Listen in people, this is serious, because I LOVE COFFEE
Last weekend my wife said “don’t forget, we’re going to a sound bath today”. “I’ve had a cold shower” says I. “stop taking the p…, you said you’d come”. I did didn’t I? You know what? There are worse things I could be doing on a Saturday afternoon; shopping, DIY, shopping for DIY, decorating….. So off we went. Oh, what’s a sound bath? Errr not sure. I did ask the same question but, redacting the minor domestic, it’s something to do with yoga. My wife is into yoga.
We arrive, on the last minute as usual. I’m not driving. We’re at an industrial unit on the outskirts of the city in a place called Salford. It’s an old industrial unit borderline derelict I’d say. But what do I know? We go inside carrying our yoga mats. Carrying yoga mats seems to be like carrying a designer handbag nowadays, or is that just me? Wifey and the other people attending look very boho trendy. I look like someone’s husband, who’d rather be at home watching footy, carrying a rolled up mat. Hey Ho.
Anyway, and there is a point to all this and cacao so bear with me. Or don’t and miss out.
The sound bath is run by a very cool guy and his, I think girlfriend who’s Australian. They look like yoga types, He had the beard, the long hair tied in a bun, white baggy yoga pants and white T-shirt. Girlfriend/joint presenter also had that look, you know, attractive and healthy without trying, also wearing a white floaty garment that was very modest and plain, in true yogi fashion. But somehow not. Modest or plain I mean,
Any way our mats were placed in a circle with our presenters at the head of the circle. They sat in sort of a shrine. They were surrounded by some glass bowls, those smelly sticks and she had like a recorder, the musical instrument you played at school not a sound device!
At last it all began
We did some “breathwork”. Breathing at different speeds and rhythms coupled with holding of breath for different lengths of time. Good stuff. I know about breathwork and how good it is for you and why you should do it . But not now eh?
Then we did the CACAO CEREMONY. Paper cups of what looked like hot chocolate were passed around the circle and we all had to look at it but not drink it it. I really needed to drink it. To get warm. The place was absolutely freezing after they turned the industrial fan heaters off. Whilst it was being passed around we were told about the magical properties of this “hot chocolate” blah blah I’m afraid mostly. Then we were told we could buy it afterwards and that there’s was the best on the planet. Didn’t see that one coming did you? Anyway even though it was now lukewarm I liked it and vowed that would be my souvenir takeaway to support what they were doing.
The SOUND BATH came next. It was basically a meditation guided by our presenter, which I have no problem with as again meditation is good for you, you should do some, it has benefits. But, not now eh? We were all lying down for the meditation, all ? I think a couple sat up and did it hardcore. If I sat cross legged for two hours I’d be paralysed from the waist down, such is my circulation. Anyway this all went on with the usual floaty yoga music playing in the background. Except it wasn’t. Playing in the background I mean. Well it was but it was all coming from the floaty Australian girl and her glass pots and school recorder. AMAZING. That’s all I can say.
But in my life “As one door closes, another one hits you in the face”. It was so cold I was shivering. The fleecy blanket wifey brought for me was about as big as a hand towel and just covered my feet. I also had to get up and have a wee before it all finished; Aged 62, cold get over it.
Anyway it came to an end and it had truly affected some people who shared stuff with the circle. I think it would’ve affected me more too but I was more concerned with not dying of exposure and becoming incontinent than clearing my mind.
CACAO TIME. First things first. Soup to get warm as is the norm the soup was something like “blue unicorn tears mixed with amazonian medicinal herbs collected this morning soup” Butternut squash in other words. Nice though. Whilst eating my soup with magical anti ageing bread I googled Cacao, WOW. I say, WOW!
- It’s a proper Superfood
- Its anti ageing. A diet high in cacao and flavonoids may help to protect against the signs of ageing by preventing water loss from the skin and increasing collagen production. Water and collagen are essential components for maintaining skin tone and elasticity – a loss of these can lead to skin that looks dry and aged. Cacao intake may also help to reduce sensitivity to skin damaging UV light.
- Can prevent cognitive decline. Cacao powder, as well as cacao nibs (and chocolate) contain caffeine which is thought to have a neuroprotective effect when consumed in moderation. Research suggests that drinking 2-4 cups of coffee a day may help to prevent cognitive decline associated with ageing. The mechanism of this is likely related to the inflammation reducing properties of caffeine. A possible relationship between caffeine consumption and the gut microbiome is also being established.
- Anti inflammatory. Flavonoids can be used to help reduce the formation of free radicals. However, as we are continuously exposed to free radicals, it’s also important to fight any pre-existing damage caused by them. Cacao plays a role in fighting the inflammation caused by free-radical damage. The flavonoids in cacao help to stimulate the parts of the immune system that help to catch and destroy health-harming cells.
- Antioxidant. Cacao contains flavonoids, a compound found naturally in plant-based products. These flavonoids help to fight the formation of health-harming ‘free radicals’ – high levels of free radicals can lead to cellular damage and subsequent inflammation. Sources of free radicals include normal metabolic processes in the body, as well as external stressors such as pollution, poor diet, and smoking.
- Lowers blood pressure. Cacao powder is packed with flavonoids, which have been shown to help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to your brain and heart, and help prevent blood clots.
- Reduces Diabetes risk. The antioxidants in cacao and cocoa may affect how your body responds to insulin, which could lower your chances of diabetes. Research shows the flavonoids in cacao may also improve your insulin resistance or change the way your body metabolizes glucose if you already have diabetes or prediabetes.
- Lowers risk of heart disease, The antioxidants in cacao and cocoa may affect how your body responds to insulin, which could lower your chances of diabetes. Research shows the flavonoids in cacao may also improve your insulin resistance or change the way your body metabolizes glucose if you already have diabetes or prediabetes.
- Improves Brain function. A specific flavonoid in cacao called epicatechin may help with some parts of your brain health, including cognition and blood flow, which could lower your risk of getting dementia. But we need more research before we can say for sure.
- Improves mood. Cacao has several chemical compounds that could give you a boost, including flavonoids, caffeine, serotonin, and tryptophan. A survey of more than 13,600 adults in the U.S. found that eating dark chocolate, which has many of the same compounds as cacao powder, may make you less likely to have symptoms of depression. But long-term research is needed to confirm the findings.
Who knew?
However, in my life “As one door closes, another one hits you in the face”.
Went to bouncy floaty Aussie yoga girl to buy some, she told all about it and how she knew the family that made it etc… Half a kilo….£45.
Another WOW! but I bought it. It will probably be part of my regimen from now on and I’m now glad you know about it too