With Easter weekend just around the corner, Dr Marion Gluck, founder of The Marion Gluck Clinic, explains why switching cocoa for cacao powder in recipes can boost mood, blood flow, and reduce inflammation.

More sunshine, blossoming flowers, longer days, and a start to easing of lockdown restrictions. April is shaping up to be a great month, and with Easter just around the corner, it is time to indulge in some delicious treats. If you are looking for tasty recipes with great health benefits, Dr Marion Gluck has got you covered.

There is a huge hype around cacao these days and there is a good reason behind it. This delicious substance is packed with health benefits, mainly due to its high content in flavanols (a subclass of flavonoids), compounds with potent antioxidant properties. Cacao is also a great source of minerals such as magnesium, iron, and chromium. In fact, cacao is one of the highest sources of magnesium, a key mineral needed in abundance for energy, muscles, nerves, and hormone balance.

These are some of cacao's main health benefits:

Improves mood - Cacao can improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, including in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. In addition to flavanols and magnesium, there is a neuroactive substance present in small amounts in cacao, phenylethylamine (PEA for short), which is thought to boost levels of the feel-good hormones; dopamine and serotonin.

Boosts cognitive function - Cacao increases blood flow to the brain and enhances connections between neurons. Clinical studies have shown that flavanols improve cognitive function in healthy young adults as well as in older people with mild cognitive impairment.

Promotes heart health - Cacao can reduce blood pressure, reduce inflammatory markers that contribute to atherosclerotic plaques (the plaques that can obstruct arteries), and increase "good" HDL cholesterol.

Improves skin health - Studies have shown that cacao's powerful antioxidant properties can protect the skin from UV damage, increase blood flow to the skin and reduce wrinkle formation.

Remember that cacao is better consumed regularly in moderate amounts. The higher the percentage of cacao, the healthier and more bitter it becomes. You can balance out the bitter taste with natural sweeteners such as fruit, raw honey, or cinnamon.

There are lots of super delicious ways to add cacao into your life. Why not spoil yourself this Easter with Marion's go to healthy and delicious cake?

Marion's go to Easter Cake Recipe:

Prep time: 10 mins

Bake time: 60 mins

Ingredients

½ cup good quality unsweetened dark cacao powder (100% raw cacao and certified organic)
½ cup coconut flour
2 ½ teaspoons gluten-free baking powder
pinch of sea salt
6 organic eggs
½ cup raw honey or maple syrup
125 ml extra virgin olive oil
125 ml coconut milk
2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste

Method

Preheat oven to 160C (fan oven)
Combine the cacao, coconut flour, baking powder and sea salt into a mixing bowl
Add the eggs, honey, vanilla, coconut milk and olive oil
Mix well until smooth and combined (a whisk works well for this)
Pour into a 20cm baking tin lined with baking paper
Bake the cake for 55-60 minutes or until cooked through (test after 45 mins as oven temperatures may vary)
Remove from the oven and cool
Serve with raspberries for an extra antioxidant boost and some Greek yogurt if desired.

More About Marion Gluck

The Marion Gluck Clinic is the UK's leading medical clinic that pioneered the use of bioidentical hormones to treat perimenopause (menopause transition), menopause, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and other hormone related issues. The clinic also treats andropause and provides testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) for men. Headed up by Dr. Marion Gluck herself, the clinic uses her method of bioidentical hormonal treatment to rebalance hormones to improve wellbeing, quality of life and to slow down ageing. For more information please visit https://www.mariongluckclinic.com/

HEALTH