162 Comments so far

1. Kharen on November 21, 2008 7:46 pm

   Wow, thanks for sharing that Kevin, I was really curious to hear about your problem with cacao. So far, so good with cacao and myself, but I think I will get a mineral level test to see…
   I know I can’t eat bananas, they make me wheeze, which seems totally bizarre, but it’s true
   Anyway, something occurred to me while listening to this episode, remember Annmarie and you were saying how much you love dulse in your salads? Maybe it was because you were so depleted of minerals, your body was talking to you, asking for something rich in minerals…just a thought
   Peace from Canada,
   Kharen

2. Deirdre on November 21, 2008 7:50 pm

   Of course it’s the cacao - I think many people are allergic to it, even raw, and it’s a stimulant, so I think eaten daily, over the long term, it’s not good for you. And it’s highly addictive. I think things like cacao and maca should only be eaten sometimes.

3. Jennie on November 21, 2008 7:55 pm

   Hey Kev, thank you so much for sharing your cacao story in depth. I’ve heard before that if the liver is stressed that cacao will highlight this. In fact, when I first went raw, I had a smoothie with beans in it and was nauseous for two days. These days I can have that much cacao in a smoothie and my liver is in much better condition. I would love to hear what David Wolfe has to say on the subject as he has been studying it for years! Although he may be a tad biased…

   Also I’ve heard that the Indians used cacao as a medicine. Not for every day use. I wish I could remember more of that article!

   My children have cacao powder in their smoothies everyday for breakfast and sometimes lunch too. Their teeth are not doing so well and teeth are a mineral indicator. Thank you again for this.

   Hugs to you Kev…

   xoxoxo

4. Deborah Gordon on November 21, 2008 7:58 pm

   Hi, I also was under the impression that cacao was good for you. I am a 100% raw foodist for 1 1/2 years now. So, I added cacao to my diet. I was drinking a cacao mint drink that I get from one of my favorite raw food places in Manhattan. I noticed that I couldn’t take deep breaths, like I was short of breath or something. I also noticed that my heart was racing. I could not figure out why. I just didn’t feel so good anymore. I was winded just walking up the stairs. I was doing to well on the rawfood diet and I was NEVER tired anymore. I had so much energy. Now I noticed I didn’t feel as energized and wasn’t getting as much done as I used to. One day I decided to have 2 of the cacoa mint drinks. A little while later, I felt like I was going to have a panic attack. Although I’ve never had one, I just felt like my insides were shaking, I couldn’t breath right and my heart was RACING like crazy. I started to realize these were all the symptoms magnified that I’ve been feeling lately, but why are they so much worse today? Then I remembered that I had 2 cacao drinks instead of one. That night I could not lay down the ENTIRE night Everytime I laid down I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin and I literally sprung out of bed just walking quickly through my house all night long. Well, I cut the cacao out of my diet and I feel back to my usual self. Energized happy and calm. By the way, this drink had cacao powder and a TON of cacao bits in it. It had to be at least 2 tablespoons per drink. Anyway, about 6 weeks later, being the masochist that I am, I had to really make sure that cacao was a problem, so what did I do……I tried it again. Not a smart thing to do. My heart was racing, I felt winded, couldn’t breath right and I never had cacao again and I never had those symptoms again.

   Debbie Gordon

5. Mark on November 21, 2008 7:58 pm

   My cacao story is that I don’t eat it. I don’t think it is fit for human consumption - just not human food.

6. Lisa on November 21, 2008 8:00 pm

   THANK YOU for sharing!
   I was wondering about “your cacao incident” also.
   By the way, have you read Victoria Boutenko’s book Green for Life yet? It’s AMAZING.. it’s rocking the foundations of what I believed to be the correct human diet. And I got it because of her interview on the Rawkathon!
   Everyone needs to read this book.
   Sorry.. I’m just so excited about what I’m learning and how I consequently feel!

7. Lisa on November 21, 2008 8:01 pm

   Ah.. about cacao.. nothing has happened to me related to cacao, because I fortunately don’t like the taste of chocolate!

8. debbie on November 21, 2008 8:06 pm

   Hey Kevin, thanks for sharing.. I wonder if there is anything else that is affecting you?
   I use cacao, just a small amount and very occasionally.
   Deb

9. Scott Gordon on November 21, 2008 8:08 pm

   Very interesting show Kevin. I’m interested in some more possibilities here. I assume that you are eating some sort of “minimally processed” cacao - but what if you’re not? Some of the processing chemicals in extraction can be pretty bad. You don’t mention the brand, for understandable reasons. But did you try switching sources of the cacao? I’m left wondering if it was actually cacao or processing chemicals or any other factor. The theory is that cacao is natural and healthful. I’m willing to believe that’s incorrect, but since so many health benefits are attributed to eating chocolate this one is worth a closer look. Also, no one should ever, ever be eating commercial milk chocolates now with the melanine poisoning prevalent in milk and other products coming from China. Google this and be alert. We are the only country who didn’t pull food from the shelves or food-processing stocks and the FDA as usual has done nothing until recently and it’s way too little - way too late. Those products are out there and labeling hasn’t been required yet. Cheap milk chocolates are among the top products to be alert to. Melanine poisoning is apparently long-term (it builds up and doesn’t get processed easily), with painful consequences. Anyway, for whole foods/raw foods enthusiasts - we’re not high risk, but still want to know if chocolate or its base, cacao, could really be a cause for concern.

10. KRunner on November 21, 2008 8:09 pm

    Thanks for sharing…I love chocolate in fact I eat a little everyday. I think I will cut it out and see what happens. Can’t afford to leach any minerals….need to keep all I can get. thanks again that tip has probably saved me big time.

11. Lucia on November 21, 2008 8:10 pm

    Hi, Thank you for sharing your story Kevin. It illuminated something I experienced along the same lines as you, a rash on my arms and legs, similar to an eczema. Without intention, I discontinued eating raw cacao beans and the eczema is now slowly disappearing. Perhaps cacao, perhaps not, but something to consider investigating. I have been a chocoholic all my life and when I learned about raw cacao I was ecstatic to know that it was actually good for you, so I switched to raw cacao beans, nibs, powder, treats, etc. Love your show. Thank you.

12. Simona on November 21, 2008 8:11 pm

    Stimulant. I was high for about two days the first time! And TOTAL aphrodisiac. Whoa :$ haha. Major stimulant. I never liked chocolate much but heard a fuss about it in the raw community. Gave it my shot.

    If I eat cacao beans I do no get any sleep and it “open my heart” as I am told from cacao fans. Haha, well it seems to work like a drug in me more than a health promoting food.

    Interesting story, Kevin. And I like the Fitness Fridays, bodyweight exercises and stretches are great to learn more of.

