The use of cocoa.
As you know, cocoa drink stimulates the production of endorphins (hormones of happiness) and increases vitality.
Biologically active substances contained in the cocoa beverage, increase the capacity for work and positively influence the mental activity of a person.
Cocoa is very useful for people suffering from hypertension . Contained in cocoa polyphenols actively contribute to the stabilization of blood pressure, and procyanidins effectively relieve stress, rejuvenate the skin of the face , increasing its elasticity. In the anti-aging creams, procyanidins are actively used. The spa offers baths and body wraps based on cocoa powder.
In general, in the question of how great the benefits and harms of the product are, the scales of the scales will perceptibly bend towards the benefit, but there are also negative aspects.
The harm of cocoa.
Cocoa is not only an exceptionally nutritious product , but also a high-calorie : in 100 grams of cocoa beans - 400 kcal. For people who are desperately fighting overweight, there is only one comfort: the feeling of satiety comes after a few sips of cocoa drink, and it's too difficult to drink more than two cups of cocoa at once. It is best to drink one cup in the morning - this will give you cheerfulness. One cup of cocoa contains 5 mg of caffeine.
It is worth noting, of course, that the cocoa products are often allergic . This is due to the presence in the cocoa composition of chitin, which is a highly allergenic substance.
When studying the question of the benefits and harms of cocoa, it can be reasonably said that the harm is the quality of the product .
Choosing cocoa.
Since cocoa is a specific product, you need to buy it from trusted suppliers. You can also evaluate cocoa in appearance, packaging condition, taste, flavor.
The traces of caking and the presence of lumps are unacceptable for quality cocoa. When grinding between the fingers, cocoa powder should not crumble, the color should be saturated, and the grains should not be.
When buying cocoa powder, make sure that the producer was by all means the country in which cocoa beans are being harvested. Often the cocoa beans break the processing technology, depriving the raw materials of its useful properties.
Sometimes there is the addition of prohibited synthetic additives to the finished cocoa powder. Health additives are, of course, a little, but they are of no use either.
Classification of cocoa.
In the market, cocoa is classified into three types.
The first type is the cocoa of industrial production , grown with the use of fertilizers, which are available in most tropical countries.
The second type is organic industrial cocoa , grown without the use of fertilizers. It is considered to be more useful than the first species.
The third species is live cocoa , which is exceptionally high quality and expensive, as it is collected from trees by hand. The properties, as well as the biological and mineral composition of live cocoa are simply unique. But an unprepared buyer, of course, can not understand the product of what quality he buys.
The only thing you can advise - rely on your own taste and good faith suppliers. If you like cocoa, enjoy a drink and have fun!