Nutritional Facts about Cocoa Powder
If you are a chocolate lover, you might be aware of cocoa. You will be amazed to know that cocoa is one of the oldest foods, and it is also one of the healthiest foods. The food has been enjoyed for more than 4000 years.
The history of cocoa dates back to the pre-Colombian tribes. The best part about Cocoa is that it contains lots of healthy nutrients. In fact, it is one of the most nutrient-rich foods as per the modern diet.
Cocoa is used in the manufacturing of different types of chocolate products. Thus, no matter if you are purchasing dark chocolate or any sweet snack, you will find a good amount of cocoa powder inside it.
Before you buy cocoa powder online, you should be aware of the nutritional benefits as well as the nutritional profile of cocoa powder. This article will help you in getting in-depth knowledge about cocoa powder:
What is cocoa powder?
Cocoa powder is formed by grinding and pressing cocoa beans that are fermented. The powder is prepared after the removal of natural cocoa butter. The cocoa powder is quite dry and bitter. Since the powder is dry and bitter, different other flavors and sweeteners are added to products like chocolates and milk.
What are the health benefits of cocoa powder?
Better cognitive health
Different research shows that the use of cocoa powder regularly can help you in improving your cognitive health. This means you can have better memory power and attention span. It can also help in restoring cognitive performance in people who can’t get proper amounts of sleep.
Better immune system
Cocoa powder contains nutrients like zinc, selenium, and iron. Thus, these minerals will help your body in restoring its immunity.
Better muscle and nerve function
Magnesium is highly beneficial for the regulation of muscle contraction as well as nervous system functioning. These minerals also help in improving the health of neuron and neuroglial cells. Thus, you will have a healthy nervous system if you consume cocoa powder regularly.
Healing of wound
If you consume chocolates that are made up of 90% cocoa inside them, you will get an adequate amount of zinc in your body, and it will help you with wound healing.
Less risk of heart disease
People who consume chocolate regularly are less prone to heart diseases. A flavonoid found in cocoa helps in lowering the risk of heart diseases. It does so by lowering blood pressure, improving the flow of blood in our body, and preventing cell damage.
Mood-boosting capabilities
You might have heard people say that if you are not in a good mood, try to eat chocolate. The main reason behind this is that chocolates contain a cocoa powder that comes up with mood-boosting properties. When you consume cocoa, it can stimulate your brain to produce a hormone called endorphins. This hormone is responsible for triggering our brain’s reward system and also promotes a feeling of positivity.
Source of dietary magnesium
Magnesium is one of the essential minerals that are highly essential for the proper functioning of our body. The use of cocoa powder can help you in getting your magnesium dose. These days cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are on the rise. Including cocoa as part of your diet can help you in preventing these diseases.
The nutritional profile of Cocoa
Since we know about the amazing benefits offered by cocoa powder, it is also important to get a detailed idea about the nutritional profile of cocoa powder:
|
Nutrients |
Kcal |
|
Calories |
400 Kcal |
|
Carbohydrate |
57.9 grams |
|
Fiber |
33.2 grams |
|
Sugar |
1.8 grams |
|
Fat |
13.7 grams |
|
Saturated fat |
8.1 grams |
|
Monounsaturated fats |
4.6 grams |
|
Polyunsaturated fats |
0.4 grams |
|
Protein |
19.6 grams |
Fat content
The majority of fat content in cocoa powder is saturated and unsaturated. In addition to good fats, cocoa powder also contains a good amount of fiber.
Vitamin content
Cocoa powder also contains a decent amount of vitamins. Vitamin B is the most concentrated vitamin present in Cocoa powder.
Minerals
People also consume cocoa powder because of the presence of minerals in it. Some of the major minerals present in Cocoa powder include:
● Manganese
● Copper
● Magnesium
● Iron
● Phosphorus
● Zinc
● Potassium
● Selenium
● Calcium
Thus, if you lack any of these minerals in your body, try to consume chocolate that contains a high proportion of cocoa powder.
You should note that the nutritional profile mentioned above included nutrition inside the unsweetened cocoa powder. The addition of preservatives and sweeteners can change the overall nutritional composition of cocoa powder.
So, these were some of the major benefits of cocoa powder. For all chocolate lovers out there, you have got one more reason to add chocolate to your diet. Just keep in mind to consume chocolate that contains high amounts of cocoa powder or you won’t get many benefits. Let us know if you want to know more about cocoa powder.