13. Monica on November 21, 2008 8:20 pm

    You are a great health journalist, one of the best out there. Thank you for this particular episode. We needed it.

14. Michelle Pierson on November 21, 2008 8:21 pm

    I agree about it not being a superfood. I feel it’s ok for a treat or special occasion, but not to be used on a regular basis, at least from my own experiences. I used it a lot last winter and initially felt a boost of energy but noticed after taking it for a prolonged period of time, I started to feel burned out. Then I started drinking yerba mate with cacao in it on a regular basis to try and get that ‘high’ off of the cacao. I find now that drinking green juice, though it may seem less appealing at first, gives me the sustained energy, minerals, vitamins, etc. that my body needs. I know cacao is a touchy subject, so I say experiment for yourself and see how your body handles it. Thanks for being candid about your experience, I appreciate it.

15. natasha on November 21, 2008 8:33 pm

    If I have cacao daily, within a few days I break out with rashes on my chest and smalls bumps on my forehead. For some reason its really irritates my bladder, weakening it and making me run urgently to the bathroom, like I’m verging on a bladder infection. Its terrible, especially because I love the taste of cacao– but its not worth the discomfort. The withdrawl from it is no fun either!!
    I look forward to hearing your test results Kevin!

16. MARY THOMAS on November 21, 2008 8:37 pm

    HI KEVIN, THIS IS SO INTERESTING BECAUSE THE FIRST TIME I TRIED CACAO I ATE LOADS BECAUSE IT WAS SO DELICIOUS. I IMMEDIATELY DEVELOPED A SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION. THE VERY NEXT DAY MY ENTIRE FACE WAS COVERED IN A REALLY BAD RASH, EVEN MY EYES WERE SWOLLEN AND RED. IT WAS SO BAD I LOOKED UP AS MUCH INFO ON CACAO AS I COULD ON THE NET AND READ AN ARTICLE BY THE MAN WHO ORIGINALLY DISCOVERED AND INTRODUCED RAW CACAO TO THE MARKET…CAN’T REMEMBER HIS NAME, BUT HE WAS WARNING OF IT’S TOXICITY TO THE LIVER AND EVEN THOUGH HE COULD BE MAKING A FORTUNE FROM SELLING IT, HAD DISCONTINUED DOING SO. HE ALSO STATED THAT TESTS HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WHICH PROVED ITS TOXICITY TO THE LIVER….DANGEROUSLY SO. I WARNED EVERYONE I KNEW BUT MET WITH DISBELIEF. IT IS ALSO HIGHLY ADDICTIVE. PERSONALLY, I WOULD WARN EVERYONE NOT TO TAKE IT IN ANY FORM. HE MENTIONED THAT ANIMALS REFUSE TO EAT IT UNLESS IT’S DISGUISED IN SOME OTHER FOOD. MORE TESTS MUST BE DONE. LOVE AND ALL BEST WISHES, MARY

17. Mike on November 21, 2008 8:41 pm

    I have noticed mostly good effects of eating cacao. I went raw a year ago and have eating cacao everyday and sometimes twice a day. It does keep me up at night if i have too much but i am able to do what i love so i think its a good thing. I noticed after i took cacao out of my diet after hearing some things about it that my energy levels dropped massively. When i put it back in again i was fine. This is just my experiance but i noticed that enough greens in my diet does offer a great balance for my high cacao intake. I lived off green juice and cacao for a week once and thats when i felt the best. I have a feeling the more i clean out the less i will need cacao in my diet. Thanks for the video it does keep me aware of both sides of the story.

18. Laurel on November 21, 2008 8:44 pm

    Wow, that’s crazy. I use cacao as a dessert, mostly b/c I’m a college student and I’m poor. The first time I had a lot of raw cacao I couldn’t sleep all night, and ended up watching all of Peach Girl in one night (Anime). The next day I had some serious heartburn. I don’t eat it that close to bedtime anymore XD.

19. dede on November 21, 2008 8:45 pm

    Hey Kevin - thanks for being so honest and open - - it benefits each and every one of us sooo much.
    My own cacao experience? - been there, done that, won’t go back :-).
    Besides, who needs cacao when there are things like Frank Giglio’s breakfast pudding to eat as a treat
    hugs, Dede

20. Sal on November 21, 2008 8:59 pm

    Hey kevin,

    I think we did have the same reaction to cacao.

    To Your Good Health,

    Sal

21. sonja on November 21, 2008 9:12 pm

    Hi Kevin, thanks for sharing this. I have been wondering what has been going on. Not 100 sure if it is the cacao. I bought loads, as I heard David Wolfe talk so positivley about it. I really had more energy for days, could not sleep at night because I was so alert…Now I am feeling very tired all the time. I am not addicted to it, so can take it or leave it. So will cut it out for a while, see what happens. I feel my mineral levels have gone down. What is the best way to remineralise. I am now got a juicer and have celery, apple and carrot juice every other day. I must admit I do feel my body is thanking me for it. It feels really alive. I think raw is great, even if it takes a long time to really get there.. Any other ideas for juices? Tried cabbage and my husband said it was vile! I prefer eating my cucumbers, and other greens. I will try some of your raw recipes. At the moment it is mainly salads and juices..
    Sonja

22. jen on November 21, 2008 9:21 pm

    hey kev, thankyou for all your shows. it makes being raw all the more fun. you are awesome.

    i do the cacao, and though i enjoy it (to much perhaps?) i am open to the critisism. thanks for your ohnesty.

    for excersices i recommend these yoga moves….(your gonna think this sucks)…..i cann’t remember the names of these moves but they tone and improve the digetion and elimenation of your intestines.
    they are in the bikram yoga classes. you lie on your back and pull your knees towards your shoulders one at a time.

    anyway, thought you could google it.
    it’s an easy and surprisingly effective move to get you ‘moving’

    jen

23. karen on November 21, 2008 9:23 pm

    Fitness Friday feature idea: TRX from Fitness Anywhere.

    keep on rockin’, kevin!

24. Holly on November 21, 2008 9:35 pm

    Fitness Friday idea, a rebounder, it is a small trampolene, it needs to be a high quality one to not have adverse effects on you joints, it exercises every cell as you bounce on it. Once again the place to research it is on Dr. Young’s website http://www.phmiracleliving.com. I hope you can interview Dr Young and Shelley someday.

