Top 11 Health Benefits Of Consuming Cocoa

Cocoa beans or cocoa is also known as cacao beans or cacao and is specially used in making chocolates and other chocolate products.
It is derived from the seeds of the cacao tree, also known as theobroma cacao. The name of the theobroma tree has been derived from the Greek words θεός (theos), which means “god,” and βρῶμα (broma), meaning “food.” which means”food of the gods.”

Cocoa was first cultivated in ancient South America, but now it has gained so much popularity all around the world that it is enjoyed with almost every single dessert. Cocoa serves a significant role in the chocolate industry. Cocoa beans are not just used in making chocolates but also many other things. It is used in making biscuits, candies, milk products as a coating on the top of cookies, cakes, and a lot more. Not only children but grown-ups enjoy chocolate a lot. One of the main characteristics of chocolate is that it can be enjoyed in its raw form and also with mixing with other food items too.

Cocoa beans are pretty bitter, but many people enjoy their raw form. But cocoa beans, when converted to cocoa powder, are mixed with many other alternatives like sugar to make them even tastier. Not just taste but cocoa is also enriched with an innumerable amount of benefits too.
Some of them are:-

1. Packed with numerous nutrients

There are numerous nutrients present in cocoa like Iron, Protein, zinc, magnesium, and fiber.

2. Stronger Immune System

Minerals like zinc and iron present in cocoa help give your immune system a boost and allow your body to function in a much better way.

3. Might prevent cancer

There are flavonols present in cocoa beans that act as antioxidants and help reduce the damage to cells. As we all know that cancer can develop from damaged cells, so indirectly, consumption of cocoa beans in any form might help in reducing the risk of cancer.

4. Limits the side effects of radiotherapy

Do you know that there are about 800,000 new cancers cases in India every year?
Only a cancer patient knows how hard it must be to go through all the changes during this period. In such a situation, cocoa helps lift their mood in the form of chocolate, but also, the selenium found in cocoa helps limit the side effect of radiotherapy.

5.Helps in healing your wounds much faster.

This is an uncommon use of cocoa, but it is true.
Dark Chocolate that is chocolate made with almost 90% cocoa is rich in zinc and other antioxidants and helps in maintaining normal blood pressure levels. Zinc helps heal wounds, while the maintained blood pressure level ensures the flow of oxygen and other minerals to the healing area.

6. Reduce Inflammation

Theobromine, a vicious, erratic compound obtained from cacao seeds, is present in cacao that helps in reducing inflammation.

7. Weight Loss and Control

Many people often avoid chocolate due to its weight-gaining nature but do you know that cocoa powder may help you in reducing and controlling weight? Cocoa helps in fat burning but also increases your body’s metabolism. The only thing you have to keep in mind is to consume good quality cocoa without any added sugar in it.

8. Acts as a natural antidepressant

Anandamide, a mood-boosting chemical present in cocoa, helps lift your mood and makes you feel ecstatic. Researchers have also found that cocoa also helps increase your dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins levels which makes you happier. So the next time you are feeling anxious or sad, you already know what you have to do, right?

9. Good for your skin

Polyphenols present in cocoa have been found to protect your skin from oxidation, will make it look youthful, and will also keep your skin looking glowing and give it an anti-aging look.
You can consume cocoa daily for happy and healthy skin or use a cocoa moisturizer or skin cream. You can also make your body moisturizer at home with the help of cocoa. You only need some ingredients and then mix them. Here is how:-
Take some Coconut oil and cocoa butter and blend them. Then add some essential oils according to you, and dan! Your homemade cocoa moisturizer is ready.
Please do not forget to do a patch test before applying it to your skin.

10. Better Muscle and Nerve Function

Zinc and Magnesium help in better regulation of the muscles present in our body. These minerals are present in abundant quantities in cocoa, which helps in keeping your muscles stronger and healthier and also helps in the better functioning of your nervous system.

11. Lower Risk of Heart Disease

Flavonols are a type of flavonoid found in dark chocolates ( which are made from cocoa beans), which help in protecting you from heart disease by lowering blood pressure, improving blood flow, and preventing cell destruction. The antioxidants and polyphenols present in cocoa powder also help in reducing blood sugar levels and improving your cholesterol level.

We can not consume cocoa in its raw form to make it suitable for our use; we have to convert it into cocoa powder.
Some simple steps are followed to convert cocoa beans into cocoa powder. They are:-

• Firstly the cocoa beans are roasted carefully without getting burnt.
• Then the shells are removed from the beans leaving only the cocoa nibs behind.
• Then the cocoa nibs are crushed into non-alcoholic cocoa liquor.
• Furthermore, the cocoa liquor is pressed to remove the cocoa butter, called the oil pressing method.
• Then the leftover solid mass is broken down to form the cocoa powder.

Cocoa powder is just as beneficial as cocoa; it contains all the nutrients present in cocoa beans.
But if you are not a huge chocolate lover or if you don’t want to try cocoa powder, then you can try our most precious product that is our specially curated chocolate black tea. Hot cocoa infused with fresh black tea leaves to give a rich chocolate flavor is a treat for all chai and chocolate lovers. Enriched with all the goodness of black tea and cocoa beans., our chocolate tea is made from fresh and healthy tea leaves and is rich in antioxidants which help in improving brain activity eliminating free radicals Boosts embolism and energy, and increasing your heart function.
This tea is curated especially for all my fellow chocolate lovers. Help your mood lift and feel more euphoric with our most beloved chocolate organic black tea.

By Smriti Nautiyal