Brain health | Cacao and adhd | Cacao benefits | Cacao health | Ceremonial cacao | Coffee to cacao | Mental health | Plant medicine
Struggling with brain fog, short attention span, inability to stay focused or understand and retain information? Look no further than 100% Pure Ceremonial Cacao, the most delicious and natural way to boost your brainpower! While you may know this natural wonder for its rich, wholesome taste, scientists are uncovering its incredible potential to enhance our well-being in ways we never imagined. From improving memory and clearing brain fog to enhancing problem-solving skills, Ceremonial Cacao is quickly becoming a favorite among those seeking a cognitive edge. In this article we explore the fascinating world of the Keith's Cacao-infused mind and discover how this delicious treat can help you unlock your full potential!
Prepared to be amazed by how Keith's Cacao can be a great aide to students, the elderly, decision-makers, and people on the ADD-ADHD-Autism Spectrum!
Pure, minimally processed Cacao –such as Keith's Cacao– is a powerhouse of nutrients and active compounds that provide a host of benefits to our physical, mental, and emotional health. But a specific group of bioactive compounds found in Pure, Ceremonial Cacao, has been the subject of great interest, and multiple studies examining their potential effects on the human body, and most recently, the human brain: the fabulous flavanols. This is what study after study reveals about these antioxidant super-nutrients:
Cacao flavanols increase blood flow to the brain. More blood translates into better oxygen and nutrient delivery to brain cells, improving brain health and function. Studies link the high flavanol content in Cacao to improved attention, working memory, processing speed, and executive functions. Flavanols also promote the growth of new blood vessels and synaptic plasticity, the process that the brain uses to adjust how neurons connect to each other and process information. This process is vital for all forms of learning and memory since the only way the brain can store new information is to change its own structure.
Moreover, flavanols are antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, so they can reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain. These neuroprotective effects help protect but also repair brain cells from damage and degeneration. Chronic inflammation in the brain can contribute to the development and progression of various neurological conditions. Flavanols' anti-inflammatory properties can help counteract this effect, reducing the risk of neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
In a study led by Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC), scientists proved that Cacao flavanols can improve the function of a specific brain region—the dentate gyrus—associated with age-related memory decline. "If a participant had the memory of a typical 60-year-old at the beginning of the study, after three months [of drinking a cacao flavanol-containing test drink], that person, on average, had the memory of a typical 30- or 40-year-old," the head of the team of scientists says.
In plain English, it's time to start drinking Cacao every day! Whether you are in your elder years and looking to keep your mind as sharp as ever or a young student struggling to understand, assimilate and retain information for tests and school exams, Keith's Cacao is here for the rescue!
As if flavanols were not enough, Ceremonial Cacao stimulates our brains with some amazing alkaloids. Alkaloids are organic compounds of extreme importance to humans for an array of reasons, not least their stimulating effects. Known alkaloids include morphine, caffeine, quinine, ephedrine, and nicotine. While Ceremonial Grade Cacao contains trace amounts of caffeine (the amount varies depending on the brand), its primary alkaloid is theobromine.
Most people may not realize that caffeine is a psychoactive drug, even though so many "self-medicate" with coffee to enhance their wakefulness, alertness, and attention. Theobromine works similarly to caffeine to produce the same results by blocking the adenosine receptors. Yet, theobromine is quite different from caffeine in that it offers a longer-lasting, more relaxed energy without the spike and crash. Unlike caffeine, theobromine is not a central nervous system stimulant and therefore doesn’t typically make you feel as on edge or jittery. For that same reason, theobromine is non-addictive. The energy from theobromine feels more akin to a good night’s sleep and also gives you a “holistic high” by making you feel more focused. (More on why you should consider switching from Coffee to Cacao here). Moreover, research attests theobromine is as effective as caffeine in protecting the brain from synaptic plasticity problems and brain cell loss. As a friendly stimulant, could it also be beneficial to people with ADHD?
