Cocoa, an ally of the heart and brain, it is a food rich in protein, vitamin B and serotonin, with an antioxidant and anti-depressant action. Let's find out better.
> 1. What is cocoa
> 2. The properties and benefits of cocoa
> 3. Cocoa, ally of
> 4. The use of cocoa in cooking
What is cocoa
Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) is a plant belonging to the Sterculiace family. The cacao it was imported to Europe from America by Christopher Columbus.
Cocoa is obtained from the seeds of the fruits of the cocoa tree by the process of fermentation, roasting or grinding.
Properties and benefits of cocoa
Il cocoa contains proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, various mineral salts and B vitamins. It also contains Serotonin, tyramine, caffeine, theobromine and phenylethylamine.
- antioxidants of cocoa help fight the action of free radicals, while theobromine and caffeine help maintain the concentration. Serotonin and tyramine are useful against depression and anxiety disorders.
To fully benefit from the properties of cocoa, it is necessary to consume the bitter one, as an ingredient in various recipes, or the chocolate good quality fondant.
Cocoa is very energetic, therefore it is good not to overdo it with consumption. Its features make it a food particularly recommended for athletes and teenagers. It should not, however, be offered to children from zero to three years of age due to the risk of allergies; for the same reason it is not recommended for women who are breastfeeding.
The caffeine present in cocoa it could increase nervousness and insomnia in predisposed people. Cupuaçu, on the other hand, a close relative of cocoa, contains theacrine but not caffeine and theobromine.
Chocolate and cocoa are contraindicated in those suffering from hiatus hernia.
Cocoa, ally of
Brain, humor, heart.
Cocoa is among the food supplements for the treatment of anxiety: discover the others
A recipe up your sleeve
Cocoa and coconut cake.
Ingredients: 4 eggs, 200 grams of coconut flour, 50 grams of bitter cocoa, 50 grams of vegetable margarine, 5 tablespoons of milk, 120 grams of brown sugar, three tablespoons of frumina, a sachet of cream of tartar with bicarbonate.
Procedure: with an electric mixer, whip the egg yolks, the softened margarine and the sugar. Add coconut, cocoa and milk. Finally the whipped egg whites and then the cream of tartar. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Curiosities about cocoa
Mayans and Aztecs believed that cocoa was the food of the gods and for this reason they offered it to the gods. When Christopher Columbus arrived in America he was very impressed by the value that the natives gave to this product and it was above all for this reason that he decided to take it with him to Europe.
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Cocoa is one of the antioxidant foods against the aging of the organism
Other articles on cocoa:
> Chocolate improves physical endurance
> Chocolate for young children, when to introduce it and which one?
> Chocolate among the ten foods rich in magnesium
