S imply finding ways of adding cocoa to your diet can make a huge impact on your health. However, eating cocoa with a bunch of processed sugar will negate any of the benefits that cocoa offers and dairy milk can make the antioxidants in cocoa not as effective. Enjoy the rich intense flavor of cocoa with anything including smoothies, coffee, or oatmeal by just adding a tablespoon of pure cocoa powder. Try some new recipes that use this ingredient in its raw form so that it can have the largest impact on your body. Other than its incredible flavor, there are many other impressive health benefits for cocoa.
Get Happy
If you struggle with mood regulation or you just need a mood boost, grab some cocoa. Researchers have described cocoa as a natural antidepressant that can healthily raise your happiness levels by interacting with your neurotransmitter systems to release dopamine, serotonin and endorphins. Cocoa contains the mood-boosting chemical Anandamide, which helps make people feel euphoric and have an effect on the reward center of the brain.
Boost Your Sex Appeal
We all know that anything made with cocoa is considered an aphrodisiac. This is because another mood-enhancing chemical found in cocoa is phenethylamine, which releases the same endorphins as when we fall in love and can improve your sex life.
Feel The Power
Cocoa contains a healthy amount of caffeine, helping to boost energy and fight fatigue. Two tablespoons of cocoa powder also has about 14% of your body's daily value of magnesium, which helps keep your body energized naturally. Magnesium has been found to protect your body against other issues such as high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and osteoporosis. Cocoa is known to be one of the healthiest ways to keep your body energized and awake.
Protect Your Heart
Cocoa is full of anti-inflammatory antioxidants called flavanols. These antioxidants help your heart and your entire cardiovascular system by protecting your body against cardiovascular disease, improving your blood circulation and lowering the risk of stroke. Other antioxidants in cocoa called polyphenols are known to help reduce HDL (bad cholesterol) levels and prevent atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It is impressive what cocoa can do for your heart.
Keep The Wrinkles Away
For beautiful flawless skin, you simply need to get your daily serving of cocoa. Polyphenols have been found to protect your cells from premature oxidation, keeping your skin from looking aged or becoming wrinkled. It can also improve your skin texture and give it a glowing look by improving skin microcirculation and skin hydration. Not only does eating cocoa powder help your skin, but using cocoa butter as a moisturizer has also been found to keep skin soft and smooth.
What's the difference between cocoa and cacao powder?
There must be no way cacao powder is good for you if it tastes so amazing, right? Wrong. While the word may sound like the cocoa powder for baking you buy at the store, the two are quite different both in processing and in nutrition.
They both come from the cacao plant but cacao is closest to the raw state after harvesting the seed while cocoa has been processed with high heat. Now the cocoa powder you know and love still contains great nutrients, just not nearly as many as raw cacao does.
Here is the ultimate round up of healthy cacao powder recipes to make all your chocolate dreams come true! Muffins, quick breads, smoothies and more!