Unsweetened cacao (cocoa) powder is the defatted ground cacao bean - one of the most flavanol- and mineral-dense foods, exceptionally rich in magnesium, iron and copper.
Vitamins & minerals packed in relative to calories โ the single biggest driver of the score.
How much protein it delivers, by absolute grams and per calorie.
Dietary fiber for gut health, satiety and steadier blood sugar.
Fat quality โ unsaturated vs saturated, and trans-fat free.
Polyphenols, flavonoids and other beneficial plant compounds for this food group.
Low sugar with a high fiber-to-carb ratio scores best โ gentler on blood sugar.
Cacao (Theobroma cacao) seed has been consumed for ~4,000 years in Mesoamerica. Non-alkalized powder retains high levels of epicatechin and procyanidin flavanols linked to endothelial function, blood pressure and cognition; it is also among the densest plant sources of magnesium and copper.
Any time; pairing with fruit improves palatability without added sugar.
