Cacao Nibs - An Actual "Superfood"?

If you're interested in healthy living and maybe have a job that demands some pretty serious grey-matter and energy, try Cacao Nibs for a week or two and see what you think.  This isn't any kind of ringing endorsement or even the shadow of a promise of a miracle, but I do believe there is something to the health benefits of cacao nibs.

For me, it all began with:  "wait ... there's a superfood and it's chocolate?!".  Yup!  Cacao nibs are just cacao (chocolate) beans that have been roasted and lightly crushed up.  You can get them sweetened, but I find the rich, earthy, tangy flavor fine on its own (i.e. not sweetened).  You don't need to eat a lot of them - I have 3T spread throughout the day.  One with coffee in the morning, one when I get home from work, and one before bed.

Perhaps it's the placebo effect, but it seems like they do help me think more clearly and provide a sense of "more energy", similar to caffeine, but without any "jitters".

Perhaps not - here's why.  There is some science behind it - theobromine (literally translated is "food of the Gods").  Theobromine is a vasodialtor (an agent that relaxes the smooth muscles, found in your veins and arteries).  In that, it logically would mean you're increasing blood flow (less resistance), to your muscles and brain.  Incidentally, theobromine is the ingredient that makes chocolate toxic to dogs (and humans in larger quantities); they cannot metabolize it.

Theobromine isn't the only reason to consider adding these to your diet.  They contain high amounts of antioxidants / phytonutrients.  In fact, they have 40 time the antioxidants found in blueberries (ORAC score).  Antioxidants absorb free radicals that damage cell tissue and DNA.  They're also high in iron, magnesium, and calcium.

Ever wonder why people gravitate toward chocolate when they're sad or in a bad mood?  There might be some science behind that too - cacao also has several "happy" brain chemicals that may elevate your mood (serotonin, tryptophan, phenylethylamine, tyrosine, tryptamine and tyramine).  It's unclear to me if a tablespoon has enough of this to make a difference, but consider how small an anti-depressant pill is...

If you don't have any preexisting condition (especially heart), consider giving these a try!  Just don't do the "typical" American thing of "if some is good, MORE IS BETTER!".  More is not better, it would logically seem like that would be bad...  Moderation folks.  I'm definitely curious to hear your thoughts and experience with these!

You can find them at health-food stores and Amazon Prime:

Navitas Organics Cacao Nibs, 16 oz. Bag — Organic, Non-GMO, Fair Trade, Gluten-Free