The Wellness Mama Podcast

Chocolate As a Health Food: The Power of Chocolate + Adaptogens with Jonathan Pantalis

Katie Wells/Jonathan Pantalis Episode 943

Episode Highlights With Jonathan

  • How he almost opened a pie shop- a wild story and his journey into the world of chocolate 
  • What the real story of chocolate is, and all of the components that can be in chocolate 
  • The dark side of chocolate and how it can be a healthy food when it’s done right
  • How heavy metals can be in chocolate if it isn’t sourced well
  • Why you crave chocolate and why this might not be a bad thing
  • What true chocolate is and why raw, fresh cacao beans actually taste horrible 
  • When mold contamination can happen in the chocolate-making process and why a lot of chocolate has mold and heavy metals.
  • What theobromine is in chocolate, and how can this be beneficial 
  • The bliss molecules in chocolate that can support neurotransmitters and energy production
  • Why he isn’t a fan of alternative sweeteners in chocolate and what to watch out for
  • His take on monk fruit and how it can be used in a healthy way, as well as how it's grown makes a huge difference since it's technically a juice extract 
  • What fair trade actually means and why chocolate prices have tripled in the past few years
  • Why he uses ashwagandha, cordyceps, and reishi 
  • How certain adaptogens can help with cortisol and hormones
  • Why many products only contain trace amounts of adaptogens, even if they’re listed on the label

Resources Mentioned

People on this episode