25. Randy Smith on November 21, 2008 9:52 pm

    Years ago I learned from more than one live blood microscopist that chocolate was bad news. I have never known the answer though as to why. Now that the raw foods - network marketing - community has taken an interest (ownership) in cacao, it is being acclaimed as a ’super food’– interesting. Am I one of the few people that feels that these types of communications are just flat out self serving or is there truly something about cacao that is worthy of exploration? So, I join a MLM company that sells what they call raw cacao –
    the company is Xocai. I’ve been eating several pieces a day. Honestly, it tastes great! Hope to get some feedback>>>>

26. bryan on November 21, 2008 9:53 pm

    you mentioned adding cooked grains back into your diet would it be for the calories the protein just curious

27. John on November 21, 2008 10:02 pm

    I started consuming cacao nibs in my smoothies, probably about a tablespoon a day, and it definitely gave me a little buzz. The first time I bought it I just tried a pinch to see what it was like and it immediately made my eyes kind of tingle and felt like they were sort of opening more, and I liked it. So I was hooked pretty quickly for sure. I am currently in the process of taking less and less and will only consume it occasionally as a treat in something. I think that if other animals in the wild will not eat it then the human animal probably should not either!

28. Helga on November 21, 2008 10:04 pm

    Hi Kevin,
    thanx for this show … very enlightening info !!
    I’m having the odd (twice to 3 times per week) cacao drink, and so far, no adverse reactions. My husband has up to TWO per day … and so far, no negative reactions.
    But we’ve only been having raw cacao for about 5 months regularly.
    We’re also doing a regular “mag-therapy” with magnesium oil (footbaaths, full baths, spray-on mag-chloride, it’s great !), so mag-levels are fine.
    However, I’ve read in Jinjee’s (thegardendiet) newsletter the other day that she has been getting off cacao because she’s experiencing ‘mind-fog’.
    The additictive factor is probably a BIG one …..
    I’m going to look into cacao and it’s regular use a bit closer from now on.
    Thanx again !!
    Love and smiles from Australia,
    Helga

29. Charles Gregoire on November 21, 2008 10:16 pm

    Hi Kevin,

    Interesting…I first got re-turned on to raw cacao when I heard you interview David Wolfe as part of your free bonus introduction when I first started watching your shows last spring(i.e. prior to that I was fairly indifferent to cacao…had a small 8oz bag which I hardly touched over 1 year. Then I remember having an incident with cacao where I was feeling very depressed in the afternoons after taking a lot of this in the morning (and I mean a lot …like two or three tablespoons of the nibs eaten mixed in with nuts, figs and dates). Anyways you ended up answering one of my questions on your show awhile back by suggesting it was a stimulant and that I take it easy…i.e. so I did…I got off it for awhile but have been slowly using up the large supply I bought in my morning smoothies (i.e. one tablespoon of the nibs every morning…so that ends up being about 2/3 tablespoons of nibs a day (i.e. because my wife and I share this smoothie). With that dosage I have not noticed anything bad but have observed that my morning meditations are better if I wait ’til after I meditate to have the smoothie…I think the cacao is one of the factors in this observation…so now being armed with your observations (and I look a little like you…i.e. I’m tall and thin like you) I think I’m going to play it safe and cut down to 2/3 of tablespoon once a week or less. Thanks for sharing this even though what you’re sharing will obviously have some financial impacts on some of your associates…its important that this get out there…I probably would have kept going the way I was…i.e. and I was thinking a little was going to be good for me i.e. all the hype about it being a great source of magnesium and combining with horsetail and all…that may be true for David Wolfe and others but I don’t plan to continue this experiment on myself (i.e. but I’ll stay on the horsetail and use the cacao very sparingly…i.e. and I suspect I will feel a little addictive pull when I start cutting back tomorrow).

30. Catherine Simard on November 21, 2008 10:22 pm

    Kevin,

    Awesome..thank you for this piece on Cacoa…if chimpanzees can live on greens and fruit..we certainly don’t need all these superfoods that are making some people super rich.

    Catherine

31. James Thomas on November 21, 2008 10:23 pm

    Hey Kevin… thanks for sharing.
    Most of us have been informed that cacao is one of the most priced staples of the Aztec civilization, worth more its weight in gold by King Montezuma. And, contemporary chocolate connoisseurs claim that this sensual and tasty raw bean is loaded with the love drug, “theobromine,” as well as anti-oxidants.
    Consequently, we are left with the question, “what gives?” Obviously, what may be of merit for one, is bunk for another. For me, its all about moderation, and using the best cocoa for an occasional treat. In fact, I grind my own beans with a coffee mill.
    At the 2006 Raw Spirit Festival, I remember Victor Kulvinskas mention that cocoa, due to its high caffeine level should be treated like coffee. Now, that I’m hearing these alarming testimonies… I am going to be more conscientious to see how I feel. Thanks again to addressing this important topic.

32. Elaine on November 21, 2008 10:29 pm

    Thanks for sharing this Kevin. It was very helpful. I am forwarding it on to my son as I think he uses cacao in his smoothies. I don’t use it that much. Always enjoy your show, especially when your lovely wife is involved.

33. John on November 21, 2008 10:37 pm

    I think the important thing to remember is that anything you consumed on a daily basis in large quantities has the ‘potential’ of turning into a food allergy. Once the allergy begins, it takes awhile to tune it back down. Additionally, the impact of that food being in your digestive tract could begin to tear things down by way of your own immune system. I would suspect allergy over throwing the baby out with the bath water.

    Just my take, as someone with extensive personal experience with food allergies, where at my peak I reached a point of being allergic to more things than I was not… including EMF!

34. Roni on November 21, 2008 11:00 pm

    THANKS Kevin for being so upfront about your problems with cacao. I did buy some this past weekend at the BWE but now will use it as a treat and ( I still bake for the holidays as gifts and will use it there as well) and then just treat myself in a smoothie from time to time.

    Appreciate all you do for us out here!!

35. Tara on November 21, 2008 11:00 pm

    As a raw food chef that began my raw journey as a raw food nutritional researcher, I try to steer my clients away from cacao due to its effects as a stimulant. My body has no interest and intuitively rejects cacao.

    Thanks for sharing your experience.

    Info that was shared by Paul Nison recently:

    My good friend John Kohler, who has the largest living and raw food website on the internet, http://www.living-foods.com, was at Raw Spirit Fest 2008, handing out flyers that stated the facts about raw cacoa.

    Here are some facts:
    *Raw cacao nibs are up to 84% fat
    *Cacao contains high levels of saturated fat.
    *Raw Cacao is acid forming because it contains caffeine according to scientific journals.
    *Monkeys in the wild generally do not eat cacao beans; they eat cacao pulp & dispense the beans.
    *As little as 4 ounces of raw cacao can kill your dog. It can also be deadly to cats, horses, and parrots. It is estimated that 22 pounds can kill you. Why eat any amount of poison?
    *Is considered a psychoactive substance.
    *Raw Cacao can be addictive.
    *Can Dilate blood vessels and increase urine.
    *A stimulant that can increase heartbeat.
    *High in oxalic acid that binds calcium.
    *Can cause hyperactivity, sleeplessness, tremors, restlessness, anxiety and headaches.
    *Contains theobromine… a “poisonous powder” according to the Random House Dictionary.
    *Can cause chromosomal breaks and gene mutations.

