Health & Beauty. delivery number 44: THE COCOA.

Thank you for visiting my blog and Continuing with the series of properties and benefits of fruits and vegetables, today I bring you information about:

Cocoa comes from the seed of Theobroma cacao, it belongs to the Sterculiaceae family. The tree, which is mainly found in South America, can reach 10 meters high. The seeds can be roasted, crushed and fermented.

Cocoa and dark chocolate have beneficial properties for our health, but as with all other beneficial foods, they should be consumed in moderation. Let's see some of its properties.

Source

Energy:

Thanks to its content of mineral salts, vitamins and carbohydrates, cocoa is a very energetic food. Therefore, it is recommended for those who practice sports, but also for those of developing age.

Antioxidant:

Cocoa contains more phenolic antioxidants than most foods. Flavonoids, which include catechin, epicatechin and procyanidins, are primarily responsible for antioxidant activity. Cocoa and dark chocolate, have more antioxidant properties, polyphenols and flavonols, compared to other beneficial fruits.

Reduce the cholesterol:

The large amount of antioxidants present in cocoa also has beneficial effects on cholesterol, since it can increase the percentage of good HDL cholesterol and decrease the percentage of bad LDL.

Antidepressant:

In cocoa there is a wide range of substances that cause euphoria including tyramine and anandamide. Tyramine helps calm anxiety states and rebalance mood. In addition to these substances, tryptophan, an amino acid present in cocoa, is responsible for its antidepressant properties, since it activates serotonin, a substance involved in mood regulation. Similarly, the consumption of chocolate causes the body to produce endorphins whose effect gives a feeling of euphoria and well-being.

Heart health:

The flavanols that cocoa contains have a beneficial effect on heart health. Its activity helps keep blood pressure under control and improves blood flow to the heart and brain. The flavanols present in cocoa can also prevent the formation of blood clots, which reduces the risk of stroke and polyphenols, block the activation of cells involved in inflammatory processes and at the same time counteract the aggregation of platelets in the blood , decreasing the risk of heart attack.

Blood pressure:

Flavonoids improve the elasticity of blood vessels favoring the decrease in pressure. Antioxidants that stimulate nitric oxide production help keep blood vessels relaxed and, therefore, more elastic.

Cognitive function:

Some scientific research suggests that flavonols present in cocoa can bring benefits to the brain, positively affecting memory and learning ability. The consumption of cocoa enriched with flavonoids influences cerebral blood flow, which allows the growth of new cells involved in memory development.

Diabetes:

Cocoa improves sugar metabolism and insulin resistance, allowing greater adjustment of blood sugar.

Bronchial asthma:

It contains xanthine and theophylline, two compounds that help relax bronchial channels and soothe bronchial spasms. This property facilitates the passage of air flow and is useful in the treatment of allergies, asthma and shortness of breath.

Constipation:

Its consumption has beneficial effects in case of constipation since it allows faster transit of food to the intestinal tract and to the colon. It also improves bowel function by increasing the frequency of bowel movements.

Neurodegenerative diseases:

The epicatechin and catechin present, have beneficial effects in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases since they help reduce the oxidative stress of brain cells by protecting the cell membrane.

Chronic fatigue:

Its consumption allows the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and phenylethylamine, which protect brain cells from oxidative stress and counteract chronic fatigue.

• It is better to avoid giving it to children under 3 years, as it could cause allergic reactions.

• In people subject to hypertension and nervousness, the presence of caffeine, if taken in excessive doses, could accentuate these symptoms.
  
  

I hope you like this initiative ... you can make suggestions and propose fruits and vegetables for the next delivery.

References:

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