Contents:
- Medical Video: Health Benefits of Cocoa Powder
- What are the benefits of cocoa powder?
- 1. High in antioxidants
- 2. Reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke
- 3. Reducing symptoms of depression
- 4. Improve brain function
- 5. Lower blood pressure
Medical Video: Health Benefits of Cocoa Powder
Cocoa powder is the basic ingredient in making chocolate made from crushed cocoa beans. Genuine cocoa powder has a tasteless taste that tends to be bitter. However, there are a myriad of good health benefits that you might not have expected before.
What are the benefits of cocoa powder?
If chocolate usually comes with sweetness thanks to the addition of butter, milk and sugar, but not so with cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is often processed into dark chocolate (dark chocolate), so it is still quite original because it has not received additional ingredients
Before using cocoa powder as an ingredient in making cakes, ice cream, and various other favorite dishes, consider the following benefits of cocoa powder:
1. High in antioxidants
Cocoa powder is one of the foods rich in flavonoids as part of polyphenol compounds. Both are natural antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances that are tasked with counteracting the adverse effects of free radicals, which can lead to various diseases in the body.
These polyphenol compounds are associated with a variety of health benefits. Starting from reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, lowering blood pressure, and increasing cholesterol levels and blood sugar in the body.
2. Reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke
Because of its high flavonoid content, cocoa powder is believed to reduce your chances of having a heart attack and stroke. Because, flavonoids will play a role in increasing nitric oxide in the blood which will dilate arteries and blood vessels in the body, so that blood flow increases.
A study conducted by the British Cardiac Society on nearly 158,000 people found that eating lots of chocolate in fact can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. This is because cocoa is believed to be able to reduce levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body.
3. Reducing symptoms of depression
Chocolate has long been known to improve one's mood. Apparently, cocoa powder has a big contribution in this matter. According to Dr. Elson Haas, a book writer Staying Healthy With Nutrition, that powder from cocoa beans can improve mood while overcoming depression attacks.
This positive effect is obtained from the content of flavanols which can stabilize serotonin, which is a chemical in the body with an important role in controlling emotions. Not only that, researchers from the Michigan Medicine University of Michigan also said that cocoa powder can help the production of endorphins as forming mood good in the body.
A study published in the European Academy of Nutritional Sciences also proves this. As a result, the health of older men who eat chocolate often tends to increase accompanied by an improvement in psychological conditions.
4. Improve brain function
Chocolate powder maker turned out to have other benefits that are no less unique, namely to support various brain functions. This is because the content of polyphenol compounds in cocoa powder can reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases by improving brain function and blood flow in the body.
Polyphenol compounds flow with blood that leads to the brain, and are directly involved with biochemical work as a producer of important neurons and molecules to support brain function. In addition, polyphenols can also affect the production of nitric oxide, which relaxes the muscles of blood vessels and increases blood supply for the brain.
5. Lower blood pressure
The content of flavonoids in cocoa powder is believed to improve nitric oxide levels in the blood, which simultaneously will improve blood vessel function and reduce blood pressure. In fact, the findings of a study published in the Cochrane Library also support this statement.
According to him, the good effects of these flavonoids will be more visible when consumed by people who already have high blood pressure than those who do not, and in people who are elderly compared to young age.
