Does cocoa have caffeine? Cocoa: he alth benefits and harms

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Since ancient times, cocoa beans have been widely popular all over the world due to their distinctive taste and beneficial properties. The birthplace of cocoa is the Amazonian rainforests. Later, chocolate trees began to be cultivated in subequatorial Africa. Today, about 69% of the world's cocoa is harvested in Africa, with Côte d'Ivoire being the largest producer. Other major producers include Indonesia, Brazil, Ghana, Nigeria, Ecuador, Colombia.

Does cocoa have caffeine? Can everyone answer this question? High-quality cocoa powder, made from natural cocoa beans, is rich in a variety of nutrients and elements. Today, in the era of innovation, numerous chemicals, dyes and flavors are added to the powder. Unfortunately, this not only leads to the loss of the beneficial properties of the drink, but also has a negative impact on human he alth in general. Therefore, the choice of thisproduct must be approached carefully and consciously. Does cocoa contain caffeine? You will learn this in the process of reading the article.

Principles for choosing quality cocoa

• Cocoa powder should not be soluble.
• Homogeneous structure, no lumps.
• Light or dark brown. Gray is a sign of a low quality product.
• Expiration date. For powder in a metal container - no more than a year, in plastic packaging - no more than 6 months.
• Fat content of at least 15%.

Nutritional value and calories

Before you know if there is caffeine in cocoa powder, it is worth talking about its nutritional value and calorie content. The nutritional value of 100 grams of powder is 289 kcal. Of these: proteins - 34.3 g, fats - 15 g, carbohydrates - 10.2 g, dietary fiber - 35.3 g, water - 5 g. BJU ratio: proteins - 97.2 kcal (35.6%), fats - 135 kcal (49.45%), carbohydrates - 40.8 kcal (14.95%).

Does cocoa have caffeine? It might come as a surprise to some, but yes. Cocoa is also rich in substances such as dietary fiber, B vitamins, vitamin PP, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron.

Despite the fact that cocoa is the preferred product for maintaining a figure, compared with chocolate, the daily intake should not exceed 2 cups of the drink. The recommended time of reception is the first half of the day.

Benefits: strengthen bones

Calcium –main source of bone he alth. Due to the presence of calcium in cocoa, the human skeleton is strengthened, the risk of blood clots is reduced, muscle contraction and excitability of nerve tissues are improved. The use of 100 grams of cocoa in combination with milk allows you to provide a person with a daily intake of calcium.

Stimulating the brain

Flavanol, which is part of the beans, improves the functioning of the circulatory system, which has a positive effect on brain activity and thought processes. A person who regularly consumes cocoa becomes more organized, energetic, learns new information faster and solves tasks that require mental stress.

Fast muscle recovery after exercise

A study conducted by American scientists showed that the rate of muscle recovery after physical exertion when drinking cocoa is an order of magnitude higher than that of other drinks. This effect is achieved by the presence of protein and carbohydrates necessary to replenish the energy reserve of muscle tissue. The presence of caffeine in cocoa beans promotes the absorption of glucose by the muscles and accelerates the restoration of glycogen stores.

Rejuvenation and wound healing

Not only drink, but also cocoa masks bring significant benefits to the body. The cocophilus, niacin, vitamins PP, B5 and B9 present in cocoa help to improve the regeneration of skin cells, thereby allowing you to speed up the healing process of wounds, relieve irritation, smooth wrinkles, even out complexion and skin structure. The presence of iron opens access to oxygen to the upper layers of the epidermis. Potassium allows you to retain moisture in the cells, preventing dry skin. Cocoa restores the protective functions of the skin, stimulates the production of collagen and elastin.

UV protection

Melanin, which is part of the composition, reduces the negative effects of solar radiation. So, cocoa helps prevent heat stroke, skin burning, blurred vision, hormonal disruptions in the body. The sun is the main cause of photoaging, therefore, in conditions of increased solar radiation, it is necessary to drink a drink to preserve youth, elasticity and natural skin moisture levels.

Hair Growth Acceleration

For beauty, he alth and stimulation of hair growth, cocoa is effectively used both when taken orally and as a component for making homemade masks. The content of nicotinic acid in the product ensures the activation of hair growth due to the effect of heating the scalp and affecting the hair follicles.

Mood boost

Cocoa powder, whose he alth benefits and harms we are considering, is recognized as one of the most effective natural antidepressants. Due to the release of phenylethylamine by the brain, a person feels a surge of positive emotions - happiness, love, joy, feels calm and satisfied. Serotonin, which these beans also contribute to, has a similar effect.

Pressure reduction

Drinking 2 cups of the drink is an excellent prevention of stroke and reduces weather dependence, due to the presence of flavonoids in the composition. The level of high-density lipoproteins decreases, as a result of which platelets do not stick together, and the risk of thrombosis decreases. The presence of theobromine increases the resistance of the heart muscle to pressure surges.

Harm and contraindications

Now we know the benefits of cocoa powder. And the harm to he alth is also impossible to deprive of attention. There are also contraindications. Most often, cocoa is harmful in two cases:

1. When overused.
2. When using a poor quality product.

Where is more caffeine, coffee or cocoa? Of course, in coffee. But cocoa also contains it. The drink contains 0.2% caffeine, which may adversely affect the condition of young children, pregnant women and people with contraindications to caffeine.

Due to the presence of purines, it is advisable to limit the consumption of the drink to people who have kidney problems and gout. The reason for this is the accumulation of uric acid and the deposition of s alts in the joints.

In the areas where cocoa trees are grown, sanitary requirements are not high enough. The consequence of this is the presence of insects and bacteria in the fruits. For disinfection, trees are treated with poisons and chemicals in large quantities. In some cases, exotic insects can be ground together with raw materials during the processing process. Then greatthe likelihood of an allergic reaction. Cocoa beans themselves do not contain allergens, however, manufacturers of low-quality instant powders use various chemical additives that most often cause allergies.

Since the question of whether there is caffeine in cocoa is an affirmative question, it is not recommended to drink the drink for the following categories of people:

• Children under the age of 3.
• People suffering from diabetes, diarrhea, atherosclerosis.
• People suffering from joint diseases.
• Pregnant and lactating women.
• Overweight people.
• People with high stomach acidity.

Cooking recipe

In a small container, mix two teaspoons of the powder with the required amount of sugar (or a sweetener for greater benefit), pour a glass of hot milk or water, stir until a homogeneous consistency without lumps, bring to a boil.