To Cacao or Not to Cacao

I've recently received a ton of questions about cacao and whether it's Bright Line Eating friendly. My answer is nuanced and has everything to do with how the brain works. It’s all in this week's vlog!
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[@jenitidbitz]

Love this Susan. So grateful there are no police. My inner parts appreciate the freedom to use my own inner guidance and ability to check myself.

[@asteriagency9683]

I have incorporated 100% cocoa (no sugar) into my Bright Line Eating. It is not triggering for me. I'm an 8 on the ss. Sometimes I forget it's there, so I know it's not a problem for me

[@Brightlineeating]

Thanks for sharing what's working for you! 💛

[@angelsandaliens7692]

Me too.

[@tjrothausen]

Me too! Works for me!

[@user-sf7fm1bi1p]

Me too. I take it in the morning in place of coffee and I don't eat anything alongside with it so maybe the addiction-promoting effects of the stimulant in it are not as much of an issue.

[@odettewade6998]

Your explanation scientific and more has answered the question for me. Thank you. One battle I understand a little more.

[@elizabethsherwood-smith3712]

Really enjoyed this to thank you Susan, brilliant explanation, felt like another piece went click for me in the puzzle of understanding food addiction!! I watch all your vlogs, and have lost and kept off 30lbs, with varying patches of clean bright lines!!

[@Brightlineeating]

Way to go, Lizzie!

[@rochelle4371]

I don't believe there's any hope of my "brain healing" anyway, because if SPT's brain hasn't healed by now, after doing BLE for so long, what hope is there for me or anybody? Maybe the brain never really heals. Last week's vlog, for example, was the most demotivating one for me thus far, because if she can't do this perfectly, the one who wrote the book and designed the Boot Camp, and whose example thousands depend upon, etc., what hope is there for little me?! I say this without any sort of ill will to my voice, by the way - I absolutely love SPT and the concept behind BLE, and I'm so thankful for this incredible guideline. I just have yet to see or hear about even ONE example of a "healed brain" that never craves NMF ever again.

[@madddoll8685]

Look into HDE (hunger directed eating by Josie Spinardi). It feels more realistic and sustainable to me. The restriction/diet mindset is what doesn't work.

[@Brightlineeating]

Hi Rochelle! We appreciate you sharing your thoughts here and have passed your remarks along to the team. What you've expressed is important and we hear you! 💓

[@katenash8045]

Rochelle I may not be fully healed but life is so so much better for me now than it was a year ago, b fore boot camp, etc. I am healing, for sure.

[@Brightlineeating]

So happy for you Kate! 💛

[@christinaa3160]

As a 10+ on the SS, being on BLE has proven healing for me 🌷 I’m grateful that my mum-in-law (also a 10 on SS) recommended the book! I just love that food doesn’t control me anymore. I just don’t think about it and I’m much calmer and balanced overall... but I know it’s hard. The key to my success was creating a meal plan for the week, committing to it in writing and so even the thought “what should I eat today” was removed 👈 this especially helps my ‘BLE brain’ heal. The times that I wanted to eat NMF were clearly emotionally draining bad days, which I now translate to “🚨 its a bunny slipper day” instead of resulting to food for comfort.

[@KhosiF]

Thank you Susan for clarifying this, I don’t like chocolate and I would not even experiment with it👏👏👏no need to mess with my food peace...blessings and love to you my Susan❤️❤️❤️

[@lizhillbrand7692]

My parents house had an attached small candy store where they sold homemade chocolates that my dad made in the basement workshop. I still remember the aroma of chocolate wafting up through the registers… seriously addictive substance and no I do not consume chocolate in any of its forms. But I do enjoy the smell!

[@lizhillbrand7692]

You are such an incredible human ❤️❤️

[@Gracescozycorner]

It never fails... whenever I'm struggling or questioning something in my bright lines, I either run across it in the book, or you mention it in a vlog. I was just thinking about using cacao nibs and now I think I'll pass on it because I've had self-control issues with it in the past. Thank you! I've only been doing this new lifestyle for 71 days, but it has changed my life and my mental process with food. I've lost over 42lbs but more than that food does not rule me anymore! 😂 Btw, the fortress concept was a complete breakthrough for me. I'm very grateful. Thank you!

[@Brightlineeating]

Boom! 🔥 Way to go, Grace!

