How to choose a good product and check its quality
In stores you can find two types of cocoa:
- powder to be boiled;
- dry mixture for quick preparation.
Natural powder is healthier for your health. It does not contain sugar or preservatives.
When choosing, evaluate the fat content (on the packaging): it should be at least 15% in the product, shelf life.
The remaining quality criteria can be assessed for the product already purchased. These include:
- The smell of chocolate . It must be strong and clean, without foreign inclusions.
- There should be no lumps . Their presence indicates improper storage.
- Grinding He's supposed to be very small. To assess the quality, you can rub the powder between your fingers. Good cocoa should stick to the skin and not crumble into dust.
- The color can only be brown.
It is advisable to taste a little of the product before cooking. A rancid or other unpleasant aftertaste indicates that it is unsuitable for food.
REFERENCE! After preparing the drink, the suspension in the liquid should not settle before two minutes.
Cocoa butter: application in cosmetology
Cocoa butter is used in cosmetology as a moisturizing, nourishing and rejuvenating agent. The oil activates hair growth and skin cell regeneration. The oil is quickly absorbed and does not leave a greasy sheen.
1. Oil can replace night cream. In winter, it is useful to lubricate your face before going outside.
2. Chapped lips should be moisturized with oil as a hygienic lipstick.
3. Applying oil to the skin before going to the beach will ensure a beautiful, even tan. After skin damage from hot sun rays, oiling will help. It will reduce pain and relieve irritation.
4. To care for your eyelids, you will need to mix 1 portion of oil with 2 portions of rosehip oil and lightly lubricate the skin of your eyelids. After 1 hour, any oil that has not been absorbed should be removed with a damp cloth.
5. For hands. Dry hands, the skin of which is peeling, should be lubricated with a mixture of oil and heated honey, taken in equal parts. It is better to lubricate before going to bed and wear cloth gloves. In the morning, your hands will be smoother and softer.
6. For the feet. To soften the rough skin of the foot, you will have to soak your feet in a bath with a solution of salt or soda for 20 minutes. Then the feet are wiped well and lubricated with cocoa butter, rubbing it into the skin with massage movements.
7. For facial skin. The oil is mixed equally with lemon juice or egg yolk or heated honey or kefir. With the use of such a mask, skin color improves, wrinkles are smoothed out, and early aging is prevented. But this mask cannot be used by women with oily skin.
Composition and calorie content
The chemical composition of the product contains more than 300 organic substances.
The most significant among them:
- Theobromine, which causes a feeling of happiness and euphoria, but without addiction. INTERESTING! Theobromine is added to new generation toothpastes, as it prevents the destruction of enamel and the development of caries.
- Theophylline , which relaxes smooth muscles and normalizes respiratory function.
- Phenylethylamine , an antidepressant.
- Caffeine, which stimulates mental and physical activity. It is classified as a psychostimulant, but the powder contains it in an amount not exceeding 2%.
- Purine bases involved in the synthesis of non-essential amino acids.
- Polyphenols that act as antioxidants.
Calorie content is 289 kcal/100 g of product.
Beneficial properties of a drink made with water and milk
The product has a general strengthening effect on the body . It invigorates, lifts the mood, stimulates mental activity without depleting the nervous system.
A fragrant hot drink is useful to drink in the cold season , as it has a warming effect.
The product is capable of:
- stimulate lung function;
- activate hemoglobin synthesis due to the content of folic acid;
- prevent caries;
- neutralize the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation due to the natural melanin pigment included in the composition;
- prevent the development of cancer;
- normalize blood pressure;
It has antioxidant properties superior to green tea and red wine.
Cocoa brewed with water tastes like dark chocolate . It is recommended for people to drink:
- prone to diarrhea;
- hypotensive patients;
- with lactose allergy.
French nutritionist Madeleine Gesta recommends drinking a drink made with skim milk and honey. It maintains strength even during strict diets due to a balanced combination of microelements and vitamins contained in the ingredients of the drink.
Cocoa with regular milk, with or without added sugar, is useful for people engaged in mental work. It satisfies hunger without burdening the stomach, stimulating brain function.
Effect on the body
The product is a source of endorphins, hormones of happiness . It acts gently and does not cause addiction or mood swings.
