Why Cacao Is Good for You: Science, Ceremony, and Remembering What the Body Already Knows
Cacao has always been more than something we consume.
Long before it was sweetened, packaged, or rushed, cacao was revered as a sacred plant. One that supported the heart, softened the mind, and brought people back into connection with themselves, each other, and the natural world.
Today, modern science is beginning to confirm what ancient cultures intuitively understood.
Large, high-quality clinical studies now show that cacao contains powerful compounds that support heart health, reduce inflammation, and help maintain brain function as we age. And yet, cacao’s deepest medicine still can’t be fully captured in data alone.
At I AM BEING, cacao is not just something we drink. It is something we meet.
In this piece, I want to share:
- What science now tells us about cacao
- What the COSMOS trial revealed about cacao flavanols
- How cacao supports the heart and brain
- And why experiencing cacao in ceremony matters just as much as the research
Cacao as a Living Plant Medicine
Cacao comes from the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree; a name that translates to “food of the gods.” That name was not given lightly.
Cacao is rich in naturally occurring plant compounds called flavanols. These are part of a wider family of flavonoids found in whole, living foods such as berries, apples, tea, and leafy plants. What makes cacao unique is the concentration and synergy of these compounds when the cacao is minimally processed.
Cacao flavanols gently support:
- Circulation and blood flow
- Vascular health
- Cellular communication
- Inflammation regulation
- Cognitive resilience
They do not force the body. They support it quietly, consistently, and over time.
This is part of why cacao feels so different from stimulants. It doesn’t push. It opens.
What the COSMOS Trial Revealed About Cacao
The Cocoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study, known as the COSMOS trial, is one of the most comprehensive nutrition studies ever conducted on cacao flavanols.
Over 21,000 adults were followed for several years to understand whether daily cacao flavanol intake could influence long-term health outcomes — particularly cardiovascular health.
Participants received either:
- A daily dose of cocoa flavanols, or
- A placebo
The study was carefully designed, rigorously controlled, and observed participants over time rather than weeks.
What the Results Showed
The findings were subtle, realistic, and important.
Cacao flavanols did not dramatically prevent all heart events. However, they did show a meaningful reduction in deaths from cardiovascular causes.
In participants who consistently took the cacao flavanols:
- Cardiovascular mortality was significantly lower
- Overall cardiovascular outcomes improved further
This tells us something powerful.
Cacao may not be a miracle cure but it appears to support resilience, longevity, and the body’s ability to cope with cardiovascular stress as we age.
This aligns deeply with how cacao has always been used: not as a quick fix, but as a steady companion.
How Cacao Supports the Heart
Cacao’s relationship with the heart is both symbolic and physiological.
Circulation and Blood Flow
Cacao flavanols help blood vessels relax and widen. This improves circulation and allows oxygen and nutrients to move more freely through the body. Over time, this gentle support can ease strain on the heart.
Inflammation and Aging
Chronic, low-grade inflammation is one of the underlying drivers of heart disease. Research linked to the COSMOS trial found that cacao flavanols help reduce markers of inflammation, particularly those associated with aging.
This supports the idea that cacao doesn’t just protect the heart, it helps the body age with more ease.
The Heart as More Than a Muscle
In ceremony, we experience something science doesn’t measure.
Cacao softens emotional armour.
It brings awareness to the chest.
It invites honesty, openness, and presence.
The physiological and emotional heart are not separate systems. They speak to each other constantly.
Cacao and the Brain: Memory, Focus, and Nourishment
Cacao flavanols have also been studied for their role in cognitive health; particularly memory and learning.
Research examining older adults found that cacao flavanol intake supported hippocampal-dependent memory, especially in individuals whose diets were previously low in plant-based nutrients.
Rather than overstimulating the brain, cacao appears to:
- Support blood flow to brain tissue
- Reduce oxidative stress
- Nourish existing cognitive function
In other words, cacao helps the brain remember how to function well.
This mirrors cacao’s emotional intelligence. It doesn’t impose. It restores.
Whole Cacao vs Chocolate
It’s important to say this clearly.
Most commercial chocolate is not cacao medicine.
Processing methods, added sugars, dairy, and heat drastically reduce flavanol content. What remains is often more stimulant and sugar than nourishment.
Ceremonial-grade cacao and raw cacao retain:
- Natural flavanols
- Magnesium
- Theobromine (a gentle, heart-opening compound)
- A full spectrum of plant intelligence
When cacao is honoured as a whole food, rather than a treat, its effects are entirely different.
Why Ceremony Changes Everything
Cacao does not work in isolation.
The body absorbs differently when it feels safe.
The nervous system opens when it feels seen.
The heart responds when there is intention.
Ceremony slows us down enough to receive.
At I AM BEING, cacao ceremonies are not about doing more, they are about being with what already is. Breath, sound, stillness, reflection, and shared presence create the conditions where cacao’s benefits can be fully integrated.
Science tells us what cacao does. Ceremony allows us to feel it.
Cacao Ceremonies in London with I AM BEING
If you’re in London and feel drawn to experience cacao in a way that honours both its scientific integrity and sacred roots, you are warmly invited to join a cacao ceremony with I AM BEING.
These ceremonies are for you if:
- You want to feel more connected to your body
- You’re curious about cacao beyond the trend
- You value evidence and embodiment
- You’re seeking a softer, more honest relationship with yourself
There is no fixing.
No forcing.
Only remembering.
Modern science now confirms that cacao supports the heart, nourishes the brain, and gently reduces inflammation. The COSMOS trial gives us data. The body gives us wisdom.
At I AM BEING, we honour both.
Cacao reminds us that wellbeing is not something we achieve, it is something we return to.
If you feel the call, I would love to share cacao with you in ceremony.
Being,
Gizelle Renee Xx
Breath, Reiki, Meditation and Sound: Why This Inner Toolkit Matters as We Head Into Christmas
Christmas has always been a season that stirs something deep in me. And perhaps it does for you too.
The Synergies Between Yoga and Reiki: How Yogic Practices Like Nadi Shodhana Complement Usui Reiki and Why the Two Work So Powerfully Together
Holistic healing has many beautiful pathways, and two of the most influential traditions in the worl
Entrainment in Alchemy Sound Bowls — what it is, the science behind it, and why a bath + water afterwards matters
If you’ve ever left a sound bath feeling gently spaced-out, blissfully calm and a little tingly, y