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The words chocolate and superfood aren’t usually found in the same sentence. But as it turns out, cacao – a raw product made by cold-pressing cocoa beans – is supercharged with antioxidants, vitamins and phytochemicals. From manganese and zinc to potassium and iron, cacao boasts a whole load of nutrients. But one of the most impressive is magnesium – a mineral that plays a part in more than 300 biochemical reactions. And with 500mg of the mineral found in every 100g cacao, what better excuse to indulge in this chocolatey superfood? Magnesium and cacao: the chocolate superfood Studies that rave...

Who doesn’t love chocolate? With its creamy texture and addictive taste, it’s the ultimate sweet treat. But apart from the really dark stuff, the health benefits are few and far between. Unless you’re talking about cacao, that is. Boasting nearly four times the antioxidant content of regular processed dark chocolate, this raw treat is a definite exception to the rule. So what exactly are the health benefits of cacao? And how can you tap into them? Cacao: The Lodown Cacao might seem like a new health food, but its history actually spans thousands of years. The Incas considered cacao the...

Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) is an herbal dietary supplement grown in both North America and India. Also known as India winter cherry, it is part of the Solanaceae family. Ashwagandha is made from the brown roots of the shrub, and it is believed by many to benefit a number of ailments. Ashwagandha has been used for centuries. Although people mainly associate the herb with India, Africans and even Native Americans have used it for infections and for warding off illness. Earning its fame in Ayurvedic medicine, ashwagandha is now proving to be a powerful herbal remedy praised by the alternative health...

What’s the difference between cacao and cocoa? Apart from a few rearranged letters, your answer would probably be “not much”. And that’s where you’d be wrong. Despite both originating from the same tree, cacao and cocoa are surprisingly different, from their unique processing right down to their taste. The difference lies in the processing Studies that reveal the health benefits of chocolate aren’t usually talking about the sugary treats we’re used to. In actual fact, most studies focus on raw cacao. So what makes cacao and cocoa so different? Let’s start with the similarities. Both cacao and cocoa come from...

Ashwagandha is a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine. Used in a wide range of natural treatments, this adaptogenic herb holds a huge amount of potential for both preventing and treating common health problems, including those caused by our hectic lifestyles. After being used in traditional Indian medicine for thousands of years, this superfood root is finally making a name for itself in the western world. And now, thanks to an explosion of research into ashwagandha, we can better understand the evidence-backed health benefits of this adaptogenic herb. 1. Helps thyroid imbalance When it comes to treating conditions such as hyper- and...