Costa Rica’s Secret To Life – It grows on trees…

The fountain of youth is in Costa Rica. Forget everything else you thought you knew about other devices designed to stretch, perk, beautify, and resist the forces of gravity pulling in evil ways on fleshy parts of your body. Drop them all!

The secret to life is here!

And it grows on trees!

In fact in Costa Rica there are actually many “fountains of youth” and they all grow in trees.

The first is: CHOCOLATE.

Now before you throw that bag of M&M’s in your grocery cart, you have to know a few things. And one is: the bag of M&M’s in your grocery cart will kill you, not save you. So what is the deal with chocolate?

The funny thing is…you have to eat it raw. See, we humans, we tend to screw with nature, thus we muss it all up. Take, for example, our water supply. How many of you are drinking a “bottled water” today?

The list goes on and on. We were given all these great gifts, these delightful foods, and we process the hell out of them so they look so much unlike the product they used to be that we have to remold them back into the shape that form some sort of resemblance to the product they once were.

Molded chicken products come to mind.., boxed milk rings a bell.., fish sticks (I don’t get that one!)… Those are just a few.

There is no denying the fast food is here – the potato chips, the soda pop – Costa Rica has not been immune to the processed food generation. But it can be avoided because there is so much more, and so close. I get organic, fresh food delivered twice a week to my door. The delivery charge is about $2.00

Chocolate grows on trees in Costa Rica. It doesn’t take long to sniff out a friend or a friend of a friend who can get you the seeds. You can order it on-line and spend about $10.00 per 8 oz. In Costa Rica, I found a local at the beach who picks me a pod.

This person is not an anomaly; it’s not hard to find a local that will help you get some of these raw treats. In fact, ask and someone will find it for you. Once dried, you can peel off the skin (some do eat the skin) and magic! You are biting into one of the secrets of living happily, healthy, and full of vim and vigor.

“Fresh cacao beans are super-rich in antioxidants… They are one of the richest sources of antioxidants of any food… Twice that of red wine or green tea.” Naked Chocolate by David Wolfe and Shazzie.

The benefits go on and on, way too much to note here. I suppose we’ll have to have installments. But the point is, this is a simpler country and the raw, natural products – the ones that may end up saving us all in the end – still exist here.

And it’s not just chocolate. There’s the coconut, the avocado, and all sorts of funny fruits I still don’t know what to do with. And you should see our cows. Happy critters they are munching grass and milling about in fields. I think that’s the way IT was intended, wasn’t it?

Before it’s too late, pick one of the seeds that the heavenly tropics have to offer and eat the joy. Feel the difference.

And, it makes for one heck of a chocolate milk shake.

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Written by Susan Carmichael, who is a freelance writer living in Costa Rica. She has developed several education curriculums for children and adults. She has also taught journalism. Susan’s website is Mother Jungle, she has produced and hosted radio programs and documentaries in Costa Rica including a short story program called “In the Moment” and an hour long interview program focused on the issues of women called “A Womans Voice”.

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Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.