Is cocoa actually healthy or unhealthy? There are many different opinions on this subject. First of all, it is important to distinguish between pure cocoa and chocolate, which usually contains milk and sugar. The latter, of course, belongs to the unhealthy foods. Our article is about the pure raw cocoa as well as the high cocoa chocolate with a content of at least 80 percent cocoa. This should not have household or cane sugar, but a sugar substitute such as coconut blossom sugar or other plant-based sugar alternatives. What benefits cocoa brings with it and which diseases it can even prevent, you will learn in this article.
The beneficial properties of cocoa
Cocoa is actually healthy and there are numerous studies that show the positive effects that eating cocoa can have. One of the positive effects is due to the flavonoids it contains. These are secondary plant compounds through which cocoa has a strong antioxidant effect. In addition, cocoa contains the substance epicatechin, which is a powerful agent against heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and even cancer. Also, the high content of magnesium makes cocoa a very healthy food. Magnesium brings all the benefits, as it is responsible for over 300 different processes in the body. The cocoa can thus supportively improve them.
In addition to its physical properties, cocoa also has an impact on the human psyche. Some studies show that regular consumption of high-quality cocoa can significantly improve mood. In addition, the libido can be stimulated and increased. Cocoa can also lead to an improvement in symptoms caused by premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Due to the highly contained organic sulfur (MSM) in cocoa, blood pressure as well as cortisol levels in the body can be lowered. Cocoa can also help with weight loss, as it fills you up and reduces your appetite, while also boosting sugar metabolism. Cocoa can also even protect against sunburn.
Besides all these beneficial properties, cocoa protects teeth and provides adequate protection against Alzheimer’s disease. As you can see – cocoa can do a lot!
The downside of cocoa
Besides all the great effects, cocoa unfortunately also has a downside. Cocoa contains lectins, which can lead to migraine or trigger an allergy. So if you are an allergy or migraine sufferer, be careful when consuming cocoa. Cocoa may even be the cause of migraines in some circumstances, without sufferers ever attributing it to it. In addition, cocoa is a histamine liberator, which means it ensures that histamine can be released in the body. Anyone who has problems with histamine should definitely pay attention there.
The best way to find out if you can tolerate cocoa is with our Dr. Mama System. The testing will show if your body needs the cocoa or if you might have problems with its ingredients.
Which cocoa is good and healthy?
There are very many suppliers of cocoa. You should pay attention to an organic and especially raw quality. The cocoa should be unsweetened if possible. If you want to consume a dark chocolate, it should have at least 80% cocoa content and not be sweetened with conventional sugar. Snacking can also be healthy!
