17 Nov Cocao Powder – The Super Food
Super food powders are on the rise. Many of us are trying to improve our health with the aid of powders like super greens, Maca and Cocao. We can add them to smoothies, protein ball blends, our breakfasts or baking. Here is a little bit of insight to Cocao.
Where did it come from?
Cocao, which is also known as coca and cacoa is made from roasted and ground cocoa seeds that have been harvested from the Throbroma tree. The Theobroma tree grows within 20° of the equator and requires shade and humidity. It is said to have originated in South America and Mexico. The Olmec’s first discovered cocoa fruit and ate it in 1500-400 BC. Traditionally Aztecs would harvest the beans from their pods, ferment the beans, roast them, grind them into a paste, and mix them with water, added spices, chillies and herbs (Coe’s Theory). Cocoa was something you drank up until about 150 years ago.
Why is it a superfood?
Cocoa powder has a unique composition of fatty acids and antioxidants – giving cocoa a natural stability preventing oxidation
Antioxidant Properties:
- Polyphenols – Flavonoids (chemical compound found in plants)
- Vitamins E & C
Antioxidants can help protect cells against:
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Metabolic syndrome
Note: processing greatly reduces antioxidant concentration by more than 80%
How does it benefit you Nutritionally?
- 10g/day decreases↓ systolic blood pressure
- 6.3g/day consumed by adults with hypertension decreases ↓blood pressure and increases ↑ vasodilation
- 6.7g/day evidence of anti-inflammatory effects
- 10g/day increases ↑ cognitive performance
- 20g/day decreases ↓ cardiovascular problems in the overweight, healthy & obese
- 4g/day decreases ↓ risk of diabetes
- 46g/day (2 weeks) improved endothelial function
So overall about 5-10g/day or 30g/week shows evidence of positive health benefits
How does it benefit you psychologically?
Serotonin – calming/mood balance
Theobromine – the “love drug” /endorphins
Anandamide – Happiness/similar feelings to marijuana
Caffeine (moderate dosage) – increases ↑ mood having an aphrodisiac effect
Are there any negative impacts?
In some instances, there has been issues with:
- Headaches and migraines
- People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome – Not recommended
- People with reflux – Not recommended
BUT JUST TO BE CLEAR……. ?
Cocoa does not = chocolate. In fact, the dark brown, pleasantly bitter, chemically complex substance we know as chocolate bears little resemblance to the pulp surrounded seeds of the cocoa plant from which it is produced. One would never suspect that one could actually be derived from the other. To be called chocolate a product must simply contain the ingredient “cocoa”
“After water, cocoa is the single healthiest substance you can put in your mouth. It can easily replace a number of psychiatric drugs for mood, plus it produces the same chemistry in the brain that occurs when we fall in love.” Chris Kilham
