BonPom RAW Cacao Powder 200g

As naturopathic physicians, we have such a great appreciation for the medicinal properties of raw organic cocoa. One thing we learned in medical school isif we want to cure disease we can learnfrom populations around the world where those diseases do not exist. The Kuna people of San Blas, off the coast of Panama, are turning out to be wonderful teachers for the rest of the world thanks to the ongoing work of Norman K. Hollenberg and colleagues of Harvard Medical School. He found that the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke – four of the most common killers today, are almost nonexistent in these people. As part of living by their traditional ways, they drink an average of 5 cups of cocoa per day, making them the world-record holders of a flavonoid rich diet.There
has been much modern research conducted on this ancient plant with astoundingly positive results. Most notably, the positive effects of drinking raw organic cocoa have been illustrated for various parameters of cardiovascular dysfunction including high blood pressure and diabetes. There is also sound research stating that cocoa has immune stimulating effects, can be used adjunctively to treat cancer, help oxygenate the brain and promotes detoxification of industrial chemicals in the body.Through randomized controlled trials, many researchers, including Fisher et al. in the Journal of Hypertension and Taubert et al. in JAMA have demonstrated that habitual cocoa intake lowers blood pressure via its high arginine content and the nitric oxide pathway. Lowering blood pressure reduces the
risk of cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke. Other protective mechanisms cocoa can offer against cardiovascular disease come from its potent antioxidant profile. The flavonoids in cocoa raise HDL, the “good” cholesterol and both lower and protect LDL or “bad” cholesterol from being oxidized (damaged by free radicals) in the blood, which helps fight against plaque formation according to Baba et al. in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2007. Flammer et al. in Circulation 2007 demonstrated that cocoa reduces platelet aggregation or in other words thins the blood. Platelets are sticky little cell fragments that help our body repair injury, but can also contribute to plaque formation in the arteries. Cocoa acts as a natural blood thinner when taken daily.One of the
most deadly complications from diabetes mellitus (type II diabetes) is heart disease. Cocoa protects us from these complications and also helps to promote insulin sensitivity according to Grassi et al. in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2005.Cancer is fast becoming the number one killer of Americans. Colon and reproductive cancers like breast and prostate cancer are among the most common types of cancers. Components of cocoa, notably the polyphenols have shown to stop proliferation of breast, prostate and colon cancer cells while sparing normal cells by researchers at Georgetown University’s Department of Oncology and others including Bisson et al. Journal of Medicinal Food 2007 and European Journal of Cancer Prevention 2008 and Carnesecchi et al. in Cancer Letters 2002.Research
is also showing cocoa powder to help immune function, cognition, and detoxification. Cocoa can both upregulate specific immune cells and help modulate immune function. It appears to increase brain oxygenation which has beneficial implications for diseases like dementia. And finally, raw organic cocoa powder with its high fiber content has been shown to facilitate the excretion and detoxification of environmental contaminants from the body.