Cocoa Powder - Health Benefits And Contraindications

Mark Velov Author: Mark Velov Time for reading: ~3 minutes Last Updated: March 29, 2024
Cocoa Powder - Health Benefits And Contraindications

Cocoa has a number of useful properties for the human body, but also some contraindications for intake. When and for whom is cocoa powder useful and when is it harmful? Is cocoa suitable for children?

Cocoa is the beans of the cocoa tree. It contains about 300 substances that act differently on the human body. The beans themselves do not have a specific smell, the delicate aroma appears during their processing.

The benefits and harms of cocoa as a product are a topic of frequent debate, so we should pay attention to both the benefits and harms to the body, which are a consequence of taking cocoa powder in one form or another.

To fully enjoy the taste of cocoa drink, it is necessary to drink it from a thick-walled cup with unsweetened biscuits

Useful properties of cocoa powder

  • The pleasant drink, which is prepared from cocoa, stimulates the production of the hormone of happiness. The biologically active substances contained in the product significantly increase efficiency and have a positive effect on human mental activity.
  • Cocoa is known to stimulate brain function, relieve tension and improve mood.
  • Regular use of cocoa helps prevent the development of multiple sclerosis, dementia and diabetes.
  • Cocoa beans are very useful for people suffering from hypertension. The presence of polyphenols in them contributes a lot to stabilizing blood pressure, procyanidins effectively relieve stress. In addition, the latter have exceptional properties that rejuvenate facial skin and increase its elasticity. These substances are often used in the production of anti-wrinkle creams, many SPA centers offer baths and body masks based on cocoa powder.
  • Cocoa is good for and for the cardiovascular system.

 

Composition of cocoa

The main ingredients of cocoa powder are coffin (has a tonic effect) and theobromine (improves blood circulation). In addition to them, the product also contains:

  • vegetable proteins, fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, organic acids, starch, sugars, saturated fatty acids, tannins;
  • vitamins A, E, PP, group B, beta-carotene;
  • minerals: calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, chlorine, sulfur, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, fluorine, molybdenum.

Some important health elements are found in cocoa in larger quantities than in other products. For example, iron and zinc. To get the necessary dose of zinc, you can drink a few cups of cocoa a week and eat 2-3 pieces of quality dark chocolate every day.

Both the ancient Aztecs and Europe in the 14th-17th centuries, cocoa was considered a "love drink" that improved potency. It was also respected by the Emperor of the Etztecs, Montezuma, in whose harem there were 600 women, and by the legendary Casanova.

The caffeine in cocoa

We have already mentioned that one of the main ingredients in cocoa powder is caffeine. It is also the cause of a number of questions regarding the usefulness of cocoa products. We know that caffeine stimulates the body, but this is only the case when consumed in moderation. Drinking a small glass of cocoa drink will invigorate your body, because the caffeine content in such a dose is about 5 milligrams. If large amounts are taken, the effect may be reversed.

To prepare 1 kg of cocoa powder, 40 fruits of the chocolate tree or 1200 cocoa beans are needed.

Harm and contraindications for consumption of cocoa and cocoa products

With such positive effects on human health, you probably think that cocoa could not harm the body. However, it turns out that under certain conditions it is possible to observe negative consequences from the use of the product.

Cocoa beans contain purines, which are essential components of nucleic acids responsible for storing and transmitting genetic information. When excessively ingested, they contribute to the accumulation of uric acid in the body, to the deposition of salts in the joints, as well as to the development of diseases of the kidneys and bladder.

Cocoa products should not be used by people diagnosed with:
  • gout;
  • diabetes;
  • sclerosis;
  • atherosclerosis;
  • diarrhea;
  • kidney stone disease.

The high content of tannins in the composition of cocoa makes the product unsuitable for those who suffer from constipation.

Cocoa is a high-calorie product - 100 grams of beans contain 400 kcal. This makes it unsuitable for overweight people. A small portion in the form of a drink oversaturates, but we must say that in the commercial network can now be found and non-fat powdered alternatives. 

Another disadvantage, apart from the high caloric content, is the addiction to the drink. This can happen if you take more than 3 glasses daily.

Pregnant women, people with increased nervous excitement, prone to panic attacks and anxiety, as well as those suffering from gout should refrain from using the product.

We must also say that the use of cocoa can lead to allergic reactions.

 
More on the topic:
  • Cocoa butter

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