36. Geordi Tanner on November 21, 2008 11:01 pm

    Im having a cacao drink maybe twice a day. i havent noticed anything adverse. My mother has reduced her blood pressure through having a cacao hot drink everyday, so is it still good. Are there still some of us whom it is good for?

37. janell on November 21, 2008 11:17 pm

    Hi Kevin…

    I’ve heard lots of “yays” and “nays” about cacao. I don’t worry about it; I don’t use it often (maybe once last year. It’s a good thing I’m not a choco-holic.

    By the way, Kevin please do a 20 minute intense but fun workout with tha medicine ball that we can do at home.

38. Monica on November 21, 2008 11:36 pm

    Kevin, This show is very good, thank you.

    Cacao is just not for me.

    Peace

39. Margie on November 21, 2008 11:44 pm

    I’m SO glad you wrote about this. I was wondering why I got headaches and felt sick just hours after eating it. I love the taste but I can’t take much of it. Thanks again for sharing your story. That was very helpful for me in my journey towards better health.

40. Bernadette on November 21, 2008 11:46 pm

    Hi Kevin,

    Besides the fact that cocoa came up as one of my food allergies on the Biomeridian, I experience huge crashes the day after comsuming raw cocoa. The day of.. I am full of energy, but the day after.. I can hardly muster the energy to put one foot infront of the other.. which I would interpret, from my experience, as adrenal burnout. Thank you for today’s video.. it confirms some of the things I was already thinking. Also.. thank you so much for the telecast by Jameth Sheridan! That really straightened out a lot of confusion for me as well.

    For Fitness Fridays.. I like Holly’s idea of a rebounder routine. I do believe it is a good way of keeping your lymph circulating and have been looking for a routine for quite some time. I usually get on it and do a bit of jumping to music, but beyond that, I really don’t have any idea of what exercises can be effective.. would love your imput on that one if you are so inclined.

41. Faye on November 21, 2008 11:53 pm

    Very true. Thank you again Kevin for your honesty & sharing your personal experience.

    Everybody’s comments so far speak for them self.

    My experience is extreme headache when the cacao is very strong and to much.

    Please no more raw cacao propaganda @ Raw Spirit Festival!!

42. Sammi on November 21, 2008 11:55 pm

    Wow. This is good to know. My right kidney has been in immense pain for about a week- after I’ve gotten half way through a big bag of cocao beans. I also just got through a long stint of drinking cocoa driks-I just HAD to have one or 2 every day so… addictive much? This was a very timely post for me… I’ll be cutting out cocao and see if my kidney starts to feel better. Thanks!!

43. Jes on November 22, 2008 12:06 am

    This is a link in defense of cacao: http://www.catsandjammers.net/scottsblog/blog2.php

    Thanks for sharing Kevin. Remember guys, not everyone is the same as you. So I’d becareful in warning everyone away from cacao. To some of us it is beneficial. And moderation is important too.

44. Nimeesha on November 22, 2008 12:26 am

    For a while I was wondering why I wasn’t having the fun all other people were supposedly having with cacao. Cacao makes me feel weird in ways that I can’t properly describe in words….a feeling of being uncomfortable in my own skin. Also, skin issues occur immediately after consumption of cacao. It’s delicious but not worth the aggravation and therefore not a real “treat” for occasional use anyway. Thank you Kevin for your transparency and honesty.

45. Michael T. on November 22, 2008 12:37 am

    Hi Kevin,

    It sounds like you were eating too much cacao. Two tablespoons of cacao powder is a lot to eat every day. Also, just having it with a smoothie is a bad idea, because you absorb it too fast, and all that theobromine hits your system at once.

    I eat raw cacao almost every morning, and I have no problem with it, as long as I only eat a moderate amount, equivalent to about one tablespoon of cacao powder. Also, I always eat it combined with coconut, hemp seed, almonds or other protein and fat sources. Never eat cacao with just fruit — that is asking for trouble. Combining cacao with nuts slows down the rate of absorption, so the stimulating effect develops gradually and does not stress out the body.

    I agree that it is best to not eat it every day. Also, there is a wide range of individual tolerance. Some people are more sensitive to stimulants than others.

    People who follow a mono diet obviously should not eat cacao. Animals don’t eat it because they eat mono diets. Cacao must be combined with other foods that contain protein and fat to slow down its effects.

    Also, Kevin, your dark urine was a symptom of dehydration. Cacao can cause you to get dehydrated, so you need to drink a lot of water before and after eating cacao. This is probably the single most important reason why you got acidic and lost minerals — you were dehydrated. Some raw fooders don’t drink water, as they believe they can get all the water they need from fruits and veggies. This is a big mistake, resulting in chronic dehydration. If a person who is already dehydrated tries eating cacao, they will immediately get nauseous, as they cacao forces the body to eliminate water. Cacao is a powerful diuretic.

    I drink over a gallon of water a day, because I live in Hawaii and work outside and sweat a lot. This is probably why I can eat cacao with no problem — I am very well hydrated.

    Try an experiment some time. Start you day with at least a quart of water. An hour later, have a moderate amount of cacao, with nuts and seeds and a banana. About two hours later, or when the stomach is empty, have another quart of water. You will probably have no problem from the cacao.

    Please let me know if that works for you.

    Aloha,
    Michael Treeplanter

46. Andrew Norris on November 22, 2008 1:00 am

    Glad you sorted it out and thanks for sharing. There is so much info about cacao being ideal for all that people need to know this.

    PS. Also glad you guys survived that car shunt.

    Q. was it the caffine or something else? In this case green tea would cause some people problems?

    I personally think this should be looked into in an honest transparent way. And if something comes of it all raw chocolate bars should contain warnings on the label. Otherwise we end up putting profit first like most food companies.

47. Carol Kraft on November 22, 2008 1:07 am

    Helpful info. I myself am very sensitive to caffeine so I know cacao is not a match all the time.
    For the not so pure raw people I have a question. Would regular processed chocolate, organic dark have the same health issues stated with raw cacao? Curious to hear from someone.
    Carol from Can

48. Carrie on November 22, 2008 1:22 am

    I’m also interested in what David Wolfe would say to that. Have you asked him?
    Maybe it could be a detox reaction?
    And by the way, you cannot see if you have got too many heavy metals in a hair test. Heavy metals don’t show up in hair analysis. And since you have a candida issue it pretty much could be you have heavy metals in your body.

49. Markji on November 22, 2008 1:46 am

    Great show, Kevin! Thanks!

    New Friday Show…
    I really like the Q & A Shows… would be great to have an extra show a week where you answer more Viewers questions!

