Health benefits of cocoa include decreased inflammation, improved heart and brain health and blood sugar and weight control.
Cocoa is thought to have first been used by the Maya civilization of Central America.
It was introduced to Europe by Spanish conquerors in the 16th century and quickly became popular as a health-promoting medicine.
Cocoa powder is made by crushing beans and removing the fat or cocoa butter. สมัคร ufabet
Polyphenols are naturally occurring antioxidants found in foods like fruits, vegetables, tea, chocolate and wine.
They have been linked to numerous health benefits. Including reduced inflammation, better blood flow, lower blood pressure and improved cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
Cocoa is one of the richest sources of polyphenols. It’s especially abundant in flavanols, which have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
However, processing and heating can cause it to lose its beneficial properties. It’s also often treated with alkaline to reduce bitterness, which results in a 60% decrease in flavanol content .
So while is a great source of polyphenols, not all products containing will provide the same benefits.
Powdered form and in the form of dark chocolate, may be able to help lower blood pressure.
This effect was first noted in the cocoa-drinking island people of Central America, who had much lower blood pressure than their non-cocoa-drinking mainland relatives.
The flavanols in cocoa are thought to improve nitric oxide levels in the blood, which can enhance the function of your blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.
One review analyzed 35 clinical trials that. Provided participants with 0.05–3.7 ounces (1.4–105 grams) of products, or roughly 30–1,218 mg of flavanols. It found that produced a small but significant reduction of 2 mmHg in blood pressure.