Cocoa Powder - Health Benefits

Cocoa powder drink is one of the most popular hot treats. The product is famous for its taste and healing qualities. Not only powder is produced from cocoa beans, but also chocolate. When using a bulk composition, you need to be careful, it is not recommended to abuse the drink. Otherwise, the drug can provoke an allergic reaction.

Cocoa Powder Manufacturing Process

1. The production of cocoa powder is not particularly difficult. To get a loose composition, beans are passed through a press, withstanding high temperature.
2. After the manipulation, the output is cocoa butter. Then take the cake and re-crush it into powder. After carrying out simple actions, a full-fledged loose composition of cocoa is obtained.
3. To make chocolate, cocoa butter, granulated sugar, vanilla powder and many other components are mixed in a common container. The sweet mass is packed in forms, then the mixture solidifies.

The effect of cocoa on the human body

• lowers the percentage of bad cholesterol;
• helps to cope with chronic fatigue;
• treats asthma and bronchitis;
• inhibits the formation of cancer cells;
• normalizes blood sugar;
• lowers blood pressure;
• Heals brain and heart cells
• burns fat.

Cocoa benefits for the body

1. The bean contains theobromine; the enzyme is considered an analogue of caffeine. The element contributes to the excitation of the nervous system, expands the coronary vessels and bronchi. Also, cocoa powder is rich in mineral and tannins, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins.
2. Since cocoa is the main ingredient for chocolate production, the powder contains hormones of happiness (endorphins). Many people know that it is this component that helps to improve well-being, performance and mood. Endorphins also enhance mental processes.
3. When using cocoa, blood pressure decreases in people suffering from a similar problem. Polyphenols help to cope with an ailment. For this simple reason, experts strongly recommend that hypertensive patients add cocoa to their daily diet.
4. The epicachetin in cocoa helps prevent heart attacks and strokes. Also, with the systematic use of the drink, the risk of cancer formation is reduced. Cocoa prolongs human life.
5. A fragrant drink suppresses a depressive state. Flavonoids and antioxidants remove harmful enzymes from the body, protect cells from aging and wear. The product is recommended for women who have problems with the menstrual cycle.
6. Cocoa Powder Drink helps quick weight loss. The only condition is that sugar is not allowed to be added to the composition. Due to the low calorie content and usefulness of the product, the loss of extra pounds occurs as comfortable as possible for the body.
7. Cocoa is recommended for the elderly. Instead of sugar, you need to add fructose to the drink. The composition is often prepared in homemade milk. In this case, the drink will have in its arsenal not only iron and magnesium, but also a high calcium content.
8. As described earlier, cocoa normalizes blood pressure, has a beneficial effect on brain activity. Taken together, the entire usefulness of the product leads to improved memory and clarity of mind.In addition, with regular consumption of cocoa, enzymes help protect the skin from UV rays.

Cocoa Harm

1. Cocoa can be harmful if you drink in large quantities. Such aspects are caused by the fact that caffeine is present in the bulk composition. It is not recommended to give the product above the norm to small children, pregnant girls.
2. Consider these factors before drinking. If you have contraindications for caffeinated products, you should limit yourself to such components. Consult a specialist, and only then decide if you can drink cocoa.
3. An important aspect remains that cocoa beans are grown in disadvantaged countries. From this, the product is contained and processed in unsanitary conditions. These factors adversely affect beans. There are frequent cases when cockroaches are started during storage of the product.
4. Getting rid of pests is a time-consuming process. Bean plantations are also subjected to abundant spraying with pesticides. This plant culture is processed with a large number of chemicals, manipulations are carried out due to the pickiness of the plant.
5. After collecting the beans, the product is re-processed radiologically. Thus, manufacturers rid the composition of insects and pests. As a result, such processes can adversely affect human health when using cocoa.
6. Many manufacturers claim that it is their product that undergoes a thorough and safe processing of beans, which in the future will bring people only benefits. Unfortunately, not all components are tested. Some entrepreneurs are able to evade such operations.

Selection of quality cocoa powder

1. On the shelves of supermarkets there are 2 types of product. The first must be fully boiled, like natural coffee, the second can be dissolved in a hot liquid.
2. If you want the drink to bring obvious benefits to the body, you need to choose an insoluble powder. Also, the product should have a rich brown color, chocolate flavor.
3. Mass fraction of cocoa fat should exceed 14-16%. An expired product may have a non-uniform color and lack of a classic smell.

Contraindications to the use of cocoa

1. Cocoa is not recommended for young children who have not reached the age of three. Also, with caution, cocoa is needed for people suffering from diabetes, diarrhea, atherosclerosis and problems of the nervous system.
2. Cocoa is not recommended for people who have kidney disease and gout. Due to the presence of purine compounds in the product, the substance adversely affects some individuals.
3. Otherwise, the accumulation of uric acid in the body and an excess of salts in the bone tissue will be added to kidney disease. It is forbidden to drink a drink based on cocoa to those individuals who have high acidity in the stomach.
4. Otherwise, you can only aggravate the situation, as the product contributes to the excessive production of gastric secretion. It is also not recommended to drink cocoa for those people who have problems with constipation.
5. It is forbidden to use cocoa if a person has any heart disease. The drink has an exciting effect, which adversely affects health with such ailments. The product is also considered a strong allergen.
6. Cocoa powder is a product that contains excess caffeine. Drinking plenty of drinks can lead to frequent urination, irregular heart rhythms, and insomnia.
7. The product is detrimental to the health of people with anxiety disorders and incontinence. Also, if you consume cocoa during breastfeeding, the baby will have discomfort in the abdominal region.

Cocoa application in folk medicine

1. In medicine, cocoa is used quite often. The product copes with a lot of ailments. Basically, cocoa has proven itself in the treatment of colds.
2. Cocoa powder eliminates severe cough and phlegm. The product has an expectorant effect. Bronchitis, tonsillitis, pneumonia and flu are treated with cocoa butter. It is enough to combine the last component with hot milk.
3. Cocoa butter can be easily purchased at any pharmacy. The composition is recommended for use with a sore throat. As a prophylaxis against various viruses, oil is applied to the nasal mucosa. Cocoa powder has a beneficial effect on the digestive tract, normalizing its work.
4. The product is especially effective if you suffer from cholecystitis or gastric diseases. Also, the drink cleanses the blood, removing cholesterol. Candles based on cocoa butter and propolis are widely used in the treatment of hemorrhoids.
5. The tool can be made independently. The ratio of products is taken 10: 1 (cocoa butter, propolis). Connect the components, distribute into containers of a suitable shape. Send the composition to a cool place until it solidifies.
6. The course of treatment is about 1 month. Also, the tool copes with hemorrhoidal cones. Cocoa in combination with honey, butter and chicken yolks can cure a stomach ulcer.
7. The ingredients are mixed in equal proportions, the course lasts about a crescent. The tool should be taken 10-12 g. daily 6 times a day. With tuberculosis, the disease can be cured in the initial stages.
8. To prepare the medicine you need to combine 15 ml aloe juice (stems must be freshly picked, age from 3 years) with 100 gr. cocoa powder and 110 gr. homemade butter. The components are diluted with 250 ml. whole milk. Take 30-35 ml. funds every day 4 times.

If you really intend to improve your health with cocoa, choose a high quality product. Beans should be grown without the use of pesticides or similar chemicals. Low-quality cocoa powder is known to come from China.

Video: 20 healing properties of cocoa