    Regards from Sweden,
    Markji

50. Nancy on November 22, 2008 1:50 am

    Yesterday was the first time I had eaten any raw cacao. I ate a large Mushroom Sacred Chocolate Heart and gobbled it up for breakfast. The taste was peculiar but very rich. I noticed I had lots of energy but no appetite for food at all for the entire rest of the day. But I craved mint herb tea. The cacao was a definite appetite suppresant. By evening I forced myself to eat a banana for dinner. I was so curious as to the flavor of the Amazonian Sacred Heart that I nibbled a couple bites of it and my body had had ENOUGH. My body felt aversion to any more cacao. I felt sort of icky and had to lay down. My heart was racing.
    Today I took a couple more bites of the Amazonian Sacred Heart and had a gag reflex. My body wanted to reject it totally. In contrast real food tasted soooooooh delicious. I noticed how absolutely great my salad greens were for lunch and how flavorful and yummie mandarin oranges and fresh squeezed orange juice with aloe in it was. I tasted other foods such as nuts and olives and my body was enjoying those immensely. The strange thing is that even though my body was repulsed by the cacoa, by evening I was craving a few more bites of the remaining Amazonian Sacred Chocolate heart. So I think it is addictive even though gross. It’s 11 p.m. and my energy level is high from the last few nibbles I had earlier in the evening. I don’t want to crave something that my body initially had the wisdom to tell my mind, yuk! A little bit is all it seems to take for my body to be intolerant of it yet to want to eat it anyway, so I’m done with it. I’ve never done any recreational drugs in my entire life and Dr. Jameth Sheridan on the Rawkathon series said the raw cacao is risky because it is a recreational drug. I didn’t see how cocao could be risky since my mother used to let me have Coco and toast for breakfast when I was growing up. But regular chocolate never made me want to throw up and it never gave me a racing heartbeat. So there is something much different about the raw caco and I’ve lived a clean life so count me in as one with no further interest in any more of it.

51. millie on November 22, 2008 1:56 am

    Thanks for the warning.

    Kevin, recently I read an article of people who don’t shampoo their hair!

    Do you shampoo your hair!

    Have you hear of this practice.

    Would like to know what yo think.

    Millie

52. Roy Wilhite on November 22, 2008 2:05 am

    From what I understand, not all cacao is the same, and to report problems without stating specifically what the source for your cacao was, and exactly what kind of processing it had, is potentially misleading.

53. Pat on November 22, 2008 2:33 am

    I know David Wolfe uses and promotes this stuff, and I bought about 10 lbs at the last Raw Food Festival in Portland, OR from his group. I would like to see how David performs after a week of not using cacao. Also, I understand that those beans are not necessarily raw. Fred Bisci PhD, who walks the talk and has actively helped cure many of fatal diseases over the last 40 years, says it’s dangerous. I guess we like to forget that we don’t give chocolate to dogs, because it could be fatal….hmmm….might that be the theobromine that makes it so? BTW, Dr. Bisci is a true living example of athleticism and perfect health, teaches how to healthfully eat raw foods, and has a system to healthfulness for every individual. He’s in Staten Island, and will work with your issues. He’ll be able to help you recognize that you don’t need to eat meat for protein. Good luck, Kevin.

54. Elicia on November 22, 2008 2:42 am

    what happened to the video…it seems to be down?

55. derek moore on November 22, 2008 3:27 am

    If cacao is NOT recommended by people like Brian Clements, Paul Nison and Gabriel Cousens then I wouldn’t eat it ever again, not even for a treat.
    Tests have been shown that cacao is TOXIC.

56. Muriel on November 22, 2008 9:03 am

    I regularly add cacao nibs to my daily smoothie. I am made aware by your story and that of others that my metabolism seems to be racing 24/7. I do not sleep well, wake up feeling overly energetic, crave my cacao smoothie and start all over again. I do not have external rashes or symptoms but i plan to delete cacao from my diet for a month and see what happens. Thanks for sharing.

57. Carolyn on November 22, 2008 10:56 am

    I started drinking a raw cacao “alchemy” “synergist” drink as a primary food about 6 months ago…sweetening it with a raw vanilla agave product…recently experienced a hemorrhage in my eye and subsequent detached retina requiring surgery to re-establish sight in that eye. In pondering all the possibilities of “what went wrong”, I have been curious if the installation of drinking my “bliss” drink–either the cacao, the sweetener, or both had a part to play. What did you use to sweeten your daily cacao smoothie?

58. David H on November 22, 2008 11:51 am

    I was thinking that cacao might have did those things to you because you said you were taking it everyday. Maybe it could provide some benefit if you took it say, once a month…

59. nitabear on November 22, 2008 11:52 am

    So it just goes to show that variety and moderation in all things is better then the same thing all the time… A very interesting post, thanks for sharing… As for the fitness part of your post…. The Raw Games are happening here in beautiful Hawaii this weekend. Do you need a remote corespondant to get you some video and scoop on the happenings here?

60. Melina on November 22, 2008 11:57 am

    Hey Kevin,

    Cacao is an interesting substance and different people react differently to DIFFERENT types of cacao. I personally eat cacao every single day 1-3 times a day, however the cacao I eat is FULLY FERMENTED. And that makes a HUGE difference. For me personally, when I ate too much non-fermented cacao I would get headaches and feel stimulated, then when I made the switch to fully fermented cacao my health actually went way up. I’d be interested to know if you were using fully fermented cacao because I know that the fermentation of cacao is often overlooked in the raw food world, when, at least for me, it made a huge difference.

61. Sparrow on November 22, 2008 12:08 pm

    What’s interesting to me is that I experienced something very similar and I’ve never had cacao in my life.

    A little over a month ago, I was finally ready to go raw and I did. One thing that had been holding me back was the cost of going raw because raw nuts are EXPENSIVE and I live on a fixed income and have somewhere in the neighborhood of $25/week I can spend on groceries. By really cutting back hard, I can almost stretch that a little farther, but I only get $500/month and some things, like rent, just can’t be cut back.

    When I discovered 80-10-10, for the first time in my explorations of information about raw I saw someone saying that I could go raw without lots and lots of expensive nuts. So I took the plunge and loved it.

    I was raving to anyone who would put up with it about how much energy I had. I gained weight the first few days and then my weight stayed the same all month, but I ignored that (previously, I had been losing 1 to 2 pounds per week on my diet of mainly cooked beans and grains and frozen vegetables. I have a BMI of 29 (back in January my BMI was 40!) and am attempting to recover from type 2 diabetes, so I definitely need to lose more weight.)

    After about a month on 80-10-10, I finaly got my first symptoms of detox . . . or at least that’s what I thought it was. I got cold sores in the corners of my mouth and I’m a person who has never had a single cold sore in my entire life. I also got an INCREDIBLY itchy rash under my chin and on the bottom of my face - all the area where I would grow a beard if I were a man.

