up during the fermentation process of sugars and starchs when we overeat or make bad food choices. It has a major influence on blood cleanse.

Anandamide: Anandamide (The Bliss Chemical) is an endorphin that the human body naturally produces after exercise. Anandamide has so far only been found in one plant — Cacao. Anandamide is known as “The Bliss Chemical” because it is released while we are feeling great. Cacao contains enzyme inhibitors that decrease our bodies’ ability to breakdown anandamide. This means that, when we eat cacao, natural anandamide and/or cacao anandamide may stick around longer, making us feel good longer.

Theobromine: Cacao usually contains about 1% theobromine. Theobromine is an effective anti-bacterial substance and kills streptococci mutans (the primary organism that causes cavities). Theobromine is a chemical relative of caffeine but is not a nervous system stimulant. Theobromine dilates the cardiovascular system making the heart’s job easier. This is one of the major reasons why cacao is an important part of a heart healthy diet.

Antioxidants: Cacao contains the highest concentration of antioxidants of any food in the world. These antioxidants include polyphenols, catechins, and epicatechins. By weight, Cacao has more antioxidants than red wine, blueberries, acai, pomegranates, and goji berries COMBINED.

Cacao Also Contains the Following Important Unique Nutrients:

Manganese: Manganese helps assist iron in the oxygenation of the blood and formation of hemoglobin. Interestingly, manganese is also concentrated in tears.

Zinc: Zinc plays a critical role in the immune system, liver, pancreas, and skin. Additionally, zinc is involved in thousands of enzymatic reactions throughout the human body.

Vitamin C: Cacao must be raw to contain vitamin C. All cooked and processed chocolate has no vitamin C. A one ounce (28 gram) serving of Cacao Beans supplies 21% of the U.S. RDA of Vitamin C. However, Cacao goes really good with fruits and greens that are high in Vitamin C and should be consumed together, there are yummy smoothies in our recipe section.

Omega 6 Fatty Acids: Cacao contains essential omega 6 fatty acids when it is RAW.

Phenethylamine (PEA): Phenylethylamine (PEA) is found in abundance in cacao. Because PEA is heat sensitive, much of the PEA in conventional cooked and processed chocolate is missing. PEA is the chemical that we produce in our bodies when we fall in love. This is likely one of the main reasons why love and chocolate have such a deep connection. PEA also plays a role in increasing focus and alertness.

Tryptophan: Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that is transformed into important stress-protective neurotransmitters including serotonin and melatonin. Tryptophan is heat sensitive and therefore it is “cooked out” in many high protein foods and in conventional processed chocolate.

Serotonin: Serotonin is the primary neurotransmitter in the human body. Serotonin is similar in its chemistry to tryptophan and melatonin. Serotonin helps us build up our “stress defense shield.”

Does Cacao Contain Caffeine?
Specialists have different opinions about the subject. David Woolfe quote: ‘… Contrary to popular opinion, cacao is a poor source of caffeine. A typical sample of Cacao Beans or cacao beans will yield anywhere from zero caffeine to 1,000 parts per million of caffeine (less than 1/20^th of the caffeine present in coffee)….’

My research and understanding: People seem to assume that caffeine is the only stimulant. Theobromine clearly has stimulant properties, so we reflexively attribute those effects to caffeine — even though many of the effects are fundamentally different from caffeine. I guess it is easier to just say it is caffeine. I believe that we casually refer to caffeine, when we really mean a whole class of chemicals called xanthines, of which caffeine is but one example. Theobromine is not addictive, Caffeine is. (The same confusion applies to Guarana and Mate: their chemical structure looks pretty similar to Caffeine as well).

Purple moss in nature

What it is:

Irish moss, or carrageen moss (Irish: carraigín, “little rock”), is a species of seaweed which grows abundantly along the rocky parts of the Atlantic coast of Europe and the Americas as well as parts in the Pacific. In its fresh condition the plant is soft and cartilaginous, varying in color from a greenish-yellow, through red, to a dark purple or purplish-brown. The principal constituent of Irish moss is a mucilaginous body, made of the polysaccharide Carragenan of which it contains about 55%; the plant also has nearly 10% of protein and about 15% minerals, specifically rich in iodine and sulfur. Because of the abundant cell wall polysaccharides it will form a jelly when boiled or processed with water expanding from 20 to 100 times of its weight.

Use in the food industry:

Irish moss is used in bulk by the food industry to make jellies or aspic and as a smooth binder. This can go from ice creams, deserts, drinks, savory foods and flans.

Cosmetically used:

Emulsifier in skin creams, gels, shampoos, and as a skin softener. And it nourishes and protects your skin from environmental elements. It is an anti-tissuive, and effective against halitosis, the formation varicose veins.

Irish Moss , when mixed to body lotions, turns your dry, rough, patchy skin into smooth, silky, hydrated, glowing skin . It moisturizes and treats even the most unmanageable skin problems , including eczema, psoriasis, rashes and sunburns . It supports skin’s natural moisture barrier-keeps harmful, drying external elements out and beneficial moisture in. Helps support healthy skin appearance.

