What are the benefits of cacao?

Cacao comes from cacao beans (which are actually seeds) that grow on the Theobroma cacao tree. These trees grow naturally in West Africa, where the weather is warm and humid. Cacao trees are also grown in other regions.

The cacao is obtained by cracking open the seed of the cacao tree, finely grinding it, and removing the fat. Why most people associate cacao with chocolate, there may also be some health benefits, including:

• High in antioxidants, helping to protect the body from oxidative stress
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Reductions in levels of LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol in the blood
• High in magnesium