The Maya civilisation of Central America is claimed to have been the first to use cocoa.
In the 16th century, Spanish invaders brought it to Europe and it immediately became popular as a health-promoting drug.
Crushing cocoa beans and extracting the fat or cocoa butter results in cocoa powder.
Cocoa is well known nowadays for its use in chocolate making. Modern study, on the other hand, has found that it does contain vital components that can help your health.
Cocoa powder has health and nutritional benefits.
1. High in polyphenols, which have a variety of health benefits
Polyphenols are antioxidants that occur naturally in foods such as fruits, vegetables, tea, chocolate, and wine.
They've been linked to a variety of health benefits, including less inflammation, enhanced blood flow, lower blood pressure, and better cholesterol and blood sugar levels .
One of the richest sources of polyphenols is cocoa. It's high in flavanols, which are powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.
2 .Improved Nitric Oxide Levels May Help Lower Blood Pressure
Cocoa, in both powdered and dark chocolate form, has been shown to help decrease blood pressure.
This effect was initially observed among Central American cocoa-drinking islanders, who had significantly lower blood pressure than their non-cocoa-drinking mainland cousins .
Cocoa flavanols are known to increase nitric oxide levels in the blood, which can improve blood vessel function and lower blood pressure.
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