Health Benefits:

Irish Moss contains A,B,C,D vitamins that nourishes the skin In addition to its functional benefits. Raw Irish Moss is an excellent source of minerals. This almost-tasteless seaweed is loaded with life-enhancing nutrients such as sulphur compounds, protein, iodine, bromine, beta-carotene, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, pectin, B-vitamins and vitamin C. Notably absent from a vegetarian diet, sulphur-containing amino acids, such as taurine, are abundant in Irish moss, more so than in any other type of seaweed!

it has been used to treat peptic and duodenal ulcers when used as a gelatinous substance and to inhibit arteriosclerosis. Irish moss is reported to be effective against, cancer and radiation poisoning (possibly because of the iodine content of Irish moss), it protects from obesity and cholesterol build up. Irish moss has a well documented anticoagulant effect on the blood, and clears up many bladder complaints. Irish Moss gives excellent sources of calcium, magnesium, sodium and iodine (essential to normal thyroid function).

It is used to increase the metabolic rate and give strengthen connective tissues, including the hair, skin and nails.

Our Irish Moss bags

RAW FOOD PREPARATION:
HOW TO SOAK IRISH MOSS:
Place a handful or all of your Irish Moss into a tall container. Rinse well 3 or 4 times and let soak up to 6 hours in the fridge. Change the water at least twice a day. Check on hidden sand, small stones or other impurities. Don’t worry about the “fragrance” when the sea moss is ready to use, it is practically odorless and tasteless.
If you do not have enough time you may soak the Irish Moss in lukewarm water for a few hours only. However, it will lessen a little of its gelatinous effect and you should use a little more in your recipe. The moss is ready when it has a creamy white color and nearly double size and weight than its dry original state.

HOW TO USE IRISH MOSS:
According to your recipe blend the Irish Moss and water together until it is well broken down and very creamy. Before adding other ingredients make sure that you blend all chunks of the moss which might kept sticking on the lid and the walls of the blender. Irish Moss will make any liquid fluffy and is a substitute for gelatin and other thickeners such as agar agar, pectin, soy lecithin, tapioca or corn starch.

HOW TO STORE IRISH MOSS:
Dry Irish Moss can stay up to a year in a cool dry place as the salt will preserve it. If you have soaked more Irish Moss than you need you may keep it in the fridge and change the water every day and it will keep fresh up to 3 weeks. You may also blend the Moss with little water until you get a thick creamy consistency and store it in a closed glass jar in the fridge for up to 3 weeks, this is a nice idea when you frequently use Irish Moss, and you have the paste ready.

Please go to the recipe section, there are 2 yummy raw food preparation posted.

Cacao pod

HARVEST
The cacao pods, which grow on the trunk and the larger branches of the plant, are broken off in order to remove the beans enclosed in their mucilaginous pulp. The beans are piled up on banana leaves to facilitate the fermentation process (note: this is the traditional way)
FERMENTATION
During the fermentation process – which lasts from3 to 6 days according to climate, altitude, variety – the bitterness and astringency of the beans is curbed and the basis for the aromas is developed. The cacao bean is subjected to an increase in temperature of up to 50° C, which melts the mucilaginous pulp and facilitates the development of chemical reactions inside the bean itself.

DRYING
At the end of the fermentation process, the cacao beans, now free of the mucilaginous pulp, are dried on the ground if the season is favourable. In case of rain, they are placed in well-aerated places. The drying process reduced the humidity to 7%.

CLEANING

To make the beans suitable for raw consumption the beans get cleaned of the microbes, bacteria and any other pollutants which otherwise would be killed during the Roasting. Our beans are also lab tested and hands-down — the cleanest beans on the market!

You can buy shelled and unshelled beans and the small pieces, nibs. Further the cacao nibs are cold pressed to receive the white flavorful cacao butter and cacao powder.

Although we are not using Roasted beans I feel it is quite interesting to understand the process, therefore please continue reading:

ROASTING
The roasting of the cacao is a very delicate operation and the identification of the ideal roasting point requires great experience. Bad roasting may have negative effects on the quality of the cacao, which may have a burnt taste.
When the cacao beans exit the cleaning machines they enter the roaster whole and are then heated to a temperature between 120 -140° C. They are then cooled and thrown into the winnowing machine that separates the shell from the meat, or nib, inside.

GRINDING
During this phase the cacao bean is ground and turned into a liquid paste called cacao liquor or paste, Made of cacao butter and the dry part of the bean. This paste is mixed with sugar (or with milk in the case of milk chocolate) and refined. The chocolate is born.

CONCHING
The chocolate is put into vats and mixed at a constant temperature for up to 72 hours (but sometimes as long as 120 hours). This eliminates any humidity, unpleasant aromas, excess bitterness or acidity, and perfectly emulsifies all the ingredients.
TEMPERING
With the procedure the process of crystallization and solidification of the chocolate begins. This operation determines the chocolate’s ductility, gloss, and consistency.