Brain health | Cacao benefits | Ceremonial cacao | Creativity | Keith's original writings | Keith's wisdom
This blog post is an extract from the original writings of Keith Wilson, the Chocolate Shaman. For more recent info on all things Ceremonial Cacao, visit our main blog For the Love of Cacao.
Here is a detailed list of the known benefits and uses of Pure Ceremonial Grade Cacao of the Criollo variety, which does not have the caffeine found in the hybrid varieties that comprise most of the world's Cacao, and which retains its active compounds.
We believe this is the most comprehensive list to be found on the world wide web. It is compiled from medical journals, our own experience, and those of others who have been using Cacao extensively.
Benefits and uses are listed under five categories:
• Consciousness and Spirituality
• Creativity and Learning
• Workplace Productivity, Decision Making, and Innovation
• Workouts, Sports, and Training
• Medical and Health (including a note on Cacao and Covid-19)
1
There is an expression here at Lake Atitlan, Guatemala - which is where we initiated the re-emergence of pure Cacao into the Western world: "Cacao and…", meaning Cacao goes so well with everything! Our Cacao is for Life!
"Your chocolate is awesome. It makes me laugh, cry, sing poems, meditate & love".
"When I started working with Cacao, it was all about meditation. Although my mentor, Keith (of Keith's Cacao), had always mentioned that She was also a great partner for creativity, I never really believed She could help me. Oh, how wrong I was! Now I can fully see the extent of her Power and admit that She is supporting me in unleashing my creativity! But first and foremost, regular practice with Cacao has been helping me fully accept myself as I am and see the Beauty, Truth, and the Divine in what I create."
2
If it's time for you to design a website, drinking Cacao will help unleash your creativity and provide you with the focus needed for such a venture. Unless you are a heavy coffee drinker and thus accustomed to the caffeine, be cautious with common Cacao, which has a high caffeine content… too much buzz, no focus… and fewer of the compounds impacting creativity and focus.
"Ceremonial Cacao is like fire. I like to play with it and imagine how it burns down all that's not in resonance with me anymore. I like to imagine how it helps me let go of my past, let go of expectations and the Maya (illusion of self). It is the medicine for my soul. It is the fire that awakens the life force energy within me and lets it flow through me. It is my liquid love, an elixir for the heart that cracks it open.”
3
Studies show a 40% increase in blood flow to the brain. The first scientific study on this showed that a group of elderly people in an old-folks-home had their brains wake up with a 30% brain blood flow increase from a smaller dose.
"Habitual chocolate intake has been related to better cognitive performances, measured with an extensive battery of neuropsychological tests in a population-based study evaluating 968 community-dwelling participants.” Gale Academic Online
4
If you need to learn a new task or new software or take your understanding of something to a deeper level, Cacao in your system will help you make the connections and retain them. You become so much more efficient and productive!
5
We hear from many that our Cacao works well for 'brain fog.’
"When I received my Cacao, I knew right away that this would be very different from any Cacao I've ever purchased. The SCENT! It was intoxicating! I immediately pulled the remaining bit of powdered/organic Cacao from my superfood cupboard to compare the two. No contest. Keith's Cacao had the richest, most delightful fragrance. I couldn't wait to use it. Slicing off an ounce of Cacao was easy, and within minutes I had whipped up a simple hot beverage. The purity of that flavor was incredible! With nothing but hot water and a dollop of coconut cream – it was delicious. As I sipped the Cacao, I almost immediately felt something shifting in my upper body. My neck and shoulders were settling, and my mind was clearing. The next morning, I started my day with another Cacao drink. Again, my brain fog – a fog that had all but stopped my ability to think, read, and create – LIFTED. I could almost feel this internal dust clearing and my mind opening. Honestly, it was hard to believe. But day after day of using this Cacao product, I can feel the changes. My mindset, mood, and energy are elevated. It has become an integral part of my healing and self-care routine, and I am so beyond thankful to have found it!"
Continue reading about the benefits and uses of Cacao in blog posts Benefits and Uses of Keith's Cacao - Parts 1, 3, 4, & 5.