The value of cocoa was known since ancient times — at tribes of Aztecs and the Maya the beans went instead of money. At first drink from cocoa beans was drunk cold, used in the ritual purposes. And only after conquistadors delivered fruits of a chocolate tree to Europe, began to drink drink from its fruits hot. Physicians, druggists, culinary specialists, cosmetologists — all of them know about valuable substances which this product contains therefore actively use its everyone in the sphere. Let's consider advantage of cocoa for human health and its possible harm.
What do cocoa powder of
The technology of extraction from cocoa beans of powder and oil was invented by the native of Holland Conrad van Hoyten in 1828. Further thanks to it became possible to make tiled chocolate.
After ripening of fruits of a chocolate tree they are cut off a knife. Fruits cut and get from them seeds in the form of beans. Seeds strike fermentations, placing them in boxes with leaves of a banana tree and burlap for seven days. As a result of this procedure at them the tart taste disappears and the appetizing chocolate aroma amplifies. Further seeds dry in the sun and after that start oil extraction. As a result there is a cake which is frayed in powder. It is also cocoa powder.
As a result of the described process receive powder of several types. Shops sell also a product which can just be filled in with boiled water and to drink, and demanding cooking. It is important to understand that useful substances contain in the first of them very little, producers compensate their absence due to introduction of synthetic vitamins.
Whether you know? To H_H of an age of cocoa was called hot chocolate and was on sale in drugstores. It was used for treatment of depressions, by improvements of the general health, healing of wounds, strengthenings of sexual desire.
What is a part
Let's understand why cocoa is so useful and that contains in it. As well as any product, it contains a row micro and macrocells:
- K (potassium) — 1509 mg;
- P (phosphorus) — 655 mg;
- Mg (magnesium) — 425 mg;
- Ca (calcium) — 128 mg;
- S (is gray) — 80 mg;
- Cl (chlorine) — 28 mg;
- Fe (iron) — 22 mg;
- Na (sodium) — 13 mg;
- Zn (zinc) — 7.1 mg;
- Mn (manganese) — 4.6 mg;
- Cu (copper) — 4550 mkg;
- P (fluorine) — 245 mkg;
- Mo (molybdenum) — 56 mkg.
As we see, most of all fruits of a cocoa tree contain potassium and phosphorus. There are a few products which can brag of the content of such quantity of these elements.
Here what vitamins are in cocoa:
- And — 3 mkg;
- beta carotene — 0.02 mg;
- B1 — 0.1 mg;
- B2 — 0.2 mg;
- B5 — 1.5 mg;
- B6 — 0.3 mg;
- B9 — 45 mkg;
- E — 0.3 mg;
- RR — 6.8 mg.
If interests you whether there is in cocoa a caffeine, then we will report — it substance is present at it. Besides, cocoa beans contain proteins, carbohydrates and fats, organic compounds, tannic and dyes, theobromine.
In a large number caffeine contains in usual and green coffee, and even in green tea. It is better not to use the drinks containing caffeine on an empty stomach.
Useful properties for an organism
After consideration of the vitamin and mineral complex which is contained in cocoa it is possible to understand what useful properties it has.
It is obvious that such high content of potassium (a half of standard daily rate for the person) and magnesium allows a product at hit in a human body to make serious impact on work of a cardiovascular system, to promote removal of harmful cholesterol.
Whether you know? To receive one kilogram of cocoa powder, 40 fruits (1200 seeds) are required.
The calcium which is a part positively influences bones, division of a bone tissue, teeth, muscles. Nicotinic acid renders favorable effect on hair, stimulates their growth.
Iron purifies blood, promotes saturation by its oxygen.
Of course, bigger advantage after all cocoa butter has, it is used in medicine. First of all it is advised as fine expectorant cure for catarrhal diseases. It also possesses the powerful immunomodelling action. At addition in tea or milk oil is capable to save in only two-three days from cough, bronchitis, throat diseases. In the latter case it is also advised simply to rassasyvat for softening and healing of a throat. Oil helps at irregular depletions or their long absence, existence of gemorroidalny knots.
Outwardly with oil do medical massage, grease with it problem skin, cracks, do masks for hair. Therefore the basic, than is useful for cocoa for women, is an improvement of their appearance. Women more than men, are inclined to watch a condition of the hair, nails, skin. In cocoa there are all necessary elements which allow to make ladies more beautiful, their integuments more tightened, young, hair — are silkier, stronger.
It is important! As cocoa butter is a strong allergen, you should not use it during independent treatment. Consultation of the doctor is necessary.
It will be interesting to men to learn, than cocoa for them is useful. First of all — availability of zinc which positively affects potency. The regular use by representatives of a strong half of mankind of dark and hot chocolate will surely lead to increase in a libido. Besides, zinc is the main construction material for sperm. So, its use with cocoa favorably affects a condition of semen, in particular, on activity of spermatozoa. Despite the high content of valuable substances, you should not abuse cocoa, especially to those people who got used to watch a condition of the figure — in 100 g of a product 300 kcal contain. In cocoa drink with milk — 85 kcal.
