Superfoods are on the rise and are becoming increasingly popular. A fairly new addition to the superfood family are cacao nibs. This form of raw cocoa is easy to add to all kinds of dishes and is therefore very easy to use. The structure and taste make it somewhat resemble (very dark) chocolate, and who wouldn’t want that in a superfood? In addition, it is of course not a superfood for nothing, because it contains a high level of important nutrients that give a significant boost to health. But what nutrients exactly does it contain? What does this do for your health? And what do you use it in? This article answers these questions and shows why this superfood is rightly so popular.
What is it
Cacao nibs are simply a form of raw cacao. They are small chunks, about the same size as chocolate sprinkles. Other forms in which this is available are as beans, in powder form, as paste and in the form of cocoa butter. It differs from normal chocolate in that the raw cacao is not heated to temperatures around 40 degrees, which preserves the nutrients in the product. Nothing further has been added. Cacao comes from the seeds of the fruit of the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao. This tree originates from South America, where the local population has been using raw cacao for thousands of years. It is used there as food, medicine and medium of exchange.
Nutritional value and health
Raw cocoa contains many healthy substances. To start with, there are the plant-based (phyto)nutrients, also called flavonoids. Flavonoids have an antioxidant effect, which means that they have a preventive effect against cancer and Alzheimer’s, among other things. In fact, raw cacao is one of the best sources of antioxidants. In addition, flavonoids also have an anti-inflammatory effect and combat infections.
In addition, raw cocoa has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels. This is partly due to the nutrient lecithin, which is often insufficient in our current diet. However, it is an important substance that has many benefits for the body, especially for cholesterol levels and blood circulation. In addition, cocoa also has a vasodilator function, which is important for people with high blood pressure and blockage of vessels and veins. That raw cocoa is beneficial for the heart and blood vessels has also been shown in scientific research.
Another important substance in cocoa is theobromine. This substance is comparable to caffeine and therefore has a stimulating effect on the body and brain. This substance also has a moisture-wicking and relaxing effect.
In addition to theobromine, cocoa contains other substances that provide a good feeling, such as tryptophan, anandamide and phenylethylamine. These substances influence the production of serotonin and the release of dopamine and endorphins. All this creates a good mood and acts as an antidepressant.
Finally, cocoa contains a high level of magnesium. It is an important nutrient that is important for bone building, transmission of stimuli in muscles and nerves and muscle function. It also has a relaxing and vasodilatory function.
Usage
Cocoa nibs are good for your health, but they are not very tasty to eat in themselves. But how do you use them? The use of cacao nibs is particularly popular for breakfast, but there are also all kinds of other dishes in which you can use them. Examples of this are:
- through the muesli
- through the yogurt
- through the oatmeal
- in a smoothie
- in cakes, muffins and brownies
- in cookies
- on pancakes
- as a topping on ice cream
