Cacao and Menopause
October - World Menopause Month
18th October - World Menopause Day
In recent years we’ve all come to understand that the body has its own wisdom and we live better and enjoy life more if we listen to that wisdom.
Women’s bodies undergo a remarkable change, called menopause, which has been little understood for much of human history. Today we can approach menopause in a more loving, holistic and open-minded way.
What is menopause?
Menopause is defined as the moment that menstruation stops (typically between the ages of 45 and 50) - but that transition is slow and not always gentle.
The period during which that transition takes place is called the peri-menopause and it can bring some unwanted side-effects such as an increase in anxiety, depression, hot flushes, irritability, fatigue and sleep disturbance and mood swings, as well as unpredictable menstrual cycles.
It’s important not to see these as symptoms, because menopause is not an illness, it’s a natural part of female life[1] and can be approached through wellbeing and curiosity - finding out what our future will contain and what works to help us feel good. For some women this may be HRT, for others, more holistic alternatives[2] will feel more appropriate.
Cacao ceremony - a route to menopause mastery
Exploring our changing bodies through ceremonial cacao is one way to honour these changes: it’s a respectful and loving approach to ourselves and to the processes of ageing.
Bringing ceremony and ritual into our lives[3] is something that we can all benefit from, it’s a wellbeing remedy in its own right and can help to reduce depression and grief and create a sense of gratitude and contentment.
But cacao is incredibly beneficial in other ways too. Both cacao powder and cacao nibs offer 14 times the antioxidant power of apples through flavanol components,[4] and are rich in magnesium which reduces hot flushes and night sweats. Cacao improves mood through phenylethylamine, a neuro-active substance present in cacao that boosts dopamine and seratonin.
Cacao meaning
So given that cacao is so good for us, what - exactly - is it? The South American tree Theobroma cacao produces cacao seed pods - the purest form of cacao. This can then be processed into chocolate, but the pure cacao contains the health benefits we’re seeking, and the vital flavanols that deliver wellbeing.
Chocolate is the processed form of cacao, and when it comes to cacao versus cocoa (which is the base from which all chocolate products are made) cacao contains more antioxidants, which are damaged by processing and retains all its vital minerals like dietary magnesium, copper, potassium, and calcium, which can also be harmed by processing.
What this means is that ceremonial-grade cacao, the only kind we sell at Ritual Cacao, offers more health benefits, brings greater serenity and happiness and supports wellbeing more powerfully and lovingly than chocolate does.
So back to menopause - today we can celebrate the changes in our bodies and our lives, we can give ourselves inner peace and strengthen our immune systems to support us through a natural, normal transition using ritual cacao to bring wisdom and kindness to a sometimes challenging period.