Whether it is possible for pregnant women and the feeding women
Cocoa, certainly, is useful for the women waiting for appearance of the kid. First, because of a large amount of iron in structure — chemical element which takes active part in blood formation, contains in hemoglobin of erythrocytes. For pregnant women both the first, and second actions are very important as in the woman's organism during this period there should not be problems with a blood system as now in it blood volume many times increases, the third circle of blood circulation is formed. Providing the kid with necessary food depends just on whether blood circulation is normally adjusted at mother.
Learn how it is necessary to change a food allowance to give birth to the healthy child.
It is also known that during pregnancy of the woman often have anemia therefore practically any product containing iron will do well now.
Natural cocoa powder is rich with magnesium and calcium which are responsible for activity of nervous system and a condition of bones. The folic acid participating in processes of blood formation, cellular division and growth is very necessary for mother and the child. This substance is important for formation of a nervous tube at the child. It is used for the purpose of prevention of its abnormal development in the kid. Well and of course, it is impossible to ignore such ability of cocoa as toning — hot drink lightens the mood, invigorates, gives forces. At the same time it is capable to raise arterial blood pressure. Therefore gynecologists at permission to consumption of this drink to pregnant women warn that in high doses it is unsafe both for the woman, and for a fruit. The norm for the woman in situation is one glass a day, it is better in the morning and with addition of low-fat milk. In the first trimester it is better not to resort to this drink. This period is very important for formation of a fruit, and unambiguous opinion on whether it is possible to drink cocoa at this time, at gynecologists is not present.
For all term it is necessary to refuse also consumption of ready drinks in powders of type of "Nesquik" which just need to be filled in with boiled water. They included various additives, fragrances, emulsifier, synthetic vitamins which do not represent advantage for the child.
It is not necessary to drink hot drink to pregnant women who have a tendency to an allergy, a hypertension, arterial hypertension, problems with kidneys.
Important! The pregnant woman, one of habits of which is to drink cocoa, it is necessary to tell about it to the gynecologist. On the basis of the anamnesis and a condition of the woman it will make the decision whether it is possible not to change her the habit during pregnancy. Also he will prompt in what quantities it is possible to drink drink.
About whether she can regularly drink cocoa, also mother who nurses has to take an interest at the gynecologist or the pediatrician. Because drink invigorates, it can excite nervous system of the kid. Besides it can cause allergic reactions in the baby. Usually, if the kid is healthy, he did not observe diathesis, allergic reactions, then mother can enter into the menu cocoa on achievement of three-months age by it. At the same time it is necessary to control onto a condition of the kid. If its organism does not react to this product in any way, then the woman can continue to use it and further. At appearance of rash on a body of the baby drink it is necessary to exclude and return to it already upon termination of breastfeeding.
How to choose quality cocoa powder upon purchase
We already specified earlier that for production of cocoa powder use several technologies. However anyway the natural product can be defined if the nobility what to pay attention to. We discover several secretion — how to choose quality cocoa:
- The first that needs to be made, it to pay attention to color — it has to be purely brown, without inclusion of additives.
- Further we smell a product. If it has an appetizing chocolate savor, so it good and natural. The lack of a smell says that powder underwent the strongest processing.
- We taste — strong bitterness and unpleasant taste should not be.
- Cocoa powder has to be friable, uniform consistence. Existence of lumps testifies to expiry date or to the wrong storage.
- Powder has to be crushed, but not to a condition of dust.
Important! Give preference to the cocoa powder made in that country where chocolate trees are grown up.
How to store in house conditions
That cocoa powder did not lose the valuable properties, it needs to be stored correctly. Storage is carried out in the place in which there is no high humidity where light does not arrive, there is a good access of air, there are no pungent smells. Optimum temperature indoors — from 15 to 20 °C, humidity level — up to 75%.
If to create all above-mentioned conditions, then at storage in packing from the producer or in a metal container the expiration date of a product makes 12 months. At storage in packing from other materials the expiration date will decrease up to six months.
Chocolate is a product of processing of cocoa beans. In spite of the fact that this product causes fast accustoming, scientists opened also its useful properties: it prevents cancer, helps to appease cough and reduces risk of a stroke.
How to cook tasty cocoa drink: recipe
Cocoa drink most often cooks with addition of milk: a half of liter of milk is brought to boiling. The cocoa powder tablespoon is well mixed with two tablespoons of sugar. Add a little milk to mix. All well mix to homogeneous mass, add milk which remained, bring to boiling. On milk hot drink leaves especially tasty.
More rare drink is done on water — two teaspoons pound with two teaspoons of sugar, add a little boiled water, mix, and then add water up to the necessary volume. Drinks add to cocoa ice cream, zefirka of marshmallows, spices.
Contraindications and harm
Unfortunately, despite a number of useful properties, cocoa can do harm and has a number of contraindications. So, the people suffering cannot use it in no shape or form:
- gout;
- problems with kidneys;
- chronic locks;
- diabetes;
- atherosclerosis.
With care should treat this product pregnant women, the feeding mothers, children up to three years. Before using the cocoa, persons belonging to these categories should consult with the doctor. Thus, cocoa is the available and useful product comprising a large number of elements, useful to a human body. Contents of cocoa beans are applied in cookery (to preparation of sweets, pastries, drinks, chocolate), medicine (national and traditional), cosmetology. As well as any product having medicinal properties of cocoa has a number of contraindications. The people having any diseases especially those which touch kidneys, heart, vessels, nerves have to get acquainted with them before regularly drinking cocoa or to use it in other look.