Cocoa butter is one of superfoods popular for today. It is used not only for production of sweets, but also in medicine, and cosmetology. About this product from cocoa we will also speak in this article — as receive this vegetable fat as it can be used in everyday life what themselves care products on its basis exist how to choose and correctly to keep houses.
What do of and as receive cocoa butter
Cocoa butter is received from cocoa beans. It is a final stage of processing of beans, after cocoa mass.
After extraction of cocoa beans from fruits of a chocolate tree they are subjected to drying and fermentation (maintain under the sun in the open air) then subject to roasting. Such beans become firm and dark.
Whether you know? Beans of cocoa served as means of monetary circulation for Indians of South America. For their fake the severe penalty waited.
After chemical treatment and crushing the beans make small on valtsevy machines in cocoa mass. Further the turned-out weight is sent under powerful presses which squeeze out cocoa butter. The remained cake goes for cocoa powder preparation. And the turned-out fat goes for preparation of chocolate, drugs or cosmetics.
Chemical composition
The chemical composition — the two- and three-acid triglycerides mixed with fatty acids.
Fatty acids:
- oleic acid — up to 43%;
- stearin acid — up to 34%;
- lauric and palmitic acids — up to 25%;
- linoleic acid — 2%;
- arakhinovy acid — traces.
At a temperature of 16-18 °C oil firm and fragile on the structure. Melts at 32-35 °C. At 40 °C becomes transparent.
On color varies from light yellow to brown. Possesses a characteristic pleasant smell of cocoa.
It is important! If oil of white color — means, it turned rancid and is not suitable for use.
Than cocoa butter is useful
This vegetable fat unites a lot of useful to the person:
- removes inflammations;
- reduces cholesterol level;
- well influences blood — increases production of hemoglobin, improves blood circulation;
- very well heals wounds and increases restoration of fabrics;
- well helps at skin problems;
- helps at catarrhal diseases;
- possesses expectorant action.
Whether you know? Because of the toning properties and as antidepressant of cocoa it is included in a ration of many armies in the world.
These properties prove use of this fat in different industries and life.
Application in different spheres
If to look at properties of cocoa, then we will see that it is possible to allocate three directions of its application.
In cookery
Very first of the known applications and the best-known is a cookery. This derivative cocoa — a basis for preparation of any chocolate.
Whether you know? White chocolate was created by the Nestle company as a way of utilization of surplus of cocoa butter. White color is caused by lack of powder of cocoa.
Without such fat it is impossible to present the confectionery industry. It is a part of all chocolates, glazes, fondants, many cakes, candies.
It gives to chocolate satiety, ease and that chocolate smell.
In cosmetology
High content of useful fats and acids became a basis of popularity of oil in cosmetology.
It very well feeds skin, fills with moisture, and all this without unpleasant feelings and undesirable gloss. Cocoa butter, because of the useful properties, and is suitable for production of the face treatments allocated for skin rejuvenation.
In the winter it protects skin from a bad weather, does not allow it to burst and be shelled. During a heat — saves from harmful radiations of the sun. In addition to it also creates a barrier on skin to harmful microorganisms and toxins.
Learn more about useful properties and application of vegetable oils: coconut, avocado, dogrose, grape seeds, linen, hempy, peanut, sesame, peach, corn, thistles.
In medicine and gynecology
The regenerating and wound healing properties of this fat, its positive influence on a blood-groove found application and in medicine, both traditional, and national. In particular, in pure form grease with it wounds, cuts. It is recommended to nursing mothers to grease nipples for prevention and treatment of cracks. To pregnant women also it will be useful to prevention of the extensions caused by pregnancy and childbirth.
In gynecology medicines on the basis of this vegetable fat heal wounds, ulcers and erosion.
At cough, bronchitis it is recommended to do massage with this oil. And for prevention of cold and flu grease with it mucous a nose.
National recipes of application
Usability and relative availability on sale create the wide front for use of this product in independent cosmetology procedures and treatment.
At cough
At diseases of a respiratory system (cough, a sore throat) it is used in pure form. For example, cocoa butter is applied for cough as a pastil, accepted 5-6 times a day. The course lasts up to 14 days and consists of regular receptions of small peas of oil.
If to take two glasses of milk, one teaspoon of this vegetable fat, two-three teaspoons of honey, to mix all this and to warm up, then we will receive excellent expectorant means for removal of a phlegm. This medicine will be useful for those who have an allergy to standard means, or that who is afraid of chemistry.
At hemorrhoids
There are several ways of treatment by cocoa butter at hemorrhoids.
The simplest — to grease sick area.
It is possible to prepare solution for an enema. For this purpose the tablespoon of the crushed flowers of a camomile, half of liter of hot water and a cocoa butter teaspoon is required. At first prepare flowers infusion. Then there throw fat. Everything, means is ready to application.
At gynecologic diseases
Cocoa butter and in gynecology as means of fight against erosion of a neck of the uterus found the application.