    And I do mean INCREDIBLY itchy. It took 24 hour a day concentration not to scratch it. It was incredibly distracting. I was just going to tough it through, figuring it was a symptom of detox and would eventually pass as my body cleaned up.

    But then I ran out of food. Even without the expensive nuts and superfoods, even without the incredibly high produce turn-over of juicing, just eating monomeals of fruit, green smoothies, and salads . . . I ran out of food because no matter how many people swear that it’s not expensive to go raw, I was spending twice my old food budget and still didn’t have enough food.

    Sot here I was with this crazy detox stuff going on and no food and starving and I ate some real crap because I was desperate to eat anything and people who have food to spare, well, they give you crap. That’s just the sad truth of the world.

    So I gave up on raw and I’m struggling to get back to my healthy, clean cooked diet of beans and grains and frozen vegetables but I won’t be able to get a really good meal until after December 1st when my next check comes in. I’ll be having Thanksgiving a week late, but I’ll be incredibly thankful because I’ll have food again and hopefully can get back on track with my former diet.

    The rash on my face went away as soon as I quite eating healthy fruits and vegetables and started eating ramen noodles so it either really was detox or it was a bad reaction to lots of fruit sugars. One of the cold sores has healed but the other is lingering on, breaking open everytime I open my mouth. My weight loss is still stuck on stupid but I’m hoping it will take up where it left off once I’m back on a clean cooked diet again. And I’m battling depression - not an emotional depression triggered by failure to go raw or anything like that. It’s a very physical symptom without any of the accompanying feelings of low self-esteem or failure. My body is sluggish and, I don’t know, like my adrenals are exhausted or something? It’s very inconvenient and I’m hoping it passes away soon.

    The lesson I learned was that I am not in a space in my life to go raw right now. In another four or five years I will have finished school and be free to get a decent job (I’m not free to work while I’m in school because I’m the sole caregiver of a disabled spouse (who insists I stay in school so that I have something for myself when he dies) so there’s not much chance that my income will go up before I graduate.) When I’m established in a job and making five times (or more) what I’m making now, I think I’ll be in a good space to try raw again.

    I just think it’s really interesting that I had the same symptoms from a month of raw as you had from however long of eating lots and lots of cacao. It makes me wonder what the common denominator was in our different experiences with similar results.

    Sparrow

62. ejs on November 22, 2008 12:08 pm

    Kevin,

    Thank a ton for your honesty. I think the key here is moderation. We each need to do what works for us. There is no universal diet that works for everyone.

    Thanks again.

    Eric

63. Theresa on November 22, 2008 12:10 pm

    I believe in moderation, cacao can be beneficial for some people. For me it has an uplifting affect and makes me feel good. I have never had any adverse affects from it. I don’t eat it everyday but when I do a little goes a long way. It sounds like you were overdoing it by adding large quantities to your smoothie. I think the powder needs to be balanced with high quality fat like coconut oil or cacao butter. Also drinking lots of water is important. I treat cacao like medicine and use it when I need to be uplifted and energized.

64. Jane on November 22, 2008 12:15 pm

    Thanks for sharing your experience with cacao Kevin. I experienced heart racing with a top quality cacao and adrenal fatigue when using small amounts of cacao regularly. When I first mentioned it,not many people believed it.

    So thanks for documenting your experience

65. Phyllis Kreuttner on November 22, 2008 12:22 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience with cacao. You’re transparency is truly admirable and I think we all need to follow your example of sharing our experiences. It’s the only way to truly learn what we need to know to keep ourselves truly healthy.

    I love raw cacao but can only consume it in small doses. I’m trying to figure ou the actual dose that is OK for me. If I consume too much I start to feel an acid reflux reaction, which is uncomfortable & frightening. I’ve had serious acid reflux problems in the past & I do not want to activate that again.

    I like to use raw cacao when I have to drive and I don’t want to get sleepy. I won’t drink coffee or diet soda, so the cacao is a viable choice for me (as long as I don’t have too much). Unfortunately, I love it & I do believe it is addictive so I have to be very careful with it.

    I also like to use it to keep me alert at a lecture, workshop, etc. I hope taking it once or twice a week is OK for me. I guess I willonly learn from experience. I’ll let you know if I have any adverse affects.

    Kevin, can you share with us what kind of cacao you were using. I only use raw, organic chocolate nibs. Does that make a difference?

    Thanks againfor your transparency,
    Phyllis

66. Janett on November 22, 2008 12:38 pm

    I had challenges with cacao too. My problem was if I had it one day I would feel great, but if I didn’t have it the next I would crash (sounds like an addicting stimulant to me). Then, if I had it more than a couple days in a row I would develop sleep problems and I would have an “exhausted totally awake” feeling. It would take be a few days after having it a few days in a row to recover and feel normal again. I would not recommend having it as an occasional treat even, for those who are stimulant sensitive, as it can
    create an immediate addiction!!!

67. del on November 22, 2008 12:43 pm

    Holy Cacao. That’s so interesting. With David Wolfe promoting cacao like crazy it’s good to hear another side of it. I take about two to three heaping tablespoons of cacao nibs in my green smoothiee pretty much everyday for months. I haven’t experienced what you have but who knows. It’s probably good advise to ease up on it. I work so hard to add more minerals not leach them out. Everyone’s body is unique though and thousands of different reaction. It’s a complex world out there and in here.

    On the fitness side, I love to get your thoughts on excerise programs like the Five Tibetian Rights.

68. Wendi Dee on November 22, 2008 12:44 pm

    You are a brave, brave man to speak out about cacao, Kevin!

    You already know I can’t touch the stuff (even though I love the smell and taste of it), or else I could end up in the hospital. Many people say it makes the heart stronger, but in my case cacao could kill me. I wish I could eat it, but it’s just not something I can do.

    I think it’s important that you are speaking out about it, because there are some who are saying it’s good for *everyone* and it clearly isn’t good for everyone. I wish I was one of the lucky ones who could eat it, though!

    Lots of love to you,

    Wendi
    XOXOXO

69. Stepheny on November 22, 2008 12:49 pm

    THANK YOU KEVIN. We NEED this kind of transparency. I just pray blessings over you.

    I am at the very beginning of my Raw journey but I listen to everything I can. I do not currently use cacao but I am looking forward to learning how to treat myself with it on occasion in the future. One thing is for sure, I will not be using it as a daily pick-me-up.