Benefits for adult men and women
In adults, with moderate constant use, it strengthens capillaries thanks to the flavonoids it contains. Promotes wound healing, rejuvenation of facial and body skin.
It is useful for men to maintain reproductive function in good shape . The zinc and magnesium contained in the drink stimulate the body to actively produce the male hormone - testosterone, and improve the quality of seminal fluid.
For women, cocoa is especially useful for hormonal imbalances. It balances the emotional state and alleviates premenstrual syndrome.
Pregnant and nursing
Doctors do not recommend consuming cocoa in any form for women expecting a baby , as it makes it difficult for the body to absorb the trace element calcium. But with severe toxicosis in the first trimester, drinking the drink in small quantities is allowed - 50-100 ml twice a day. It relieves nausea, causes a surge of energy, preventing exhaustion.
During lactation, the product must be decisively abandoned in order to avoid sleepless nights and calcium metabolism disorders in the baby.
Is it harmful for children?
Children can drink cocoa from the age of three . It is better to accustom your child to a natural product with a minimum amount of sugar. The drink should be introduced into the diet carefully, in small portions, as it can cause allergies.
A tasty drink is especially useful for children after illness, during exams, to improve overall tone and mood.
For the elderly
With the onset of age-related changes in the human body, restructuring begins, which is accompanied by emotional decline, despondency and depression.
Cocoa can support older people:
- activating blood supply to the brain;
- improving memory;
- preventing the development of atherosclerosis;
- increasing the strength of the walls of blood vessels and capillaries;
- gently removing you from a depressive state.
After 50 years, all coffee lovers are recommended to switch to cocoa to maintain a healthy nervous system and creative activity.
Special categories
Patients with diabetes are recommended to drink a drink made with natural milk without sugar . It has a low glycemic index and calorie content, and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the pancreas.
The product is also beneficial for those suffering from bronchial asthma . It relieves bronchospasm, making the patient feel better.
Athletes are also recommended to drink cocoa. It promotes the regeneration and restoration of muscle fibers, maintaining overall tone.
Potential dangers and contraindications
Cocoa is one of the products that can provoke allergic reactions . The main contraindication is individual intolerance.
The product should also not be used:
- children under 3 years old;
- women during breastfeeding;
- patients with gout and arthritis due to the high content of purine bases in cocoa, which contribute to the deposition of salts.
REFERENCE! Despite the tonic effect, cocoa helps normalize blood pressure for all those suffering from blood pressure changes. It is advisable for hypotensive patients to drink it based on water, and for hypertensive patients - milk.
The main suppliers of cocoa beans for the production of powder are African countries , where chocolate trees are treated with pesticides and insecticides. All toxic substances are removed when the beans are processed at the oil extraction stage.
But improper storage of raw materials before processing can be harmful. Therefore, it is better to purchase the product in large supermarkets from manufacturers worthy of your trust.
Myth 8. Cocoa tastes like chocolate.
50/50. This is true, because chocolate is made from cocoa beans. However, all cocoa in the world is divided into two categories: ordinary (“ordinary” cocoa beans) and fino de aroma - beans with a bright, complex taste and aroma. There are only 5-8% of the world's cocoa bean reserves! The taste of cocoa is influenced by genetic variety, growing conditions, quality of collection, fermentation and drying. As with coffee, there are more acidic varieties and milder ones. In the taste of cocoa, depending on the variety, you can find red berries and tropical fruits, nuts, butter, dried fruits, tobacco and spices. It’s worth trying a fino de aroma chocolate drink to feel the difference. This cocoa mass in discs can be purchased in specialized online stores. The cost of 1 kg is approximately 1000 rubles. and higher.
Cocoa fino de aroma is a whole world of tastes and aromas: fruits, nuts, berries, creamy caramel shades. From grated cocoa and dark chocolate you can make cocoa, hot chocolate, various desserts and baked goods, just like with regular chocolate, but much tastier and healthier (less sugar content).
Recommendations for use
Since cocoa has the properties of an energy drink, it is better to drink it in the morning to get a boost of energy for the whole day. A drink made with water is combined with cheese or boiled eggs, and a drink made with milk - with cottage cheese and honey. Elderly and frail people can drink cocoa with milk during the day or early evening.
