I looked into significantly supplementing cocoa into my diet a couple years back for this very reason. However, after researching, I decided it wasn't the risk because of contamination of heavy metals. You can't easily source cacao from safe areas, because of the homogenization of the industry. Cocoa manufacturers buy and mix product from around the world, not only because of different growing seasons so that they always have a good supply, but to ensure that their product always tastes consistently. If you search on "cocoa contamination," you'll find dozens of links.
I would highly recommend melatonin supplementation instead of cacao. The effects are much, much more profound than anything you might experience from cacao. The benefits of melatonin on sleep are the least of its effects, although you must take it in dosages greater than what is typically offered in "sleep aids." I take 20-30mg nightly. Although I have only been taking it for about three weeks at this level, I will say that the changes to my health are shockingly amazing...too much for me to detail here. Plug in "melatonin" along with various health concerns into a search, and you will get many results.
Melatonin has no negative feedback loop as with other hormones, so it is impossible to take too much.
I looked into significantly supplementing cocoa into my diet a couple years back for this very reason. However, after researching, I decided it wasn't the risk because of contamination of heavy metals. You can't easily source cacao from safe areas, because of the homogenization of the industry. Cocoa manufacturers buy and mix product from around the world, not only because of different growing seasons so that they always have a good supply, but to ensure that their product always tastes consistently. If you search on "cocoa contamination," you'll find dozens of links.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0889157517302909
I drink cacao at least three times a day. At my age I need all the regeneration I can get! And I sleep well, too.
I would highly recommend melatonin supplementation instead of cacao. The effects are much, much more profound than anything you might experience from cacao. The benefits of melatonin on sleep are the least of its effects, although you must take it in dosages greater than what is typically offered in "sleep aids." I take 20-30mg nightly. Although I have only been taking it for about three weeks at this level, I will say that the changes to my health are shockingly amazing...too much for me to detail here. Plug in "melatonin" along with various health concerns into a search, and you will get many results.
Melatonin has no negative feedback loop as with other hormones, so it is impossible to take too much.
Melatonin and stem cells: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35216086/