What are the Benefits of CBD Chocolate?
If you have a fondness for dark chocolate, you’ll enjoy these science-backed reasons to indulge guilt-free. You can reap the benefits of this superfood by consuming just a serving or two a day. The best news is you don’t have to eat super dark chocolate or pure cacao to reap the benefits; studies are showing that chocolate with 70% cacao content or higher can have many positive implications for your health. So, you can have your chocolate and enjoy it, too!
Cacao contains plant chemicals, called flavanols, which studies show can help to lower blood pressure as well as protect the heart. Flavanols can also increase insulin sensitivity, which could reduce the risk of diabetes if consumed in moderation over a long period of time. They can improve blood flow to the skin as well, which can increase skin hydration and also help protect the skin from sun damage. Dark chocolate contains at least twice as many flavanols as milk chocolate.
Dark chocolate is rich in essential minerals, including iron, copper, magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. One study even showed more antioxidant activity in dark chocolate than in blueberries and acai berries. Another study showed that dark chocolate could boost the immune system and reduce inflammation.
Perhaps most interestingly, consuming dark chocolate could have both short term and long term effects on brain function by increasing blood flow to the brain. This could enhance neuroplasticity, as well as improve cognition and memory.
Many of us intuitively know that dark chocolate can also be a major mood booster. There’s a reason why you may reach for a bar when you’re feeling sad or suffering from depression. Dark chocolate contains several biochemicals which have mood-boosting effects. It’s also a wonderful source of anandamide, also known as the “bliss molecule.” Learn more about anandamide’s effects on the brain here.
Vital Leaf exclusively formulates its dark chocolate bars with 73% cacao content to maximize the health benefits in every bite. These decadent chocolate bars maintain the nutritional benefits of dark chocolate, with the addition of CBD to create a daily dose of vitality that will surely leave your tastebuds satisfied.
Why CBD chocolate?
The marriage of CBD and chocolate is about so much more than taste. Both CBD and dark chocolate increase anandamide levels in the body. Chocolate happens to be the most anandamide-rich plant food in the world. Anandamide is one of the compounds in chocolate that may be associated with the good feeling you get when you eat it.
Anandamide is a neurotransmitter whose name is derived from ananda, the Sanskrit word for bliss. It is a cannabinoid, which means it can bind to cannabinoid receptors, which are located in the brain, central nervous system, major organs, skin, white blood cells, and urinary and digestive tracts. Because these receptors are located throughout the entire body, ingesting a substance that contains anandamide will produce widespread benefits.
Chocolate is widely known to enhance the effect of cannabinoids, even decreasing the amount of CBD that needs to be consumed to achieve the desired result. Additionally, the compounds in chocolate can help to slow the breakdown of anandamide, extending the period of time during which you’ll feel its effect. The lipids (fats) in chocolate will also aid in extending the duration of CBD’s effects, since CBD is fat-soluble.
Premium Ingredients, formulations, and sourcing
Vital Leaf sources cacao from regenerative farms in Ecuador that pay fair wages and support a community of people who are actively engaged in creating practices that conserve the local Chocóan rainforest, an area of immense biodiversity. Our goal is always to source ingredients that create a positive impact on the environment and the communities that we are connected to.
All of our products, including our CBD dark chocolate bars, are 100% gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and non-GMO.
Vital Leaf CBD Chocolate Bars
Vanilla Bean Crunch CBD Chocolate Bar
Are you a fan of the traditional popped rice chocolate crunch bars? This healthy twist on the classic Crunch Bar will satisfy your cravings and provide you with all of the health benefits of the CBD with dark chocolate pairing. This bar is made with 73% cacao, a dash of creamy vanilla bean, and infused with cannabinoid-rich broad-spectrum hemp extract, and sweetened with low-glycemic, organic coconut sugar.
Hazelnut & Sea Salt CBD Chocolate Bar
A little salty, a little sweet, this delightfully nutty chocolate bar is an ode to our home state of Oregon. It’s a sweet, smoky, and salty hazelnutty treat made with 73% cacao, infused with cannabinoid-rich broad-spectrum hemp extract, and sweetened with organic coconut sugar.
Classic Dark CBD Chocolate Bar
This artisanal, incredibly smooth, classic dark chocolate bar is sure to hit the spot. Handcrafted using only the finest ingredients, it contains a 73% cacao content, is infused with cannabinoid-rich broad-spectrum hemp extract, and is sweetened with low-glycemic, organic coconut sugar.