Impressive Cocoa Benefits
Health benefits of cocoa include relief from high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, constipation, diabetes, bronchial asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and various neurodegenerative diseases. It helps reduce the risk of cancer and improve cardiovascular as well as brain health. It also helps in treating copper deficiency, quick wound healing, and skincare. It has mood-enhancing properties and exerts protective effects against neurotoxicity.
💥What is Cocoa?
Cocoa refers to the low-fat constituent of the finely ground cacao beans, which are the fermented seeds of the cacao tree. The Latin name is Theobroma cacao, which translates to “Food of the Gods”. These ground beans, known as cocoa liquor or cocoa mass, also contain cocoa butter, which is a non-dairy, naturally occurring fat present in cacao beans. About 50-60 percent of cocoa liquor consists of cocoa butter.
The cacao tree stands about 12-25 feet tall and grows naturally in tropical climates. The fruit of the cocoa tree is a pod full of sweet pulp enfolding a cluster of about 20-40 cacao seeds.
💥Health Benefits of Cocoa💥
Let’s look at some of the major health benefits of cocoa.
🍀Lowers High Blood Pressure
Dr. Dirk Taubert in this research has found that consuming cocoa-containing foods helped lower blood pressure levels in a small sample size of participants. The flavonoid-rich bean aids in lowering blood pressure and improving the elasticity of blood vessels. Research shows positive changes in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure as a consequence of consuming cocoa-based products instead of black and green tea. These favorable changes are attributed to the presence of antioxidants in it that stimulates the production of nitric oxide, which helps keep blood vessels relaxed. Furthermore, this helps in maintaining a healthy circulatory system.
🍀Antioxidant Capacity
A comparative research study published in 2003 in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has made it evident that cocoa exhibits higher antioxidant activity than black tea, green tea, and red wine. Antioxidants help neutralize the oxygen-based free radicals that are present in the body. In addition to this, it is abundant in phenolic phytochemicals and possesses a high amount of flavonoids as well. Zinc, present in it, helps protect you against oxidative stress, which is a major cause behind accelerated aging.
🍀Improves Brain Health
Cocoa contains a high amount of flavonoids, like flavonol. Research led by Dr. Norman K. Hollenberg has suggested that flavanol may aid in maintaining a healthy brain. These neuroprotective benefits could also have favorable effects on learning and memory functions. The findings have advocated that the consumption of cocoa-based products enhances the flow of blood to the brain and they have provided evidence of the therapeutic potential for curing vascular disorders.
🍀Improves Cardiovascular Health
Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids – namely, procyanidin, catechin, and epicatechin, which have antioxidant properties. In moderate amounts, it can help in protecting the cells from damage, while strengthening the heart. It prevents the formation of fatal blood clots, which can lead to stroke or cardiac failure. The flavonoids possess anti-platelet aggregating effects and modulate primary hemostasis, which is the measure of time blood takes to clot. This ultimately helps prevent atherosclerosis and thrombosis.
🍀Balances Cholesterol Levels
A 2004 study shows that cocoa may possess hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic effects on both glucose and cholesterol levels, respectively. It helps reduce triglycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels in the body and gives a noteworthy rise to HDL (good) cholesterol levels in the body.
🍀Regulates Blood Sugar Levels
A research study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that consumption of cocoa powder is effective in improving insulin resistance and glucose metabolism. These mechanisms, in turn, aid in regulating sugar levels in the body. The proanthocyanidins derived from this product may help in inhibiting the cataract formation occasionally induced by diabetes, according to one animal study. The intake of this flavanol-rich bean also has therapeutic potential in improving the vascular function of diabetics on various medications
🍀Relieves Bronchial Asthma
Cacao beans contain xanthine and theophylline, which aid in relaxing bronchial spasms and opening constricted bronchial tubes. This gives it anti-asthmatic properties and is valuable in curing various allergies, including asthma and shortness of breath.