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Entity explains why chocolate is better than sex.

If you could only eat one kind of chocolate for the rest of your life, what would it be? If you’re a well-informed foodie, you know the answer is simple: you’d choose chocolate’s healthier cousin, cacao.

Whether you typically prefer dark chocolate or white, cacao tastes good enough – and comes with enough health benefits – to make it the magical chocolate of your dreams.

In fact, here are five (deliciously healthy) reasons why pure cacao is better than sex. (Yes, really!)

1 It’s chocolate in its most pure form.

Unless you’ve been lucky enough to travel to a cacao farm and try your favorite dessert right out of the pod, the closest you’ve probably gotten to “pure chocolate” is your packaged candy from your local grocery store. However, while “cacao” and “cocoa” may look the same (in word and as chocolate), the two are very different.

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The cacao bean is the source of both cacao and cocoa powders; however, “cacao” refers to the raw form of chocolate, according to Obsev. This means that the powdered cacao and the cacao nibs you see in grocery stores are chocolate in its “uncooked, additive free, and unprocessed” state. On the other hand, cocoa and other forms of chocolate are roasted and processed with extra sweeteners and additives.

Basically, if you’ve been calling yourself a chocolate expert for years but have never tasted cacao, you need to correct that error ASAP.

2 Cacao is the most delicious medicine you’ll ever taste.

If you had a magical genie and could make one wish, what would it be? If it has something to do with chocolate being as healthy as broccoli, then it’s your lucky day because cacao can put Popeye’s spinach to shame!

Cacao is packed with healthy antioxidants that can boost eaters’ health and possibly even help them live longer, according to Livestrong. Cacao nibs also boast high levels of flavonoids, which are antioxidants that can also be found in tea, grapes and berries. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, flavonoids have been found to “improve health by altering cell-signaling pathways.” Although more research is needed on the health benefits of flavonoids,  some studies have suggested that flavonoids might help prevent cancer and brain diseases.

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This is also one type of chocolate with some major heart benefits – and not just after your latest heartbreak. A study by the British Journal of Nutrition found that people who eat cocoa had improved cardiovascular function and a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Although correlation is not causation, eating cacao for its antioxidants (or its awesome taste) can’t hurt.

3 Cacao gives you all the chocolate flavor for a portion of the calories.

If your wish was also to eat chocolate and never gain weight, cacao could help with that. One ounce of cacao nibs contains around 130 calories while the same size service of dark chocolate or milk chocolate has 155 calories, according to Livestrong. Because cacao isn’t as processed as other forms of chocolate, it’s also sugar-free and contains more fiber. In fact, cacao offers about 11 grams of fiber per ounce while dark chocolate only has two grams per ounce and milk chocolate only has one gram per ounce. Why’s that such great news? Fiber slows digestion, which helps you feel full.

If that isn’t enough to make cacao your new favorite snack, One Green Planet also says that cacao’s lack of processing means it contains more nutrients from the whole cacao bean. What exact bang are you getting your (edible) buck? Plenty of healthy monounsaturated fats, cholesterol-free saturated fats, vitamins, minerals, fiber, natural carbohydrates, and protein, to be exact!

4 Cacao can give your mood – and sex drive – a boost.

You may have always believed that eating chocolate made you happier, but cacao has the facts and stats to make that belief a reality.

Cacao contains the “bliss chemicals” phenylethylamine (PEA) and anandamide, according to Daily Superfood Love. The body naturally produces these two chemicals when excited; in fact, PEA is naturally released when someone falls in love or engages in sexual activity. Since these two chemicals are also shown to increase libido, it suddenly makes sense why chocolates are such a popular Valentine’s Day gift!

Besides improving mood, PEA can help increase focus and alertness because it accelerates your pulse. Anandamide, on the other hand, helps decrease depression without being addictive like caffeine. If you need an afternoon pick-me-up (or the perfect pre-date snack), try going coo-coo for cacao!

5 Cacao is a creative cook’s gift from the gods…really.

If you’ve ever wondered what gods eat, here’s the answer you’ve been searching for: cacao is derived from Theobroma Cacao beans, which literally translates into “Food of the Gods.” Considering how many ways you can use cacao in the kitchen, this ingredient’s heavenly origins is no surprise!

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To spice up your life with this superfood, try adding cacao to your smoothies or even stir it into your afternoon yogurt. You can also use cacao to make chocolate mousse, raw chocolate fudge or even replace any “cocoa” powder in a baking recipe for this healthy alternative. Basically, you can work cacao into any recipe that needs a little extra kick of chocolate. And if you’re too busy to cook, you can also buy cacao-packed products like Squirrel Sisters Cacao Brownie, Motion Nutrition’s Organic Raw Cacao Whey Protein powder or Pro Fusion’s Cacao Nibs and Cashew Butter.

When you first hear about cacao, you might think it sounds too good to be true. A dessert that’s actually good for you? Not to mention a kind of chocolate that is even better than sex? As these studies and nutrition facts show, however, cacao is one dessert that you never have to think twice about enjoying.

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And if this magical chocolate gives your mood and sex drive a boost, too? Well, that’s just icing on the (chocolate) cake!

Edited by Angelica Pronto
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