Give Your Gut a Spring Clean With Ritual Cacao
Spring is in the air, and signifies a period of rejuvenation and growth in nature, making it an ideal time to cleanse and nourish our bodies from the inside out.
After the heaviness of winter, our digestive systems may be in need of a reset, and Ritual Cacao offers a gentle yet effective way to support this process.
Benefits for the Gut
The gut, often referred to as the "second brain," plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being. It houses trillions of bacteria that influence everything from digestion to mood regulation. Ritual Cacao contains essential antioxidants and flavonoids that can help promote a healthy gut by reducing inflammation and supporting beneficial gut bacteria.
Friendly bacteria including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been shown to actively promoting anti-inflammatory processes in our intestines, keeping our gut healthy. Researchers from the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Reading measured higher levels of essential Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in the intestines of human volunteers who drank cacao for 4 weeks.
The same team previously showed that components in cacao can also reduce the growth of Clostridium histolyticum bacteria, which are present in the guts of individuals with inflammatory bowel disease.
A study at Cambridge University found that dark chocolate with a high cacao content has effects on colonic and cerebral function, by improving stool consistency and functional brain imaging identified central effects of cacao on cortical activity.
How to Incorporate Ritual Cacao into Your Wellbeing Routine
Adding ritual cacao to your daily or weekly routine is simple and can be customised to suit your preferences. Here are a few suggestions, and you can find inspiration on our recipe page: https://www.ritualcacao.co.uk/recipes
Morning Elixir: Start your day with a wellbeing practice by preparing a warm cup of Ritual Cacao, infused with spices like cinnamon, chilli or even turmeric. This nourishing elixir can help stimulate digestion and provide a gentle energy boost, without the spike and crash associated with coffee. To make this a wellbeing pratice, take some time to set your intentions for the day, tune into your heart, and hear what your intuition is telling you.
Midday Pick-Me-Up: Instead of reaching for that second (or third) cup of coffee, opt for a refreshing cacao smoothie. Not only will it satisfy your sweet cravings, but it will also provide essential nutrients to keep you feeling energised and focused throughout the day.
Evening Ritual: Relax and wind down in the evening with a decadent mug of ceremonial-grade cacao. as the tryptophan in ceremonial-grade cacao is great for enabling sleep.
What is Ceremonial-grade Cacao?
Ceremonial-grade cacao, is pure unprocessed cacao that is 100 % pure and is from:
👉Ancient Variety of Bean
👉Wild harvested and
👉Planted in traditional Chakras
👉Non GMO
👉Fairly Traded
👉Grown with no chemicals, pesticides or herbicides
👉Cacao trees treated with respect as a sacred plant medicine
By incorporating Ritual Cacao into your wellness routines, you can give your guts the love and attention it deserves, and feel more vibrant and healthy, as we head into Spring.
Give it a try and let us know how Ritual Cacao has helped you spring into spring.
References:
Medical News Today
Fox M, Meyer-Gerspach AC, Wendebourg MJ, et al. Effect of cocoa on the brain and gut in healthy subjects: a randomised controlled trial. British Journal of Nutrition. 2019;121(6):654-661. doi:10.1017/S0007114518003689