Compare chocolate (cacao) with these other ferments
How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?
CONSTITUTIONAL & METABOLIC INSIGHTS
Sensual and luxurious, chocolate is evocative of desire and indulgence. It warms the heart and abdomen while elevating mood and lifting depression. Chocolate is an aphrodisiac, especially for women for whom chocolate may be addictive. The caffeine in chocolate stimulates brain activity and elevates the mood. Cinnamon or cayenne in hot chocolate enhances these passionate and stimulating qualities.
Medicinal Benefits
Chocolate's role in fertility extends beyond passion to the traditional use of cacao in pregnancy and to ease childbirth. Chocolate's warms and wakes up the reproductive organs - relaxing pelvic muscles during labor while simultaneously shifting a mother's awareness to the muscles of the pelvic floor. The shift in awareness helps her find and engage the muscles to deliver the fetus. Vasodilation of pelvic muscles also helps reduce preclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy).
Chocolate reduces chest congestion by improving circulation in major vessels around the heart and by relaxing bronchial spasms, which is also useful in asthma. In one study chocolate was found to be 3x more effective than codeine at reducing cough, without the drowsy side effects. The antitussive quality is due to theobromine, which suppresses the vagus nerve. Meso-Americans also used chocolate to treat fever.
Contraindications & Limits
Ayurvedically, chocolate aggravates Pitta and Vata primarily. Chocolate is also difficult to digest. Over consumption can leave you feeling nauseous. Its hot quality could leave a mild stinging sensation in the eyes about 15 minutes after eating - an early warning sign of high Pitta.
Chocolate has a reputation for breaking the will of dieters. In one study, chocolate derailed the discipline regimens of 48% of women and 32% of men. With chocolate, a little goes a long way. We recommend a maximum of two squares daily.
Although chocolate has many health benefits, the fats and sugars mixed into chocolate can aggravate Kapha heaviness & mucus congestion. Here are some more supportive ways of preparing chocolate: Try dark chocolate sprinkled with Red Chili, or candied Ginger coated in dark chocolate. Ginger and Red Chili help kindle your metabolic fire (
agni) so that you digest the chocolate better.
Chocolate & Loneliness
Chocolate cravings come more intensely in times of loneliness. Add rose to your chocolate which will nourish the heart, leaving you feeling much more satisfied than plain chocolate. Dark chocolate covered almonds with sea salt and protein helps prevent a sugar spike from eating chocolate alone. Salt adds a stimulating taste that helps balance the sweet.
Like
coffee,
chocolate produces an uplifting spike in dopamine, but its duration is much shorter lived, which can leaving brooding type emotions in its wake. Therefore, it should therefore only be consumed in moderation by all doshas.
Chocolate is high in magnesium (relaxing), anti-oxidants and flavonoids. It also contains tryptophan (a serotonin percursor), theobromine (a substance similar to caffeine) and trace amounts of amandamides (which activates the same receptor in the brain as marijuana). All of these factors combine into an alluring substance that is sensual, comforting, rich, and decadent. And, perhaps a little mind altering.
Leave a Comment / Question Please update link
On MeWe
On Pinterest
On Facebook
On Twitter
On WhatsApp
On Email
Create a recipe with it
Constitutional & Metabolic Insights
