I've always been a chocolate lover. Give me a rich piece of quality dark chocolate and I'm a happy girl. But I've recently discovered the pure pleasure of having a cacao elixir regularly and the benefits it offers my mind, body and spirit.
A couple years ago, shortly after starting Earth Elements, I discovered Iris and her husband Rolf, through social media. They run a beautiful company called Nabalo - a clever acronym for Nature, Balance and Love. Nabalo is a universal pathway that can lead you to living and thriving in the lifestyle of your deepest desires. They have a soulful blog, a gorgeous online shop, as well as online courses and workbooks to help you get clear about your purpose and manifest your dreams.
Iris has really inspired me with her knowledge of superfoods and healing. I've always admired her recipes and posts about her cozy life; drinking elixirs, foraging for chaga mushrooms, and enjoying her time in the forest with her husband and pup!
It seemed fitting to ask her to do guest blog post on the benefits of cacao and she was also kind enough to share a few recipes! Read on for some cacao wisdom from this beautiful goddess!
“The beverage of the gods was Ambrosia; that of man is chocolate. Both increase the length of life in a prodigious manner.” -Louis Lewin The word “cacao” is extremely ancient. It probably originated with the pre-Mayan Olmec peoples. Scholars deciphered the word “ka-ka-wa” on a Mayan chocolate drinking vessel dating back thousands of years. The Mayans inherited the cacao knowledge from the Olmec people and it became a central part of their civilization. So much that the last three rulers of the Mayan city of Tikal in present-day Guatemala were called Lord Cacao. Now that is an impressive title! Signs of the importance of this magnificent plant are still visible in those areas. A cacao tree is found carved on the Temple of the Wall Panels at Chichen Itza in the Yucatan. Cacao-shaped and cacao-depicting pottery items are found all over the Mayan areas of Central America. The Mayans were also the first major civilization that had cacao gods and to use cacao as currency. But don’t mistake chocolate for cacao. If you would offer the Chocoholic Aztec Emperor “Montezuma" a piece of our modern day chocolate, you would end up in his dungeon! And on some level I have to agree with him. Raw Cacao powder contains magic, it can completely turn your health and life around. When you start of your day with an chocolate elixir, you’re not only nourish your body, but also your soul. Raw Cacao contains a crazy amount of minerals, and this my dearies, is self care. You are telling your body that it is worthy enough to enjoy the “food of the gods!” But what we call chocolate these days is a combination of processed cacao powder -stripped of all its minerals- and refined sugar. This combo will actually draw minerals from you body , causes your blood sugar to rise. This is not a health food, it’s the opposite. Back to the good stuff! Try getting your hands on organic, raw, cacao beans or powder from a good source and start your journey. Explore the colours of the beans.
Explore the taste of the different varieties. Explore the different ways that raw cacao come in. Play with the texture. Get lost in the smell of cacao. You can’t go wrong. Desserts, elixirs, cake, smoothies, ice-cream, or even conversations…As long as they contain cacao…it’s going to be good! See, cacao is an extraordinary source of magnesium, iron, chromium, vanadium, copper, zinc and phosphorus. Cacao is also a “delivery system.” Its theobromine dilates the intestines and cardiovascular system, allowing more nutrients to be absorbed. When I started to make elixirs that were packed with super foods, super herbs, medicinal mushrooms and combined them with raw cacao my life changed. I felt better, my weight stabilised, my allergies disappeared, I looked better and my immune system became super strong. Cacao is good for your body and it’s definitely good for your soul. Cacao contains the "Bliss Chemical" so it nourishes you on different levels, it's an aphrodisiac, and it's the most complex flavour in the world. If that isn’t enough…Let's not forget that cacao contains magic. Cacao gives you back your child-like way of thinking, it helps you celebrate life, and it helps you chase your dreams. Cacao is the food of the gods, it is sacred, treat it that way! I’m going to leave you with two of my favourite cacao recipes, may they nourish and excite you. xo, Iris
RECIPES CACAO MADNESS ELIXIR
Tea base: 2 cups of Chai Tea Ingredients: 2 tbsp raw cacao powder 1 tbsp raw cacao butter
1 tbsp almond butter
1 tbsp ghee or coconut oil pinch of sea salt, vanilla & cinnamon Stevia or Raw honey to taste Optional: 1 tsp maca & 1 tsp lucuma Blend all the ingredients together, thank the cacao gods and enjoy! CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
Ingredients:
2 ripe avocados
1 ripe banana
4 tbsp cacao powder 3 tbsp almond milk 1 tsp vanilla powder 1⁄2 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp maple syrup a pinch of sea salt
Instructions:
Put the flesh of the avocados in a food processor and add the cacao powder, almond milk, banana, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt and process until very smooth and creamy.
Spoon into serving dishes and garnish with cacao nibs, finely chopped nuts, raspberries and/or flaky sea salt.
BIO
Iris, a young woman with an mysterious old soul. Coffee Addict. Happy Introvert. Manifestation Goddess. Elixir Alchemist. Cacao Lover. Book Worm. Mushroom Hunter. Her mission is to inspire and helping others manifest the lifestyle of their deepest desires. She has traveled the world in search of a place called home, which she found in the forests of Sweden. She is passionate about the beauty of nature and capturing that in her photography and design. Random Facts
She is a Gemini Sun & Aquarius Moon sign.
She is a certified Nutritionist.
She is a web designer, photographer and social media enthusiast.
She owns more books than clothes.
She is a highly sensitive introvert and number 11 in numerology.
She's crazy about essential oils, crystals and leather notebooks.
She loves everything related to personal development.
Find out more about Iris's beautiful work below!