Alistair and I met on a beach in Mexico in 2018, only to discover that our parents live ten minutes’ walk apart in Sydney, our fathers went to college together, and our mothers grew up in neighbouring suburbs in Brisbane, went to sister schools, and sledged each other mercilessly in 16-and-under softball.

This year we were home for Mother’s Day. Both our mothers like to celebrate by not celebrating - both flatly refuse breakfast in bed, which they find patronising and think they could make better themselves; presents must be small and preferably incidental; they would prefer a group activity to anything else.

Our families ate dinner together in the evening. Dessert was my Karkar Island cacao brownie with ice cream, raspberries, and chocolate sauce (Mexican Soma Cacao, coconut milk, coconut oil, and coconut sugar, all stirred on low heat). Everything was sweet and smooth as chocolate.

It strikes me that for a mother, every day is Mother’s Day.

For a woman, every day is Women’s Health Day.

We think every day is cacao day, and cacao can play a role in many parts of all women’s health.

Here are three examples:

HORMONAL BALANCE:
After ovulation, the level of oestrogen in a woman’s body drops, and the level of progesterone rises. Since oestrogen supports the production of dopamine and serotonin, this hormonal shift can create feelings of depletion, sadness, and fatigue. Cacao contains tryptophan and magnesium, both of which are essential for serotonin production, as well as PEA, which stimulates the release of dopamine. Many women find themselves craving chocolate during the luteal phase of their cycle and during menopause (another time when oestrogen levels drop) - this is not the gross indulgence society would have us think it; it’s the body seeking balance. Soma Cacao, by taking all the processed sugar and nasties out of chocolate, lets you listen to your body the way it would like to be heard.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH:
Cacao contains zinc, which is essential for healthy eggs and menstruation. It contains trace levels of copper, manganese and selenium, which are all vital for thyroid and hormonal health. It also contains a spectrum of antioxidants, which protect eggs and reproductive tissues from oxidative stress, which is particularly important for older women, or women with endometriosis or PCOS, who are trying to conceive. Cacao is also (wink, wink) an aphrodisiac, and along with maca, vitex, and raspberry leaf, is considered a fertility aid. Cacao is linked with fertility not just scientifically but also spiritually - the Aztec, Mayan, and Olmec fertility goddesses were all associated with cacao.

STRESS REGULATION:
Scientific consensus says that women are more sensitive to cortisol than men. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter linked with progesterone, buffers against cortisol. At times when women experience a sudden drop in progesterone (eg immediately before menstruation, post-birth, or perimenopause), we have less protection against cortisol, making our stress responses sharper and more pronounced. The modern world is a cortisol junket: overworking, excessive dieting, social pressures, overstimulation, noise exposure, and artificial light all drive up cortisol levels. No one thrives in a long-term high-stress environment, but women have to be perhaps even more cautious than men. Cacao contains magnesium which is vital for the production of GABA, antioxidants which reduce cellular stress loads, as well as theobromine, PEA, anandamide, and a whole scope of natural compounds that improve and regulate mood.

Ultimately, though, it’s important to remember that health is measured by science, but not necessarily made by it.

A natural, healthy life, with people and things we love, lots of sunshine, lots of cacao, a little music, laughter, nature, and rest are much better for you than any multivitamin.

Happiness is the best medicine. And if Soma Cacao contributes to your happiness, then amen! We’ve done our job already. All the science is just a bonus.