Many people since childhood love an invigorating brown drink with a delicate foam. Its aroma and sweet taste evoke pleasant memories. Not only children, but also adults enjoy cocoa. This drink appeared in Europe in the 16th century and even then became popular. After all, Europeans liked the invigorating properties of cocoa beans, and adding sugar and cream to the drink, they also made it tasty. It was only in the 19th century that cocoa powder appeared. The benefits and harms of this product are still being studied, and many doctors argue whether it can be given to children.
For many years, cocoa has been the main drink in all kindergartens and schools. And indeed, it has not only a pleasant taste, but also many other advantages. Cocoa powder is now used to make the drink. The benefits and harms of it for children are still being studied. But this drink is still very popular.
Cocoa Benefits
Already with the advent of cocoa beans in Europe, people noticed their invigorating effect. This product improves body tone, performance and accelerates recovery from illness and heavy physical exertion. The content of biologically active substances in cocoa that stimulate the production of endorphins leads to the fact that it improves mood and is a strong antidepressant. In addition, it not only helps to combat stress, but also increases concentration and activates thinking.
The composition of cocoa powder can tell a lot about the benefits of this drink. Besides
the content of proteins, fats, vitamins and microelements in it, scientists have discovered many other useful substances in cocoa. For example, tryptophan helps in the treatment of depression, theobromine reduces coughing and relieves
muscle spasms. Caffeine improves tone, and antioxidants help rejuvenate the body. Polyphenols normalize blood pressure and reduce
blood viscosity, which helps in the treatment of hypertension.
And this is not all the benefits that cocoa powder brings. Its properties during wound healing, tissue regeneration and increased skin elasticity contribute to the widespread dissemination of this product in cosmetology. Especially important is the ability of this drink to protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.
But not everyone can drink cocoa powder. The benefits and harms of this product are being seriously studied. And despite many advantages, an invigorating aromatic drink can bring big problems.
Cocoa Harm
Due to the caffeine content in it, you should not drink more than two cups of the drink per day, as this can cause overexcitation, anxiety and even addiction. Cocoa powder contains many purines, so it is undesirable to use it for kidney diseases. In addition, often this product causes allergic reactions. This is due to the fact that during its production, insects are processed together with cocoa beans, which cause allergies in people.
Soluble cocoa powder is the most harmful because it contains many emulsifiers, flavors and other artificial additives. Therefore, you need to buy only a natural product from well-known manufacturers.
For the preparation of many dishes, cocoa powder is used. Its benefits and harms are known to a few, but almost every housewife has this product in the kitchen. It is added to pastries or cereals. In addition, it is so pleasant to have a cup of aromatic hot cocoa in the morning.