It is useful for athletes to drink cocoa with milk without sugar in small portions , 20-30 ml at intervals of 15 minutes, an hour after training. You can prepare the drink in advance and pour it into a thermos.
A safe daily dose of the drink is two cups of 200-250 ml . To prepare one serving, take 2 tsp. product.
ATTENTION! It is advisable for hypertensive patients to limit themselves to one cup of aromatic drink in the morning. On the contrary, patients with bronchial asthma can drink 3 cups per day.
In cooking
Used for making chocolate sauces, baked goods, glazes, etc.
Pancake sauce
Ingredients:
- butter - 50 g;
- cocoa powder - 10 g;
- sugar - 30 g;
- milk - ¼ tbsp.
Heat butter, milk and sugar, stirring until smooth. Then add the product, boil, remove from heat. At the end, you can add vanillin, cinnamon or lemon zest to taste.
Chocolate cocktail
Ingredients:
- milk - 300 ml;
- vanilla ice cream - 200 g;
- cocoa powder - 10 g;
- rum or cognac - 50 ml.
Beat cold milk with a mixer and powder until lumps disappear. Then add ice cream and liquor. Beat until a stable foam is obtained . Pour into tall glasses. You can decorate the top with chocolate chips.
Is it possible to drink for weight loss?
Those who want to lose weight should cook with skim milk without sugar . Eat for breakfast with 10 g of honey.
The drink contains magnesium, zinc and calcium to keep the body in good shape. Cocoa reduces appetite and improves mood, preventing those losing weight from breaking their diet.
Medicinal use
As a medicine, the product is used to treat diseases associated with depletion of the body, as an antiparasitic agent.
For anemia
Ingredients:
- one yolk;
- ½ tbsp. milk;
- 5 g cocoa;
- a little cinnamon.
Beat with a mixer and consume for one month, one hour before breakfast .
From worms
Ingredients:
- 100 g pumpkin seeds;
- 100 g honey;
- 10 g cocoa.
Grind the seeds in a coffee grinder, mix with honey and cocoa. Store in the refrigerator, using 1 tbsp every day instead of breakfast. l. this paste for two weeks.
In cosmetology
The product is perfect for face and body care at home. Express care procedures are especially effective for quick results before an important exit.
Express mask with lifting effect
Ingredients:
- pink cosmetic clay - 10 g;
- cocoa - 5 g;
- avocado oil - 5 ml.
Make a paste from the clay by adding a little water . Mix with powder and oil.
Session duration: 30 minutes.
Tonic bath
Ingredients:
- 2 liters of milk;
- 40 g cocoa;
- 100 g sea salt.
Heat the milk to 60 degrees, mix with powder and salt . After dissolution, add to a bath of water (temperature 40 degrees). Take 20 minutes.
You will learn even more about the health benefits and harms of cocoa powder and the correct use of the drink with high blood pressure from the following video:
Cocoa is a universal tonic product. It combines the properties of an energy drink, a medicine and a cosmetic product. The product is not addictive, maintaining body tone at a high level.
Cooking cocoa
To make a really tasty drink, we need cocoa powder itself, water, sugar, milk and a mixer (or whisk). Sugar (to taste) and cocoa are poured into boiling water and everything is thoroughly stirred with a mixer. At the end, hot milk (fat content 3.5% or more) is always added to the drink. If you do this without a mixer, then the cocoa will still turn out tasty, but it will be just a homogeneous drink, without the slightest hint of the airy foam, thanks to which this drink has been valued by millions of people for more than a century.
Did you know that cocoa is a modern drink that only began to be prepared in the 19th century? Of course, cocoa beans have been known to people for a long time. Previously, they were used exclusively for making hot chocolate, which to this day some people confuse with cocoa. Drinking chocolate is prepared only with milk: milk, chocolate bars, vanilla, sugar and cinnamon. And it also whips into foam.
Cocoa beans are the grains of the chocolate tree, which are hidden in the pulp of its fruit. The beans themselves have no special taste or smell. In order to obtain the taste and aroma characteristic of cocoa powder and chocolate, cocoa beans undergo technological processing.