    I have recently weaned myself off anti-depressants and I wondered if I needed something like Cacao to help me transition. Fortunately for me just eating raw for the last few weeks has made all the difference in the world!!!! I feel a million times better and I’m completely off all the different medications I’ve been prescribed. All but my Thyroid meds. But even with these, since I’m loosing weight I will be able to slowly go down on this dose too.
    Blessings to you,
    Stepheny

70. Sharyn on November 22, 2008 12:55 pm

    CHOCOLATE AND COFFEE BOTH CONTAIN THEOBROMINE WHICH IS HARD ON THE LIVER AND KIDNEYS (AND HEART). SOME PEOPLE SHOULD AVOID THESE ALTOGETHER BUT FOR OTHERS, THESE ARE MEDICINES. THIS MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH BLOOD TYPES. AS AN A+, COFFEE IS A MEDICINE FOOD FOR ME AND I DO ENJOY IT ONLY IN THE MORNING AND NO MORE THAN 1 MUG. I OFTEN GO FOR LONG PERIODS WITHOUT ANY. THERE IS NO WAY THAT I CAN HAVE COFFEE AFTER NOON OR I CAN EXPECT TO BE UP ALL NIGHT. I BELIEVE CHOCOLATE IN THE EVENING HAS THIS SAME EFFECT, ESP. IF IT IS OF HIGH QUALITY. CAROB IS AN EXCELLENT ALTERNATIVE AND IS HIGH IN MINERALS AND WILL NOT CAUSE THEM TO LEACH OUT. ALSO, MY NIECE HAD A SCARE WITH HER NURSING INFANT WHO DEVELOPED A BUMPY RASH AROUND HER EYES THE DAY AFTER SHE DRANK SOME CHOCOLATE MILK THINKING SHE NEEDED TO GET IT DOWN AND NEVER LIKED IT STRAIGHT, BUT NEEDED THE CALCIUM…WE CLEARED THAT ONE UP!

71. rachel on November 22, 2008 12:58 pm

    i don’t have sound on this computer and it’s miles to a library that does. i also have no car. any way to write down what’s said in the video?

72. jesse on November 22, 2008 12:59 pm

    Hey Kevin,
    Same thing happened to me.
    I could tell my liver and kidneys were stressed.
    The spot on my side was so irritating. It would react to any stresses. Heat, cold, dryness, wetness, electricity (Zapper in case of “bug”), wool, sunshine,… Fortunately we ran out of cacao and did not have the $ to restock. The spot went away. We now have 5 Lbs of raw cacao that will last MUCH longer. I would have to say it is very good for me but not in high doses (Table spoons full a day is a lot!) We need to remember dried powdered cacao is NOT in its natural state and would be closer to a drug then food. Dried food is concentrated and easy to O.D. on. As our systems become cleaner we see and feel the effects in stronger and strong ways. I will continue using it in small amounts. I am very convinced of the positive effects if used in moderation. (An idea that seems to escape most of the raw food community.)
    jesse.

73. Jennifer Daniels on November 22, 2008 1:03 pm

    I was in NY and decided to get a small bag of cacao to try it out. I chewed on 1/2 tsp of them and in 2 hours developed a splitting headache that lasted 24 hours, blurred vision - even losing my vision for several minutes, and anxiety.

    It took me about 12 hours to realize that it was the cacao. I am very sensitive to caffiene and I did not realize that there was so much caffiene in this stuff.

    Thank you for being so forthcoming and sharing your experience with it.
    Jennifer

74. John on November 22, 2008 1:13 pm

    Thank You Kevin,
    No rash here, but daily - one tblsp - (versus occasional) Raw Cacao (Superfood)in my diet turned my urine dark also and made me crash later in the day. The dark urine was quite alarming (an orange brown).

    David Wolfe has been a blessing in my life and I own several of his books. I do not dispute his claims. Much of what he has written has benefitted my health.

    I do think that despite some general dietary habits, we must always remember to never apply a part to the whole. We are all still individuals and react differently to various foods and envirnmental factors. Cacao is one of those foods. I will not call it “bad”, but like ANY food, I will need to see how to consume it in context. I liked Michael Treeplanter’s post about food combining, since I too had been putting cacao in a smoothie.

    Much Aloha for your video,
    John

75. mike henderson on November 22, 2008 1:15 pm

    I was taking cacoa just occasionally-like
    one bean a week with no adverse affects.
    As a regular sprouter-i’m aware beans or
    seeds do contain what are called anti-nutrients.
    perhaps they should be soaked beforehand and
    rinsed thoroughly to get rid of mould and other bacteria?-just a thought.

76. Sheila on November 22, 2008 1:23 pm

    I liked to add cacao nibs and goji berries to my water (hot or cold) and I found that my heart would be racing after just a couple of sips. At first, I assumed it was the gojis causing this because I really enjoy cacao nibs with yogurt and fruit and nuts in the morning and haven’t had any issue with that. I wonder if dairy offsets the stimulative effect of cacao? I’m really curious what David Wolfe has to say about this. Thanks for your transparency in sharing your story.

77. sarah on November 22, 2008 1:26 pm

    I have tried to like the raw form but never feel quite right after eating…mostly muscle cramp issues. Seems like the high oxalic acid content is the key…Heat and alkali destroy the mineral binding affects that create the problems…Europeans have known for a long time how to make chocolate into a health food…cooked alkalized cocoa…us neophyte Americans can learn a lot from those who have gone before us. Look at all the high oxalic acid containing plants that are considered toxic unless cooked. Rhubarb, Chard etc…

78. Jos on November 22, 2008 1:26 pm

    Great show!
    I cannot eat raw cacao as it makes my heart race and I cannot sleep at night. I love it but…..
    For exercises Annmarie could have a show on Friday demonstrating some yoga exercises in details plus explain all the advantages these bring to the body. Also what about some meditation and relaxation tips?