[@christinaa3160]

I came to this vlog as I had guests over last night, who wanted to have hot chocolate. I unconsciously and without thought created a mix of raw cacao powder, sugar & plant-based milk for my guests and thought nothing of it (I was happy not having any, during and after). But today I’m thinking about it 👉 and the result was 100% the smell, which my brain translated to 🚨 CHOCOLATE. And so I’m really happy to have seen this video which helped me decide that for me, I don’t even need to try the experiment -->> raw cacao powder is NMF. And I’m ok with that.

[@Brightlineeating]

Thank you for sharing, Chrissy! 💕 It's wonderful to learn what works and doesn't work for us!

[@debraanchante3661]

So I’m assuming that this goes for any NMF? Like when I’m driving home from Costco with a slice of Costco pizza in my car.. not for me, but for my husband.. and it smells so delicious.. is my brain giving me a shot of dopamine? Even if I’m not eating it!! I always knew that all I had to do was look at junk food and I’d gain weight, but now I can’t even smell it?? How am I ever going to go to a movie again with that popcorn smell wafting throughout the theatre? Is there any hope?

[@thoughtfulpro371]

Chocolate, and any substrate of the plant of origin is a psychotropic stimulant-plain and clear. Make if that what you will. My two cents.. The environmental impacts, humanitarian issues and addictive qualities, and considerations around chocolate are well documented and vast. Just as they are around sugar, flours, refined products in general, alcohol & caffeine. There’s no denying it. For anyone who disagrees or feels triggered by this information-ask why. This is a great video, you are an immense blessing SPT. 🕉🕉🕉💟💟💟

[@sarahjohnson9267]

I really think that cocoa powder, which is what I've used fairly regularly. I haven't used any raw cacao. I am a 10 on susceptibility scale. I have a totally different response to it now. There isn't fat, no sugar etc. I feel like that was my major issue. I do limit it, I might eat it once a week. i don't think I can even smell it until it's ready to eat.

[@elizaphan4696]

Beautiful

[@odettewade6998]

I made cacao nibs to help me but upset people in the group. They are bitter and a few curbs the need. I don't use it as a powder. I am in a turbulent tornado as to can I or not

[@celenemichalchavez9907]

I completely understand that cacao can cause addiction and increase the desire for other foods. However, if a person is not eating trigger foods (like Susan) how is it that her brain has not healed and her bright lines are still being broken? I’m seriously asking

[@Brightlineeating]

Susan is extremely high on the susceptibly scale. (She often says she's a 10++++++) Food is very nuanced and we can experience an abundance of food cues from many and varied things in our environment, that if we are not vigilant, will set us on a path that creates an opening to one of those “unused but still there” neural pathways.

[@barbarajustham275]

So if I see, the cravings will start? 😲

[@stellasciolino498]

I just came across this video. Are unsweetened cocoa nibs allowed? Thanks!

[@Brightlineeating]

Raw unsweetened cocoa nibs are not acceptable on the BLE food plan. Susan refers to cocoa in any form as akin to crack cocaine-just as addictive! Your cravings don’t really stand a chance of going away if you’re eating things that continue to activate or maintain addictive systems in your body. In the long run, it will only hinder your goals. 🥰

[@Lucialearning]

I understand all of this. So then I need to ask, why is coffee allowed? Isn’t it all the same reasons? Stimulant, and previously associated with cream and sugar.

[@Brightlineeating]

Hi Rychenannalise! Coffee is okay in Bright Line Eating, so long as you drink it black, and keep it to one or two cups per day. Keep in mind that caffeine is a drug, so it will release unnatural levels of dopamine into that pleasure/reward center you’re trying to let heal. Excessive caffeine intake is definitely not a good idea. The other consideration is many of us are used to dumping sugar and cream into coffee. Sugar is obviously out, and so are artificial sweeteners, but milk or cream is also adding calories outside of a meal, so that’s out too. So if you can drink your coffee black, then by all means, go ahead.

[@Godblessed2]

People like to hear good news about their bad habits which is why they like to hear that chocolate and wine are good for you! Lol

[@ctgrandmalaura]

Don’t ever visit Hershey Park!

[@Brightlineeating]

Noted, lol!! ;)

[@Jaytee2988]

What is this brain healing I hear about cacao?