For this purpose use the tampons greased with the kindled fat (kindle on a water bath 1 teaspoon to liquid state) and sea-buckthorn oil (10 drops). The tampon is put for the night, the procedure is repeated within two weeks.
For hair
Such vegetable fat well affects hair, strengthens bulbs, eliminates fragility and dryness, adds beauty and gloss.
Cocoa butter enters masks for hair and finds the application for elimination of various problems there.
It is possible to rub in roots of hair the kindled oil. Besides, on its basis prepare effective masks.
- Mask from a hair loss. Take on a tablespoon of the kindled cocoa butter, burdock oil, kefir, add a yolk of one egg, carefully stir. Apply means on hair and a vmassiruyta in bulbs. After drawing wrap up the head, wait an hour and a half and wash away. Repeat two-three times a week within 4-5 weeks.
- The recipe of a mask for bigger density of growth of hair. Make infusion of rosemary (and to draw 2 tablespoons on 100 ml of boiled water about an hour). Add 2-3 tablespoons of the kindled cocoa butter to the filtered tincture. Evenly grease hair with the turned-out structure and wrap up hair a film for two-three hours. Then wash away. A course — 10-12 procedures, but no more than two in a week.
- Mask against dryness of hair. Mix in equal parts two oils — cocoa and burdock, add there several drops of vitamins A and E (4-5 drops enough) and grapefruit essential oil (3-4 drops). The mask is put on all length of hair for 2 hours. So repeat 12-14 times, with breaks between procedures in 5-6 days.
For the person
Useful qualities of the described fat with success use also for elimination of problems with face skin. For this purpose it is added to structures of various masks.
- Mask for dry skin. With one teaspoon of cocoa product to mix a tablespoon of the crushed green parsley. Put mix for half an hour on a face, and then accurately wash away clear water.
- Mask for elimination of wrinkles and face rejuvenation. On one tablespoon of this vegetable fat, honey, juice of a lemon and carrots to mix with an egg yolk. To put on a face for 20 minutes.
- Skin care product near eyes. It is enough to oil only it kindled, or to do compresses of it, putting a cotton pad for 5 minutes. After such compress for strengthening of effect it is worth carrying out few times by an ice cube from parsley broth around eyes. Or to wash with this broth.
It is possible to prepare balm with cocoa butter for lip care. It is necessary to mix one teaspoon of the kindled beeswax, two spoons of cocoa butter, to add 3-4 spoons of wheat germ oil and to allow to stiffen. Such balm will help from dryness of lips and will protect from cold.
Cocoa butter will help also your eyebrows and eyelashes. Rub it in an eyebrow from the middle of the person to temples. And you apply on eyelashes by means of a brush from ink. After that cover eyes with napkins and lie down so a quarter of hour.
For a body
It is possible to make mix for massage. Mix in equal parts the kindled cocoa butter, castor, jojoba, olive. Use as usual massage means. It will help with fight against cellulitis and if to do massage during pregnancy, then will serve also as prevention of emergence of extensions of skin.
For elimination of cracks on hands grease for the night problem places with mix of cocoa butter and honey (in a proportion 1: 1). Honey can be replaced with olive or sunflower oil (in the same proportions).
How to choose upon purchase
To choose the correct product not easy, especially for the unsophisticated person.
- Price. Such product is not very cheap. The price of cocoa beans grows every year, respectively, and oil from them cannot be too cheap.
- Smell. Oil has to smell of cocoa. If it is absent — or this refined oil (about what there has to be an inscription on the label), or a fake.
- Color. The real good oil — yellow-white, cream. If oil white, gray — or it old also turned rancid, or try to sell you a counterfeit.
- Consistence. An original product firm at a usual temperature. If to the touch it plastic also does not crumble — you are obviously tried to be deceived.
Try to shop in reliable shops and check before purchase that try to sell to you.
How to store in house conditions
Several words about how it is correct to store cocoa butter in house conditions. The term of its storage — two years from the date of production. After the expiration of this term the product is unsuitable to use and is subject to utilization.
At home it is necessary to store it in opaque ware at a temperature not higher than 18 degrees and at humidity less than 70%, but it is desirable not in the fridge.
Contraindications and precautionary measures
The described means is considered quite safe. Possible troubles are connected with an allergy. Though they are also not frequent, nevertheless before the first application make the test for an allergy. For this purpose apply a little ointment on an internal part of a bend of an elbow. After a while look at the place of drawing. If any negative reactions (reddenings, the nagger) did not follow — you have no allergy. Be careful at application of such means for the night. Tocopherol — the alkaloid similar in action to caffeine is a part of cocoa. That is application of cocoa butter is before going to bed capable to cause insomnia and excessive excitability.
Important! High caloric content limits application in food at dietary food and to people a lot of body weight.
As you can see, cocoa is good not only for consumption. From this oil it is possible to prepare a set of useful means for face and body leaving, for treatment of cough and wounds. Means has almost no contraindications and can be applied even to small children. But be attentive when choosing such product not to fall the victim of deceivers.