Article Contributed on: 6/26/2009 3:23:02 PM
If it looks like chocolate and tastes like chocolate, it must be chocolate.
And Tyler Braithwaite's Endurance Mix for Athletes contains plenty of it - the difference being, he emphasizes, it's nutritious chocolate.
The 33-year-old Littleton native was touting the health benefits of the cacao bean at Aspen Grove Farmers Market in Littleton June 24.
"There are all kinds of nutrients in chocolate, and it's not packed with caffeine," said Braithwaite, who will graduate with a degree from Metro State University in human performance and integrative health next year.
He said chocolate is naturally full of minerals such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese.
"It has theobromine, which is a stimulant that activates the metabolism without affecting the nervous system," he said.
As people stopped at his booth and asked about his Endurance Mix, he offered them a raw cacao bean, warning, "It doesn't taste like chocolate, it's more of a nutty taste."
He offered curious customers a taste of the chocolate-covered cacao nibs that make up the bulk of his various mixes that are sold in 8-ounce and larger bags.
One woman said, "Hmmm, they're crunchy and sweet."
Braithwaite said he got started in manufacturing his own nutritious snacks after a stint selling nutritional supplements.
"I started doing research and reading up on what the ingredients were," he said.
After talking with a chiropractor friend, he was inspired to look for nutrition in food mixes rather than in pill form, which led to the formation in 2003 of his Wellspring Wellness business.
His Power Nutrition products include the athlete's mix and a product he calls "Bliss Mix," which includes yogurt-covered Himalayan raisins and dark chocolate cacao nibs.
The Endurance Mix includes chocolate-covered cacao nibs, crimson raisins and goji berries from the Himalayas, blueberries from Oregon and soy nuts.
"I was already interested in health and wellness, so when I saw the health benefits of cacao, I decided I needed to become an importer. After doing more research I realized the prices were better if I went directly through farmers and co-ops," said Braithwaite.
In addition to the berries and raisins, he discovered raisins that are as big as peanuts, in the Himalayas and gets his cacao from Ecuador.
Although some exporters have representatives that speak English, he said he felt like he was missing out on some contacts because of a language barrier.
The father of three said he doesn't want to go into debt and has only one credit card. He works two Farmers' Markets a week, attends school and has a detox cleansing machine that he promotes to individuals and health providers.
The Chatfield High School graduate said a typical day finds him learning about new products and information in the industry, studying for school and taking care of his family.
His products are available at Level 7 Fitness, 5856 S. Lowell Blvd. and The Agency Bike + Board, 5935 S. Zang St. Unit 11, both in Littleton.
In the future he hopes to be able to sponsor a sports team and have a wider variety of products for athletes, but he said he also was leery of growing too fast.
"I didn't realize that I wanted to be a business person, I just wanted to do something I was passionate about. It's fun to talk about something everyone loves. I'm not a millionaire, but I'm happy," he said.
more info
Tyler Braithwaite can be reached at 303-587-1507 or by e-mail at wellspringwellness@gmail.com or visit www.wellspringdaily.com.