Cocoa is a term for the beans of the cocoa tree and the powder made from them. The plant is a tree grown in Central America and the beans are infinitely valuable, they are the main raw material for chocolate production. They have a rich composition of useful substances.
Content of cocoa beans
Fats in cocoa beans
The beans of the cocoa tree contain a large percentage of fat. The composition of cocoa butter includes palmitic acid, which is 23-25 percent, stearic acid, which is 31-34.5 percent, oleic acid, which is 39-43 percent, and linoleic acid, which is about 2 percent.
This uniform, dense and crunchy mass has a yellowish color, a weak aroma and a pleasant buttery taste. When placed at a temperature of 30-34°C, it turns into a transparent yellowish liquid with an oily appearance.
The high fat content distinguishes the cocoa drink from all other invigorating drinks. It is high in calories and nutritious.
Vegetable protein in cocoa
Cocoa is relatively rich in proteins, the content of which depends on the variety. The protein contains a wide variety of amino acids, but it is still not a great source of protein. About 40 percent of them are lost during processing in the body.
Sugars in cocoa beans
Cocoa beans contain a lot of carbohydrates, but most of them are starch, soluble and insoluble fiber. A small part are simple sugars. 100 grams of cocoa powder contains 37040 grams of carbohydrates.
Antioxidants in cocoa beans
Polyphenols in cocoa are almost as high as in wine, and they have antioxidant properties. These flavonoids include catechins, epicatechins, and procyanidin. Flavonoids increase the resistance of capillaries, stimulate the functions of the heart, have a diuretic, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. They affect the metabolism of iodine and calcium in the body.
Theobromine in cocoa
This substance is a very mild stimulant with a diuretic effect. However, it is toxic to domestic animals - dogs, cats, birds.
Caffeine in cocoa
Cocoa beans contain caffeine in small amounts, less than coffee and tea.
Phenylethylamines
These substances have weak antidepressant and stimulant effects, similar to dopamine and adrenaline that the body produces.
Serotonin in cocoa beans
Cocoa beans can increase serotonin in the brain.
Minerals in cocoa
Cocoa beans contain some of the essential minerals for the body - magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese.
Vitamins in cocoa
In the composition of cocoa vitamins are again basic - A, C, E and from group B - B1, B2, B3, B5.
Cocoa beans also contain high doses of tannin substances - about 5%, pectin and carbohydrates, as well as the useful substance flavanol, which improves blood circulation in the brain.
And if you haven't figured it out yet, check out why cocoa is a superfood.