    Josette

79. Debby Grimm on November 22, 2008 1:37 pm

    Kevin,
    I am so sorry to hear your cacao incident, but so excited to find that my brother and I are NOT the only “chocolate weird-o’s” on earth! Several years ago when I was going through an extremely depressing personal crisis, my brother suggested I check to see if chocolate affected my emotional state. (This from a man who does eat well and exercise regularly–his sister, unfortunately, doesn’t yet) He shared that if he ate even a little chocolate, it would give him what he described as “…as close to PMS as [he] figured a man could experience…” including standing on the top of a mountain, “shooting the finger to God, screaming ‘If you hate me so much, why don’t You just kill me???’” I, of course, thought he was crazy (or that it was the sugar creating his problems), but was in such a dark place I’d have tried anything to feel better. To keep this a little shorter…through numerous experiments, I
    found that chocolate (the “mood elevator”) makes me suicidally depressed! Sometimes it is just a low simmering feeling of sadness that I might not recognize till I’ve been dragging for a couple of days, other times I feel there’s no point to life at all, with these usually lasting for one to two weeks. And all this from a former extreme chocoholic!!! Again, I’ve tested this many times, including one instance where I wasn’t aware of having eaten chocolate, so it’s not just the power of suggestion at work. It is also not something I’d have been aware of, had I not stopped the chocolate consumption. (Note…he and I did try the cacao nibs, hoping that a purer form of chocolate might be accepted by our “weird” systems, but those had the same effect, as did carob, for some reason!) For us, even an occasional chocolate “treat” comes with consequences, so we avoid it completely. I even eschew chocolate scented lotions, as those seem to be good for a day of feeing weepy!
    Again, I’m sorry you have to deal with this, but am so happy to know that we aren’t alone! I suggest all chocoholics give it up for a few days, then try a little to see if it gives you any negative side effects (note…they can take a day or so to show up; it’s rarely immediate, tho my first “test” had me in tears within an hour of consuming a very small amount). Could be that the cravings are that attraction for the things that harm us!! Giving up the chocolate was really hard at first, but when weighed against the side effects, it’s gotten much easier, and now I really only miss it around Christmas, or when passing a fine chocolatier’s shop!
    Thanks so much for passing this info along!!

80. Cynthia on November 22, 2008 1:53 pm

    Hi Kevin,

    I started eating cacao because of its health benefits and until your broadcast did I know what happened. The rash and lack of energy happened so fast I knew that is what it was.

    Thanks for confirming what I thought.

    Cheers,
    Cynthia

81. Kory on November 22, 2008 2:04 pm

    Thank you for sharing your experience. It was driving me crazy when you mentioned your incident but did not state what happened.
    I have not experienced anything like that nor has anyone that I know, so it was good to hear how it might effect someone else. I have a small healing practice and will pass on both sides now.
    In regards to Fitness Fridays. Have you thought about more cellular exercise like deep breathing? I think people can really benefit from learning more about that since breath is one of the major ways we detox.
    Thanks again for all you do.

82. Annet van Dorsser on November 22, 2008 2:05 pm

    Hi Kevin and others,

    This article is also interesting
    http://www.living-foods.com/articles/toxiccacao.html.

    I sometimes get a headache from raw cacao.

    Annet van Dorsser
    http://www.RawFoodSuccess.com/

83. Patti on November 22, 2008 2:07 pm

    Kevin,
    Thank you so,so much for talking about this.
    I bought cacao nibs from David Wolfe’s site
    about a year and a half ago. Based on his information I started to eat about 1 tablespoon a day. After 3 weeks my energy was horrible and I had deep, dark–very dark circles under my
    eyes. I had never had any circles under my eyes before. I didn’t look or feel healthy.
    I immediately stopped eating the cacao and the circles under my eyes disappeared with a few days time. I think that much cacao everyday is very dangerous.

84. stella Morris on November 22, 2008 2:20 pm

    Hi Kevin
    I’ve been feeling for a while that I was losing minerals and knew I was becoming more acidic. I started having cramps in my lower legs at night and oddly enough did not get them a couple of nights ago, on a day when I did not eat any cacao. So, I’m going to cut it out altogether and see what happens.
    Thanks for everything.

85. skorch on November 22, 2008 2:23 pm

    i’ve heard that it’s not the cacao, but the envirnomentals toxins that it absorbs before we harvest it, so source becomes the greater issue.

    just a thought.

86. arlene on November 22, 2008 2:26 pm

    I noticed a small eruption like a boil on my stomach. I have been having 72% cocoa chocolate as a snack and also occasional yogurt not sure which of the two as I am otherwise 90% raw diet
    thanks

87. Laurette Janak on November 22, 2008 2:36 pm

    Current medical literature shows that lack of quality sleep causes an increase in urinary wasting of magnesium which, over the long run will result in intracellular magnesium deficieny. I have seen this happen even in persons taking large amounts of magnesium either through diet or with supplements. The magnesium will keep being dumped in the urine until the sleep issue is addressed. SInce many people on this blog have told of the problem sleeping being associated with consumption of cacao, it is reasonable to say if this goes on at lenght then you can end up magnesim deficient. Magnesium is required for hundreds of enyme reactions in the body so the consequences of magnesium can be many and variable. For instance, magnesium helps to regulate the release of histamine and therefor low magnesium may increase the likelyhood of having allergic reactions. Serotonin uptake by a post-synaptic neuron is a magnesium dependent step. Decreased magnesium can cause increased release of catecholoamines and thereby contribute to a sense of anxiety. Low levels of intracellular magnesium is associated with low levels of your bodies very important antioxidant glutathione. Thus magnesium deficiency is aasociated with oxidative stress. Magnesium is involvoed in insulin sensitivity making persons with low magnesium more likely to be unable to control sugar metabolism. Magnesium is need for energy production and is necessary at many steps in the glycolysis pathway and in several steps in the krebs cycle which terminates in the production of ATP the energy molecule. Thus persons low in magnesium run short on energy.
    Even though chocolate contains magnesium, if it causes sleep problems the net result may be a loss of magnesium. A vicious cycle can ensue because mageneium deficiency then feeds back to causing sleep problems and the cycle of sleep loss leads to more magnsium loss.
    Additionally, chocolate has been found to contain high levels of toxic heavy metals. Low levels of toxic metals in the hair indicate the inability of the body to excrete the metals. A urine test would be more informative. Also, the low levels of glutathione found in persons with low intracellular magnesium will cause a decrease in the bodys ability to excrete heavy metals and once again a vicious cycle spins around.
    Sorry for carrying on so but this is important. It is important to note that serum magnesium is NOT a good indicator of tissue levels and can be normal even in the face of tissue deficiency. Many doctors are unaware of this and only measure serum Magnesium.
    Laurette

88. Kendall Black on November 22, 2008 2:37 pm

    Thanks, Kevin, for telling us something I have known for years, that raw cacao is a slow poison. Just the fact that it contains caffeine should alert anyone who is health-conscious. Smooth-tongued salesmen like David Wolfe have made a fortune by promoting and selling this stuff,as well as many other dubious products. So-called “superfoods” are not what many people think they are. At best they are simply a waste of money. At worst they will make you sick.

89. Jenna on November 22, 2008 2:38 pm

    All of the bad effects above for me also, very small amounts seem ok but if I go past my limit it is VERY NASTY to me!

90. Tracy on November 22, 2008 2:45 pm

    By the way, the argument that dogs don’t eat cacao and therefore it is not a healthy food for us is bogus. My dog does not eat grapes or kale either, so what does that say? I think there are people who are allergic to cacao and therfore should avoid it. For others it is fine. Everything in balance and moderation.

91. RawCreoleGoddess on November 22, 2008 3:07 pm

    Oh brother, yet another thing not to eat.

    Before I listened to what you had to say about cacao, I would saying NO WAY would I give it u