The healing power of the cocoa tree

Legion are the articles on the Internet in which a medicinal property of chocolate is mentioned. This observation can be made with a large grain of salt, as much chocolate contains sugar, a persistent and addictive poison. Sugar and many other flavors all completely nullify cocoa medicinal value. Because cocoa is indeed a very healthy substance, but that in no way means that chocolate is healthy. That's where most article writers make a mistake. Raw cocoa can be used medicinally. The only form of chocolate that still has some medicinal value is pure organic ECO quality mark chocolate with more than 80% pure cocoa. This chocolate is eaten almost exclusively by gourmets. It contains little or no sugar and it does not have any synthetic flavors, otherwise it may not be awarded the eco-label.

Naming

In Latin, the cocoa tree is called Theobroma cacao. Theobroma literally means 'food of the gods'. Theo means 'god' in Greek and Broma means food in Greek. Cocoa used to be called 'food of the gods'. The word cocoa comes from the Aztec language, where this delicacy was known as cacaua or cacahuatl or xocolatl. Xococ means bitter in the Aztec language and Atl means water. Literally xocolatl or chocolate means: bitter water. When you taste raw cocoa you will undoubtedly recognize the bitter taste. Dark chocolate is sometimes referred to as bitter chocolate.

The cocoa tree grows best close to the equator. The cocoa tree is native to Central America and the north of South America. The South American countries where cocoa was originally found are Columbia, Ecuador, Venezulea, British Guiana, French Guiana, Suriname and Brazil. Today the plant is cultivated on a large scale in Africa and Asia. The Dutch have also traded in cocoa. The Dutch left behind a huge cocoa plantation in New Guinea, near the town of Ransiki, which still yields a lot of cocoa, but the current Indonesian government and several companies have unfortunately not been able to process the large amount of cocoa fruits. The Papuans dry cocoa on a personal basis and then transport it themselves in bags to a buyer. Most of the cocoa fruits are rotting away, because the plantation is so large that only a well-organized company can handle all the cocoa fruits.

The seeds of the cocoa tree are used for phytotherapeutic purposes; these are called cocoa beans. It contains the following important active ingredients: the xanthines theobromine, caffeine and theophylline, polyphenols, flavonoids, the condensed catecholtannins monomeric catechin and epicatechin., Proanthocyanins, anthocyanins, apigenin, kaemferol, quercetin, isovitexin, phenyandlamamide, magnesium].

Chocolate is never a medicinal product, unless it is dark chocolate with a cocoa percentage of more than 80%. Many ordinary chocolate sometimes does not even contain cocoa, but a substance that can be called cocoa fantasy. The cocoa has been heated and the medicinal efficacy has been largely lost as a result. In addition, it contains sugar and artificial flavors that negate the positive effects of cocoa. If you want to use raw cocoa, you can mix it with a porridge or a self-composed muesli which you then sweeten with soaked dried dates, dried apricots or fresh fruit. You can also make a semolina pudding that makes cocoa extra tasty and gives you medicinal value.

Cocoa contains many antioxidants and reduces oxidation of cholesterol and vascular inflammation. In addition, it is a natural blood thinner because the site aggregation is reduced. This makes raw cocoa an excellent means to take to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Theobromine has a bronchodilator effect and thus relieves asthmatic complaints. Cocoa reduces the risk of aging symptoms such as cataracts or cataracts, impaired vision, impaired liver function and the neurodegenerative disorders Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and dementia. Cocoa stimulates the central nervous system and can be taken to counteract drowsiness, fatigue, exhaustion, reduced alertness and concentration. Cocoa has a slightly euphoric effect, partly due to the xanthines it contains; this allows it to be used for depression. Cocoa reduces appetite; you feel full more quickly and it can therefore help with a diet aimed at weight loss. Cocoa causes the brain blood vessels to contract. That's called vasoconstriction. As a result, it can help other substances to relieve headaches and migraines. Example: cocoa increases the effect of aspirin. Cocoa is a very good source of magnesium and ensures that a deficiency of this mineral is eliminated. The slightly euphoric effect, the light diuretic effect and the fact that it contains a lot of magnesium is a reason for some doctors to prescribe raw cocoa in women with PMS. Topically, cocoa butter can be used as an emollient for dry and flaky skin.

Cocoa is a safe product. You can use the dark chocolate but it still contains sugar; it is better to just use raw, organic cocoa. Too much cocoa is not good. If too much cocoa is used, if it is combined with too much coffee can lead to: