10 Benefits of cocoa (cocoa beans) for health

Cocoa is the origin of the chocolate you enjoy, whether in the form of bars or drinks. Behind the unpopularity of the fruit, in fact there are a myriad of good benefits of cocoa for the health of the body that you may not have thought before.

What is cocoa?

Source: Briya Freeman

Cocoa is the purest form of chocolate than you normally consume. Cocoa is the seed of a plant Theoboroma cacao. This plant produces fairly large fruit and each contains 20 to 60 seeds covered with white flesh. Unlike processed chocolate, this fruit has a taste that is sometimes sweet and sometimes sour.

So, it can be concluded that cocoa is the seed from the cocoa pod which is still raw and not yet processed. The raw fruit seeds contain the highest antioxidants compared to those that have been processed.

In addition, these fruit seeds are also a source of monounsaturated fat which is very good for health. In fact, the seeds also contain vitamins, minerals, fiber, natural carbohydrates, and protein which are good for health.

Nutritional content of cocoa

Source: Perfect Daily Grind

Raw cocoa beans taste like dark chocolate, but a little more bitter. In 100 grams of crushed cocoa beans, various nutrients are contained, namely:

• 228 grams of calories
• 14 grams of fat
• 0 mg cholesterol
• 21 mg sodium
• 58 grams of carbohydrates
• 20 grams of protein
• 2 grams of sugar
• 33 grams of dietary fiber
• 13% calcium
• 77% iron

Cocoa bean processing

After the seeds of this one plant are harvested, there are several processing steps that will be carried out before being converted into other forms. The following are the steps for processing this fruit seed, namely:

Fermentation

First of all, the seeds that are still attached to the pulp will be put into a barrel which will be closed tightly. After that, the grains will be left in the vat for a few days so that microbes can eat the pulp and ferment the seeds. In this process, usually a distinctive chocolate taste and aroma will begin to appear.

Drying

After fermentation, all the seeds will be removed and dried for several days. After drying, the seeds are sorted and then distributed to the chocolate makers.

Roasting

These dry seeds will later be roasted and processed as needed. The roasting process is what usually starts to bring out the original chocolate flavor that you usually consume, which is the bitter taste.

Destruction

After roasting, the seeds will be crushed and separated from the outer shell. Once separated from the shell, the cocoa beans are called nibs. Nibs are usually smaller than the original seeds.

Milling

Milling is the final process in the processing of cocoa beans. The ground beans will turn into a powder that is ready to be processed into various market chocolate products. When it is ground, cocoa powder will usually be mixed with various other ingredients, such as vanilla, sugar, and milk.

Benefits of cocoa for health

While chocolate usually comes with a sweet taste thanks to the addition of butter, milk, and sugar, this is not the case for powdered cocoa. Cocoa powder is often processed into dark chocolate (dark chocolate), so that it still has a fairly original taste because other ingredients have not been added.

Before using it as an ingredient in cakes, ice cream, and various other favorite dishes, first take a look at some of the following benefits of powdered cocoa:

1. High in antioxidants

Cocoa powder is a food rich in flavonoids as part of polyphenol compounds. Both are natural antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances whose job is to ward off the bad effects of free radicals, which can trigger various diseases in the body.

These polyphenol compounds have been linked to a variety of health benefits. Starting from reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, lowering blood pressure, to increasing cholesterol and blood sugar levels in the body.

2. Reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke

Because of its high flavonoid content, cocoa powder is believed to reduce your chances of having a heart attack and stroke. The reason is, flavonoids will play a role in increasing nitric oxide in the blood which will dilate the arteries and blood vessels in the body, so that blood flow increases.

A study conducted by the British Cardiac Society on nearly 158,000 people found that eating lots of chocolate can actually lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. This is because cocoa is believed to be able to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) levels in the body.

3. Reducing symptoms of depression

Chocolate has long been known to improve one's mood. As it turns out, it is the cocoa powder that plays a big part in this. According to dr. Elson Haas, a book writerStaying Healthy with NutritionThis powder made from cocoa beans can improve mood and treat depression.

This positive effect is obtained from the content of flavanol compounds that are able to stabilize serotonin, a chemical in the body that plays a role in controlling emotions. Not only that, researchers from Michigan Medicine University of Michigan also said that cocoa powder can help the production of endorphins as forming mood good in the body.

A study contained inEuropean Academy of Nutritional Sciences helped prove this. As a result, the body health of elderly adult men who often eat chocolate tends to improve. This is also followed by improving psychological conditions.

4. Improve brain function

This chocolate-making powder has other benefits that are no less unique, namely to support various brain functions. This is because the polyphenol content in cocoa powder can reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases by improving brain function and blood flow in the body.

Polyphenol compounds flow with the blood to the brain. This process also involves biochemical work as a producer of neurons and important molecules to support brain function.

In addition, polyphenols can also affect the production of nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessel muscles and increases blood supply to the brain.

5. Lowering blood pressure

The flavonoids in cocoa powder are believed to improve nitric oxide levels in the blood. It also simultaneously improves blood vessel function and lowers blood pressure. In fact, findings from a study published in the Cochrane Library also support this claim.

