Today we share an article from our friends at Naed Nutrition to help explain the differences between Cacao and Cocoa. Did you think they were all the same?  Well, not quite and here is why…

	Cacao	Cocoa
What is?	Cacao is a raw superfood that comes from cacao beans. It is the purest form	Cocoa is cacao, roasted
What nutrients is it high in?	Antioxidants Magnesium Iron Potassium Zinc Healthy fats Fibre Protein	Less of each nutrient when compared to cacao particularly fibre and healthy fats
Pros	Promotes cardiovascular health Improves mood Reduces insulin resistance Very high source of antioxidants Excellent source of nutrients	Slightly less health benefit due to heating procedure
Cons	Bitter and rich in flavour	Mostly teamed with high sugar, milk fats, hydrogenated oils and artificial flavourings in products
Most common forms	Powder Nibs Butter	Powder

Which one do I pick?

The rawest form of the food is the best option. When making your own hot chocolates, smoothies, protein balls or dessert the raw cacao (organic if you can) is your best option in terms of health, longevity and a fat loss. Majority of cheap cocoa powders are going to be teamed with sugars. When choosing an item pre made, your cacao is always going to be better – just be sure to check what it is teamed with (hydrogenated oils / sugars etc.)
Keen to know more? Here’s another detailed article on the subject of cacao vs cocoa
If you just need a healthy chocolate fix – try our delicious Protein Balls recipe.