Cancer survivors learn the benefits of cacao

As the month of October comes to an end, breast cancer survivors, cancer awareness advocates and volunteers celebrated life with empowerment, chocolate and Cebu’s chocolate queen Racquel Choa inside Casa de Cacao in Casal’s Village, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

More than 10 breast cancer survivors and several volunteers from breast cancer support group ICanServe Foundation learned about the health benefits of pure, tablea chocolate (cacao) when they visited Choa’s chocolate factory on Thursday.

For four years, the brand ambassadress of Philippine Daily Inquirer, Choa, is an active advocate in women empowerment and raising awareness on cancer by inviting stakeholders and concerned individuals inside her chocolate boutique house.

The owner and founder of chocolate shop Rafle Gourmet Inc., the mother retail of The Chocolate Chamber, told Cebu Daily News that following the success of her life as a
renowned chocolatier, it dawned on her to help women and cancer patients alike.

“I’m a woman who wanted other women to be empowered too. I can also imagine myself, (in the shoes of breast cancer patients). Especially nowadays, given that breast cancer is an attack that you don’t know. For me, I want to support and raise the level of breast cancer awareness by talking and opening up with them,” said Choa.

Around four in the afternoon, pastries and tablea drinks she concocted personally were served to patients and volunteers, who all expressed their joy in tasting something as sweet as conquering the fight against breast cancer.

“I learned from them that when you’re battling cancer, you have a strict, rigid dietary prescription. Most of which prohibits (the intake) of sugar, but pure cacao actually has no sugar content at all. Inviting them to eat our pure chocolate treats without having to worry over health concerns fulfills me,” Choa said.

While her visitors are helping themselves with pure tablea cakes and different flavors of cocoa drinks, locally known as sikwate, Chua began to share her story on discovering how cacao seeds help in stopping the spread of breast cancer.

“I read a health book which says that several components found in cacao can help in stopping the spread of cancer (any kinds), one of them is antioxidant. Cacao is very rich in antioxidant,” Choa told her guests.

She also said that contrary to recent findings, cacao products which are processed meticulously and correctly do not carry any carcinogenic substances.

“We learned that the carcinogenic components in cacao beans are found in their shells. Commercially processed chocolates do not take away the shells, and the entire bean is placed inside the grinding machine. Another is that they sometimes over roast or under roast the seeds, and that too can lead to cancer. Ours (Rafle Gourmet Incorporated), we do it in the traditional way,” stated Choa.

She added that after her “eureka moment,” she wanted to share her knowledge to everyone else, specifically to cancer patients.

“I am now very passionate to support them especially that we discovered these components in cacao. When I read it, I said to myself, ‘I need to share this,’” stated Choa.

In line with her advocacy, she said that her company, The Chocolate Chamber, will grant all breast cancer patients 20 percent discount whenever they buy their unsweetened or pure cacao products.

Choa also shared how the traditional means in grinding, roasting and creating tablea bars and tablets benefit the mental health of an individual.

“Empowered women and cancer patients also need emotional support – from their husbands and families. And they can also get it from creating tablea products and drinks. Personally, I find it relaxing, you know, all I focus and think of is my chocolate creation,” described Choa, who was diagnosed of bipolarity in 2007.