If you have drinking Pachamama Kakao, or tasted another 100% cacao, then you have also experienced the well-being and "feel-good" effect cacao gives you in about 20 minutes after you have taken your first sip or bite.
Maybe you have experienced becoming more relaxed, a special calm and feeling of excessive energy and focus comes over you? Maybe you have an experience of a "natural high" flowing through your body?
These experiences with cacao are due to the scientifically proven so-called "bliss chemicals" of which pure cacao contains a large number.
Below are listed some of them, so you have an easy overview of which both health and mood-promoting substances you enrich your body and your brain with by drinking cacao.
How does cacao affect the brain and body?
Anandamide :
The word ananda means in Sanskrit: bliss, enjoyment, joy, and is known as cacao´s natural "Bliss chemical" because it is released when we are feeling well.
Anandamide (or n-arachidonoylethanolamine) is a neurotransmitter found naturally in the human brain - and in cacao - as the only two places. Isn't that cool?
Anandamide is a cannabinoid (like THC in cannabis) and can therefore be called the body's own cannabis. The target of anadamide is the brain and the body's cannabis receptors, but where cannabis affects the whole brain, cacao only affects parts of the brain and helps to provide a "natural high" and feeling of euphoria.
Cacao also contains two reuptake inhibitors of anandamide: N-linoleoylethanolamine and N-oleolethanolamine, which binds to the receptors of the brain and prevent the anandamide from being broken down thereby prolonging the "bliss feeling".
Phenylethylamine (PEA):
Known as "The Love Chemical". When we are happy or in love, the amount of PEA in the brain increases. The alkaloid PEA activates neurotransmitters in certain parts of the brain, which strengthens our ability to concentrate and thus focus. PEA stimulates the nervous system to produce endorphins, which in addition to being the body's natural pain relief, also provide a feeling of desire, success and energy.
Theobromine:
The alkaloid that relaxes smooth muscles. This causes increased blood flow throughout the body, including to the brain.
Magnesium:
Involved in many processes in the body. All cells in the body need magnesium to function. Magnesium helps digestion, acts on the nervous system, brain and heart and is involved in the body's energy production. Magnesium also acts on the muscles and helps them relax.
Serotonin:
A neurotransmitter that counteracts stress, anxiety and depression and that promotes the feeling of happiness, well-being. Also called "The feel good chemical"
Tryptophan:
An amino acid that helps form serotonin and which is also involved in the production of the hormone melatonin, which is very important for our sleep.
Dopamine:
Part of the body's reward system and also gives a feeling of happiness
So drinking or eating pure cacao is truly a booster for both our body and our brain.
If you just want to try 100% cacao, you can try our bag with 100g Pachamama cacao. In it you have about 2-3 cups of cacao and can get a sense of all the good Pachamama Kakao has to offer.