Nutrition for Sport

Cacao Nibs: Ride harder

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Cacaowa-bunga I feel flippin’ amazing!

First domesticated by the Mayans over 2,000 years ago, cacao from coco beans is one of the most nutritionally complex foods on earth. Cacao is the main ingredient in dark chocolate, but it has nearly four times the antioxidant power of your average dark chocolate.

Forget Tinder, swipe your card and grab some Cacao

Coco beans were historically prized for their aphrodisiacal properties. Phenethylamine (PEA), found in cacao is said to be released into the brain when we’re attracted to someone. These chemicals also relieve stress and stimulate the secretion of endorphins and pleasurable opium-like neurochemicals, helping athletes stay positive, alert and focused.

Cacao can improve heart health, cholesterol, stress levels, and inflammation, to list just a few physical advantages. Coco affects your emotions too, by raising serotonin levels it restores feelings of well-being and balances hormones.

Increase Blood Flow: Cocoa flavanols might improve blood-vessel function in the brain. Good blood flow extends the time until our muscles force us to take rest translating into performance maximization.

Accelerated Recovery:  When you burn more calories you produce more free radicals your muscle tissue, which contributes to inflammation and muscle soreness. The antioxidants in cacao help control free radical damage and boost your recovery after training.

Increase Happiness: Studies have shown that cocoa flavonols help enhance mood, combat depression, and can promote improved cognitive function during persistent mental exertion.

Bone & Join Health: Cacao is a great source of the minerals; copper, calcium, magnesium and zinc, all of which play a role in supporting bone health, cartilage and collagen production.

Ride Harder: Cacao is high in magnesium. Optimizing your magnesium stores will ensure peak performance, enable muscle protein synthesis and increase recovery, hypertrophy and strength. Magnesium is also known as the mineral of insulin sensitivity. It helps your body metabolize carbs, while influencing the activity of hormones that control blood glucose levels.

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    Chia up, it's a beautiful day! | Zesty Life | Recipes, Adventure, Health in Squamish BC
    December 30, 2018 at 7:52 pm

    […] Cacao Nibs – Cacao can improve heart health, cholesterol, stress levels, and inflammation. With recovery enhancing manganese, bone-strengthening minerals and mood boosting flavonols. Read more on Cacao Nib Benefits […]

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