By now, many people know that cacao is a beautiful ally for ceremony and ritual, rooted in ancestral tradition, but did you know that it was also used for physical wellbeing and strength?
It’s said that Moctezuma, an Aztec emperor, drank cacao in large amounts and said that it’s a ‘divine drink which builds up resistance and fights fatigue.’
So, let’s take a look at three ways cacao can also be taken daily to improve athletic performance and recovery.
1. Cacao is a wonderful alternative to pre-workout drinks that are filled with synthetic stimulants
Ceremonial-grade cacao provides high-quality energy without the crash that you can sometimes get with caffeine-filled drinks. Theobromine is the stimulant in cacao responsible for the energy we can feel when we drink cacao. It increases blood flow to the brain, which increases mental agility & focus, allowing for enhanced athletic performance and physical self-awareness. To work with cacao as a pre-workout drink, we suggest 20grams of cacao.
Recommended Cacao:
2. Can boost athletic performance
In a study published by the Society of Sports Nutrition, it was found that consumption of cacao reduces the amount of oxygen intake our body needs and that endurance is improved. With increased blood flow from cacao, our muscles are also able to function optimally and the risk of injury is decreased.
Recommended Cacao:
Vibrant Vitality Enhanced Cacao
3. Improves physical recovery
Ceremonial cacao is extremely nutrient rich, and with over 660 antioxidants, it can help improve our response to oxidative stress giving way to improved and faster recovery. Of the many nutrients, cacao contains, it has potassium which can prevent muscle cramps and soreness. As mentioned above, the increased blood flow in our bodies from cacao can also support muscle recovery.
Recommended Cacao
There are many ways you can bring cacao rituals into your athletic activities. Jonas, our founder, loves filling a thermos with ceremonial cacao and going on a bike ride into the mountains. There’s something about being out in nature and working out hard that brings clarity to intentions and prayers, it can be a very effective way to connect with cacao!