"Though science does not have a definitive understanding of the causes of Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD). What it knows for sure is that paradoxically stimulants work well in managing the symptoms," says Leslie Purchase, MD (General Surgery, Temple University). For years, Dr. Purchase herself used caffeine to self-medicate for her ADD; until she discovered Keith's Cacao. Dr. Purchase found Cacao a much better alternative to coffee to help her achieve and maintain alertness and focus without the subsequent energy slumps she used to have with coffee.
"There is not ONE explanation why Cacao works in managing ADD. Apart from the increased blood flow, it may be the stimulant action of theobromine and some of its neurotransmitters", continues Dr. Purchase. "Whatever the pathway," she adds, "it has been an incredibly useful medicine for both myself and my son, who is also diagnosed with ADD."
When her teenage son was diagnosed, Dr. Puchase's fellow doctors suggested the standard stimulant medications. Adderall (amphetamines) and Ritalin or Concerta (methylphenidate) are often prescribed to treat children, adolescents, or adults diagnosed with ADHD. Still, Dr. Purchase was concerned about putting this chemical into her son’s developing brain. "It felt too risky, as there's not really good data on the long-term effects. So we declined it, and then maybe a year or two later, we started working with Cacao. It's not a cure, it's a symptom management tool, but it was very effective for him," she concludes.
Adderall is a combination of amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, two central nervous system stimulants that improve focus and reduce impulsivity by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Adderall is also a drug with a significant risk for abuse and the development of physical dependence. No wonder Dr. Purchase, like many others, was reluctant to give it to her kid, especially when there's Keith’s Cacao that contains its much more benevolent "cousin," the alkaloid - phenylethylamine.
Phenylethylamine (PEA) and amphetamine are very similar in structure, but PEA is not addictive! Like ADHD stimulant meds, the PEA in Ceremonial Grade Cacao prevents the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine and inhibits their transport, which leads to an increase in their synaptic concentrations. This is how Cacao gives the brain a dopamine boost.
Some naturopaths are beginning to prescribe Cacao as a substitute for stimulant meds. The PEA in Cacao provides the dopamine the brain needs and does not produce a crash when it wears off. ADHD prescription meds made Australian-based yoga teacher Sarah Simmonds feel drugged and obsessive. By contrast, since switching to Keith's Cacao, she feels calmer and more productive. Her mind is less chaotic, and her brain is less foggy. And this has also allowed her creativity to come through. "There is a stillness and a clarity instead of the chaos of rapid thoughts," says Simmonds. Time for you to try out Keith's Cacao, perhaps?
The evidence is compelling—Cacao holds tremendous potential for enhancing brain function and cognitive abilities across diverse population groups. Whether combating age-related cognitive decline, empowering students, supporting ADD patients, or promoting overall cognitive well-being, Cacao's benefits are far-reaching. By incorporating Cacao into daily routines, individuals can unlock the remarkable power of this natural resource and embrace its cognitive-enhancing effects.
But be aware. Not all Cacao is created equal. The one Cacao you can trust to deliver the results reported by scientists—and more, is 100% Pure Keith's Cacao. Click the button below to purchase a brick and let the magic of Keith's Cacao light up your brain and boost your thinking mind. Here is a Quick Start Guide to help you make your first cup.
References:
https://www.mentalhelp.net/adhd/alternative-treatments/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3575938/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23810791/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-76160-9
https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03195465
https://www.kcbd.com/story/29899184/does-chocolate-make-kids-hyperactive-confronting-myths-of-adhd/
https://www.theminiadhdcoach.com/living-with-adhd/adhd-food
https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1507&context=etd
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-cocoa-the-brain-drug-of-the-future/
https://www.additudemag.com/brain-stimulation-and-adhd-cravings-dependency-and-regulation/
http://www.primarilyinattentiveadd.com/2011/02/dark-chocolate-for-adhd-innattentive.html
https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/drugfacts_stimulantadhd_1.pdf
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070221101326.htm
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.112.193060#d3e5796
https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/dietary-flavanols-reverse-age-related-memory-decline