12 Exceptional Health Benefits of Cocoa for Your Body / Eat Cocoa When You're Stressed!

According to SAEDNEWS, This food ingredient is used in powdered, solid form, and in various products. Interestingly, the history of cocoa is richer than we imagine for a food ingredient. We often associate cocoa with products made from cocoa powder, which are typically sweetened with sugar and other sweeteners, leading us to think of this food as harmful. But the good news is that cocoa has many health benefits, and you don’t need to feel guilty about consuming it every time for your body.

Main Health Benefits of Cocoa

Let's take a look at the health benefits of this joy bringing food which make you want to eat it even more than before.

1. Improved Brain Function

You probably didn’t know that one of the most interesting health benefits of cocoa is its ability to improve brain function, including processing speed and memory. Although you won’t notice an immediate change right after consuming cocoa, consuming cocoa and its derivatives in a controlled way over the long term positively affects cognitive brain function.

2. Reduced Risk of Diabetes

When you think of cocoa and its derivatives, you probably picture sweet chocolates. However, it’s interesting to know that cocoa powder contains flavonoids (a type of chemical compound found in some fruits and vegetables), which can improve insulin sensitivity and ultimately reduce the risk of developing diabetes. Of course, cocoa isn’t a miracle cure, and it doesn’t completely eliminate the risk of the disease. To reduce the risk of diabetes, in addition to considering the benefits of cocoa powder and its derivatives, you should also pay special attention to your diet.

3. Protection Against Skin Aging

The flavonoids in cocoa have extraordinary properties. We all know that collagen is one of the factors influencing youthful skin. One of the benefits of cocoa is that its flavonoids help protect the skin from sun damage and enhance collagen production, which in turn helps reduce wrinkles.

4. Dental Protection with Cocoa’s Benefits

Another surprising benefit of cocoa is its ability to protect teeth. Consuming cocoa can sometimes be stronger than fluoride for teeth. However, it should be remembered that if you consume cocoa in the form of chocolate, the sugar in the chocolate can damage your teeth.

5. Increased Physical Performance

When we engage in physical, energy-demanding activities like cycling, it’s normal to boost our energy with a bit of chocolate. This is why we may be familiar with one of cocoa's benefits, but may not fully understand it. Research has shown that the well-known flavonoids in cocoa powder can cause cyclists who consume dark chocolate to use less oxygen and cover more distance compared to those who don’t consume it.

6. Helping with a More Restful Sleep

Our sleep conditions are always influenced by our daily stress levels. One of the most interesting benefits of cocoa as an energizing substance is its calming effect. Consuming a limited amount of cocoa at the end of the night can reduce stress and help you enjoy a more restful sleep.

7. Creating a Sense of Happiness

If you haven't started your day well, perhaps a little cocoa powder in milk could change your mood. Research has shown that one of the benefits of cocoa and its derivatives is its ability to improve mood. Substances like caffeine and serotonin in cocoa help bring about this miracle. So, learn how to make cocoa milk and always enjoy drinking it.

8. Improved Gut Health

Poor gut health is one of the conditions that can be very troublesome. The flavonoids in cocoa can have a probiotic effect, promoting the growth of healthy gut bacteria, which results in better gut health.

9. Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases

One of the main problems leading to cardiovascular diseases is high blood pressure. The consumption of cocoa can help reduce blood pressure, thereby ensuring normal blood flow in the body, which prevents blood clotting. Some studies have shown that consuming dark chocolate regularly, more than five times a week, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by up to 57%.

10. Boosting the Immune System

One of the benefits of cocoa that hasn’t been fully proven is its ability to strengthen the immune system. Cocoa is a rich source of zinc, and the body needs zinc to fight off bacteria and viruses. This is why cocoa powder is believed to have immune-boosting properties. Some research, though lacking reliable sources, suggests that consuming cocoa may also increase the production of white blood cells in the body.

11. Reducing Inflammation with Cocoa’s Benefits

The same antioxidant properties we expect from antioxidants can also be found in cocoa. Studies show that the amazing flavonoids in cocoa can have antioxidant properties, helping to reduce and improve inflammation. However, the reduction of inflammation with cocoa is limited, and it’s important to consult a doctor when dealing with chronic diseases.

12. Preventing Alzheimer’s Disease

As mentioned earlier, one of the benefits of cocoa powder is its positive impact on brain function. Alzheimer’s, a brain disease that is still somewhat unknown, can be kept further away with the help of cocoa. The antioxidant activity created in the brain by cocoa powder can reduce the likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease.