Nature’s Blend: The Various Benefits of Cacao Powder - Part 2
Continuing where we left off from the last article, we will delve deeper into the other notable benefits of cacao powder.
5. It Functions as a Stress-Relieving Component
UCL researchers found that eating dark chocolate can improve mood, lessen feelings of anxiety, and lessen depressive symptoms in a 2019 study. The study looked at the correlation between chocolate consumption and mood disorders in over 13,000 people. Researchers found that those who had dark chocolate within the previous day were 70% less likely to experience despair.
Magnesium and potassium, found in cacao powder, are necessary for proper brain and nervous system functioning. Magnesium has been called "The Original Chill Pill... an old home medicine for anxiety, lethargy, sadness, headaches, insecurity, irritability, restlessness, and sulkiness," as stated in an issue of Psychology Today.
Cacao powder has 26% of your recommended daily value of magnesium and 15% of your potassium per serving, so including it in your routine can help you manage stress, calm down, and stay relaxed.
6. It Makes You Feel Good
Cacao doesn't just mitigate stress; it actually boosts your mood. Cacao powder is packed with natural components that have been proven to improve mood and induce sensations of bliss, such as serotonin, endorphins, phenylethylamine (a substance humans produce when they're in love), tryptophan, and anandamide.
7. It Helps You Manage Your Blood Pressure
Drug therapy is used by the vast majority of persons with hypertension to bring their blood pressure down to a safe level, making hypertension one of the most significant cardiovascular risk factors worldwide. However, this isn't your only option, and there are natural ways to reduce your blood pressure with the help of cacao that has been shown to be effective. The Dutch Zutphen Old Study followed 470 elderly people for 15 years, and it was there that researchers first noticed a correlation between cocoa and blood pressure.
High cocoa consumers had lower blood pressure and a 50% reduced relative risk of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality after adjusting for confounding factors. Different randomised dietary studies have shown since then that regular use of cacao can dramatically lower blood pressure compared to individuals who don't take cacao. Cacao also contains potassium, which helps keep blood pressure stable.
8. It Helps Boost Your Brain Power
Cacao and chocolate include flavonoids that have been demonstrated to have a beneficial effect on the brain, enhancing performance in a variety of mental and perceptual activities. This is due to enhanced circulation reaching the many nerve tissues responsible for controlling and regulating the body's processes and activities. According to the research of healthy volunteers, there was an increase in brain blood flow after only five days of high-flavanol cacao consumption.
Similarly, older persons with modest cognitive impairment exhibited improvement in thinking skills when given cocoa flavanols daily.
9. It Functions as an Anti-aging Component
Cacao powder's rich antioxidant content does more than only boost brainpower; it can also prevent or slow down the natural loss in brainpower that comes with becoming older. In addition, eating foods high in flavonoids has been demonstrated to lower dementia risk.
Cacao has polyphenol antioxidants that prevent cells from early oxidation or damage, keeping us looking and feeling younger. Try using a DIY Cacao Body Scrub if you want to feel revitalised from head to toe after a shower.
Conclusion
Cacao powder has a range of potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, improving cognitive function, and helping to regulate blood sugar levels. Additionally, cacao powder is a rich source of antioxidants, which can help to protect the body against disease.
Indeed, with all of these benefits, it is easy to see why cacao powder is becoming increasingly popular among health-conscious individuals.
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