According to him, the good effects of these flavonoids will be more visible when consumed by people who already have high blood pressure than those who don't. This effect is also more pronounced in older people than in those who are young.

6. Improve symptoms of type 2 diabetes

Although excessive chocolate consumption is not recommended for people with diabetes, in fact cocoa has promising benefits. The flavanol content as antioxidants in pure cocoa beans can actually help slow down digestion and absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine.

In addition, pure cocoa beans are also able to increase insulin secretion, reduce inflammation, and improve blood sugar control in the body. However, further research is needed to prove the benefits of this cocoa bean in people with diabetes.

7. Controlling body weight

A study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research found that cocoa is beneficial for weight control. These cocoa beans can help regulate energy in the body, reduce appetite, reduce inflammation, increase body fat burning, and increase feelings of fullness.

In addition, other studies have also found that people who eat chocolate more often have a lower body mass index than those who don't. In fact, there is a study that found that groups who ate more chocolate lost weight faster than those who didn't.

However, keep in mind that not all chocolates can have this effect. Chocolate, which already contains a lot of sugar and milk, is certainly not included in the category of healthy foods that can help you lose weight.

8. Maintain healthy teeth and bones

Several studies have found that cocoa can prevent cavities and gum disease. This is because cocoa beans contain compounds that contain antibacterial and compounds that can stimulate the immune system to maintain healthy teeth and mouth.

A study conducted on mice with bacteria in their mouths showed improvement in the condition. This was particularly evident in the reduction in cavities in the teeth compared to those with water alone. However, there have been no specific studies examining its use in humans.

Apart from maintaining healthy teeth, the polyphenol content in cocoa also has an equally useful effect. A person who eats cocoa extract usually has a smoother blood circulation in the skin. In addition, these cocoa beans can also improve and improve the surface texture of the skin and keep it hydrated.

9. Helps relieve asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that causes obstruction and inflammation in the airways. This respiratory disease is often even life threatening. Well, it turns out that a study reveals the benefits of cocoa for people who have asthma. This happens because of the antiama compounds in cocoa beans, namely theobromine and theophylline.

Theobromine is a compound similar to caffeine. These compounds usually help relieve persistent cough due to obstruction in the airway.

Meanwhile, theophylline is a compound that helps the lungs expand. When the lungs expand, automatically your airway is no longer blocked. In addition, this compound is also able to reduce inflammation, including in asthma. However, further research is needed to see the effects of cocoa in people with asthma.

10. Protect the body from cancer

The flavanol content in cocoa is believed to be able to protect the body from cancer. A study contained in Food and Chemical Toxicology found that cocoa beans have an antioxidant effect. That is, these compounds are able to protect cells against damage to reactive molecules, fight inflammation, inhibit the growth of cancer cells, and help prevent their spread.

Other studies conducted on humans have also found that compounds in cocoa extract can reduce the risk of breast, pancreatic, prostate, liver, colon and leukemia (blood cancer). Although there has been research that has been proven in humans, other research is still needed to strengthen it.

With the many benefits of cocoa, it never hurts to include this one ingredient in your daily diet.

Allergies due to cocoa

Even though it has a myriad of benefits, in fact cocoa can also have a different impact on some people. Just like any other food, cocoa can also cause allergies.

The Food and Drug Administration in the United States states that when these cocoa beans are turned into powder, their purity is no longer preserved. The reason is, when milled, the seeds will come into contact with the surface of the tool and many other substances.

In addition, keep in mind that these processed seeds into powder are often added with other ingredients, such as sugar, artificial sweeteners, milk, and nuts. Therefore, the possibility of allergies due to processed fruit seeds is quite common, not only because of the protein in cocoa. Other additives can also cause allergies.

Symptoms of a cocoa allergy

Food allergies are usually characterized by a variety of fairly obvious symptoms, such as:

• Headache
• Itchy rash
• Skin rash
• Heartburn

In fact, in quite extreme cases a person can experience anaphylactic reactions. Usually anaphylactic shock will be characterized by various symptoms, such as:

• Hard to breathe
• Dazed
• Blood pressure has dropped dramatically
• Chest pain
• Dizzy
• Heart beat
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Fainting

If anyone around you experiences any of these symptoms of this medical emergency, immediately rush that person to the nearest hospital.

Treatment for cocoa allergies

Usually before taking any treatment steps, the doctor will conduct an examination first to detect the cause of the allergy being experienced. Generally, the doctor will perform a physical examination and ask about your past history of allergies. After that, the doctor will recommend a blood or skin test to see if cocoa is indeed a trigger for your allergy.

After determining the cause, the doctor will prescribe a drug according to the severity of the allergy. Generally, your doctor will prescribe an antihistamine lotion or cream to treat your skin rash.

In addition, the doctor will also provide antacids or anti-diarrheal drugs to treat allergic diarrhea. Epinephrine injections may also be needed if you have severe allergies.

Prevent cocoa allergy

To prevent this one food allergy, of course, what you need to do is avoid various products that contain cocoa. Apart from that, you also need to be careful with the product cola because they usually have the same antigen, so they can cause the same allergic reaction.

Don't forget to always read food packaging labels before buying any product. Don't just buy it because this can lead to an allergic reaction in the body.

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