Cocoa Powder Benefits You Don’t Know!

Many of us are not aware of the benefits that cocoa powder can bring to us. In Malaysia, the entrance of cocoa powder is still very much in its infancy and has yet to reach or graze its maximum capacity out there.

But despite the cocoa powder being out there and being made available in Malaysia, many of us are still oblivious to the benefits that it may bring to you and your body in the sense of your physical health. Cocoa powder is mainly all solid constituents of the famous cocoa beans, inclusive of cocoa butter, a group of lipids that continue remaining solid at room temperature. Cocoa solids are very much a key ingredient of chocolate, chocolate syrup, and chocolate confections and such recipes.

Cocoa solids are also known as Cocoa liquor and also cocoa mass. Many different formulas for chocolate require the addition of more cocoa butter to cocoa liquor, increasing the overall total quantity of solids in the finished product. Many of the people out there tend to crave for chocolate but then avoid it because they are under the impression that it is fattening and unhealthy. Even though a lot of chocolate products are mostly unhealthy and calories dense, it comes down to the addition of extra substances such as sugar and not down to the cocoa itself. As a matter of fact, cocoa powder, which originates from the cocoa bean, is highly nutritious, and it may provide you with several health benefits. We will start with the nutritional value of the cocoa powder.

COCOA POWDER NUTRITIONAL FACTS
A 2 tablespoon serving of cocoa powder contains just about 25 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. It can also provide you with 3.6 grams of fiber, which is actually 14 percent of the daily value, and also 8 percent of the daily value of iron and 14 percent of the daily value of magnesium and overall. The cocoa powder is rich in minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium. It also contains vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and vitamin B6, E, and K. It is also a very good source of zinc, iron, as well as sodium while helping the body to gain energy, carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fibers. Cocoa powder contains 0 cholesterol. In addition to this, it also carries caffeine content. It tends to contain cocoa butter, which according to studies contains vitamin E, vitamin K, as well as fatty acids. It is a rare mixture of monounsaturated fats like oleic acid and as well as saturated fats, namely stearic acid and palmitic acid.

COCOA & ANTIOXIDANTS
A study has made it evident that cocoa powder tends to exhibit higher antioxidant activity in comparison to black tea, green tea, or even red wine. Antioxidants help your body to neutralize the oxygen based free radicals that are present in your body. In addition to this, it is very abundant in phenolic phytochemicals and possesses a high percentage of flavonoids as well. Zinc, which is also present in cocoa, helps protect your body against oxidative stress, which is a major cause of accelerated aging. Cocoa power also contains approximately about 43.6 milligrams of flavonoids per gram. Flavonoids are part of the powerful source of antioxidants known as polyphenols, and according to certain studies conducted, cocoa is one of if not the highest polyphenol containing foods out there in the market currently.



Besides that, hot cocoa also contains more antioxidants per cup than a glass of red wine or tea, and it has also been explained that it may even be the healthiest choice of the three available. It has also been stated that drinking cocoa can help you in fighting cancer, heart diseases and aging through the antioxidant boosting effect that it contains. People have also been warned that most of the commercial cocoa powders have the antioxidant containing flavonoids removed from it altogether because they taste bitter and therefore, in order to maintain the health boosting benefits, consider purchasing raw cocoa powder, which is a form of cocoa powder which is minimally processed cocoa powder.

LOWERS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Research has found that the consumption of foods containing cocoa helps lower blood pressure levels. Flavonoid rich cocoa tends to aid in lowering your blood pressure and in improving the elasticity of your blood vessels. Research also shows that there have been positive changes in the systolic and diastolic blood pressure as a feedback from your body for consuming cocoa based products instead of black or green tea. These favorable changes are attributed and directed to the presence of antioxidants in it that helps in stimulating the production of nitric oxide, which helps keep your blood vessels relaxed. Furthermore, this also tends to help your body in maintaining a healthy circulatory system.

IMPROVES BRAIN HEALTH
Besides that, cocoa powder also contains a high amount of flavonoids like flavanol and a research has also suggested that flavanol may actually aid you in maintaining a healthy brain. These neuroprotective benefits could also have certain favorable effects on your learning and memory functions. These findings have advocated that the intake of cocoa based products enhances and improves the flow of blood to the brain and they have also provided evidence of the therapeutic potential for possibly curing vascular disorders.

TREATS DIABETES
Another research study published also suggests that the consumption of cocoa powder is effective in improving insulin resistance as well as glucose metabolism. This, in turn, aids and helps in regulating the sugar levels in your body. The proanthocyanidins derived from it aids you in inhibiting the cataract formation occasionally caused by diabetes. The intake of this flavanol rich bean also has therapeutic potential in enhancing the vascular function of diabetics on various medications.

An investigative study has also confirmed that it releases protective antioxidant activity in the treatment of long term diabetic issues such as diabetic nephrotoxicity. Nephrotoxicity plays a key part in diabetes mellitus and it is the major cause of advanced renal diseases. Free radicals aggravate these diabetic complications by causing oxidative stress, leading to cell as well as tissue damage. The free radical scavenging activity of cacao powder has shown and proven therapeutic effects in treating and preventing this type of cellular injury.

SPEEDS UP HEALING
Cocoa extracts have also been trusted for their therapeutic and the properties in healing wounds in the manufacturing of natural medicinal products. This extracts help your body in preventing the development of various kinds of infections in your body. If it is consumed along with the appropriate medication, it has also been considered helpful in eliminating helicobacter pylori bacteria from the body altogether.

WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Another study has shown the potential benefits of cocoa in preventing high fat diet induced obesity. Its consumption helps in modulating lipid metabolism and reducing the synthesis and the transporting of fatty acids. It can also aid in improve thermogenesis, which is the mechanism of heat production in white adipose tissues and the liver.



ENHANCES MOOD
The consuming of cocoa powder has also shown antidepressant like effects on certain physiological processes of your body. Its flavanols help you in enhancing your mood, fight depression, and also to promote cognitive activities during persistent mental exertion. The availability of the neurochemical phenylethylamine in it also aids you in improving feelings of contentment as well as promoting aphrodisiac effects.

SKIN CARE
Research findings have also suggested that the consumption of flavanol rich cocoa helps in reducing the effects of UV-induced erythema, and decreasing skin roughness and scaling. It also helps you in enhancing skin elasticity, hydration, as well as density. Epicatechin present in cacao powder also helps in increasing the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, causing the healthy flow of blood in the dermal tissues, and protecting your body from endogenous photo protection. It is also often used in the preparation of various types of skin care products.

TREATS CONSTIPATION The consumption of cocoa powder releases therapeutic effects in treating chronic constipation and bowel function diseases in your body. According to a study conducted on pediatric patients, the consumption of fiber rich cocoa products resulted in a quicker colonic, rectal, as well as intestinal transit times. The regular consumption of cocoa enhances your bowel function. This is because it has the properties to help you reduce bowel movement time, increasing the frequency of bowel movements, as well as softens consistency of stool without causing any other side effects like gastrointestinal discomfort.