Tag: chocolate

Chocolates are made from cacao — a tree that is commonly cultivated today. The fruit is a celebrity in Mesoamerican cities — Mayans celebrate the deity that they believed to have given them the fruit every April and Aztecs once used this as a form of money and business.

What Is Cacao?

The Theobroma cacao is a small tree with a maximum height of 6 meters. This tree thrives in tropical climate, which is one reason why a majority of their numbers are found in South America. There are 20 countries known to cultivate cacao as a means of supplying chocolate-related business with raw materials for their concoctions.

There are three types of cacaos. Criollo cacaos are said to be of the highest quality and quite rare — equating only to 10% of today’s chocolates. The predominant group is the Forastero. Around 80% of the world’s chocolate is made from this type of cacao. A combination of both Criollo and Forastero is the Trinitario.

Cacao and Chocolates

The most common use of the cacao is to serve as primary ingredient for chocolates. Cacaos are harvested when ripe, dried, cleaned and roasted, removed from the shell, ground then liquefied to become a solution known as the chocolate liquor.

The liquor may then be used as ingredient for cocoa butter or cocoa bars which makes up a complete chocolate. Today’s chocolate includes a healthy portion of sugar as an added ingredient to the mix. White chocolate is made wholly out of cocoa butter.

Another variation of the chocolate mixture is the dark chocolate, which is not a popular choice of today’s younger generation. This chocolate is made from pure cocoa beans without any sugar or milk — commonly termed as unsweetened chocolate. This may either come in the form of cocoa powder or chocolate bars. Health experts all agree that dark chocolates retain most of its nutritional compounds even after processing.

Nutritional Value

Many believe that chocolates are healthy because of the nutritional value common in cacao beans. Well, this is more of a misunderstanding than truth. An average chocolate made with milk and sugar retains only 1% of the nutrients found in cacao beans. Dark chocolates made from pure cocoa contain around 70% of its beneficial compounds so if you’re looking for health benefits from chocolates then you might want to go for those of purer quality.

Nutritional Facts

Cacao is practically one of the healthiest fruit today. There are over 300 compounds in a single cacao bean that is beneficial to the body. Some of them are even used by pharmaceutical companies to developed drugs to combat behavioral and emotional problems or as a stimulant for a more active body.

In most case, magnesium is the predominant compound found to be of most benefit to the human body — especially to Americans who are known to have low magnesium content in their bodies. Magnesium helps strengthen bone structure.

Also, it was found out that chocolates are addictive due to the presence of anandamide and phenylethylamine (PEA). The latter is known to cause an increase in heart rate and boost circulation that often leaves us alert and focused. The former is called chocolate amphetamine that is often used to treat patients that is suffering from depression.

We can never deny the fact that cacao or cocoa is packed with nutrients to keep our body in top shape. Chocolates on the other hand, which comes from processed cacao beans, may have some of its original health compounds but it may have some more ingredients that might deal cause some adverse side-effects. Its fine time to learn all about cacao and chocolates to get some good use out it — aside from giving in to our sweet tooth.

 Difference Between Cacao and Chocolates

There is a big difference between cacao and chocolates though the former is the main ingredient for the latter. Cacao is harvested, dried, roasted, and ground to produce chocolate solid and butter that is a staple for chocolate concoctions today.

There are three types of chocolates made from cacao – the sweetened chocolate made from both chocolate butter and solids with sugar; the milk chocolate made from 100% chocolate butter; and the dark chocolate made from both ingredients but without the sugar. The latter is called unsweetened chocolates which is more nutritious that the other two.

 Sugar and Fat

Many consider chocolates to be unhealthy and can be the cause of many health-related problems, like diabetes or high-blood pressure. Keep in mind, however, that not all chocolates results to these conditions. The main reason why you acquire diabetes or suffer heart problems is due to sugar and other additional ingredients mixed with chocolate butter and solids to produce the favorite sweets of younger generations and adults alike.

Cacao bean and cocoa powders only have 2% sugar. Sweetened chocolates, however, may have 45% to 50% sugar — that is why it is bad if you eat too much of it. Also, cacao and processed cocoa contains 50% fat — fatty acids and mono-saturated fat. These do not cause your blood pressure to rise. However, other chocolate varieties, like those made with milk and other additives can.

Antioxidant and Heart-Friendly Properties

Cacao beans are great antioxidants. The non-fat portion of cacao beans contains polyphenols commonly found in wine. These antioxidant properties are called flavonoids, which include epicatechins, catechins, and procyandins. These compounds reduce the risk of blood clotting that is a great way to avoid heart attack and stroke.

Another compound found in cacao bean is the Theobromine. It is known as a mild diuretic that increases urine production. Doctors utilize this compound to reduce the possibility of heart attacks caused by increase fluids in the human body.

Mental and Behavioral Solutions

There are also compounds in cacao beans that help in relieving mental and behavioral illnesses, like depression. A substance called Serotonine that is found in both chocolate and its raw ingredient is known to increase brain activity. This is often used with patients that are suffering from PMS, depression, or anxiety.

Also, both chocolates and cacao beans contain phenylethylamine. This compound is a known anti-depressant and acts as a stimulant that mimics those produced by our adrenal glands.

Contrary to popular belief, chocolates are one of the healthiest foods today if used properly. If you think that chocolate is healthy, then you will be more amazed if you find out that its main ingredient – the raw cacao — is actually the source of its nutritional benefits.

This article aims to provide factual and simple information on the nutritional benefits of raw cacao. Though there are more than 300 compounds in a single cacao bean, we will tackle those that are commonly used in the medical field and beneficial to our bodies.

Difference Between Cacao And Chocolates

Before we delve into the nutritional facts of cacao, we have to understand that there is a big difference between the raw variety and its chocolate counterpart.

For starters, chocolates made from processed cacao along with sugar are said to only have 1 to 5 percent of the nutritional value found in its raw ingredient. Meaning, sweet chocolates aren’t that healthy to begin with; unless of course you go for dark chocolates made from raw cacao retaining a majority of its healthy compounds.

Behavioral And Emotional Effects Of Cacao

There are more than 300 compounds found in raw cacao. Among these includes magnesium that is perfect for developing strong bones — a must for Americans who are said to have low magnesium levels compared to other races.

Also, raw cacao contains compounds that directly affect our emotional and behavioral patterns. The PEA or phenylethylamine is a compound found in cacao that helps increase pulse rate and blood circulation for added alertness and focus. PEA is also released by our adrenal gland but in lesser quantities compared to raw cacao.

Another compound found in cacao that directly affects our emotions is the anandamide. This compound is known to increase our blood pressure and sugar levels that lead to excitement and alertness. This compound is a common ingredient in anti-depression drugs.

Solution To Heart Problems

According to medical research, cacao contains a compound called Theobromine that directly affects our nervous system. There is much debate regarding this compound considering that it is somewhat similar to caffeine in terms of stimulants.

In most cases, Theobromine is a mild diuretic that can help decrease the probability of heart attacks. Through the increase of urination caused by this compound, heart attacked caused by increased in body fluids can be averted.

Other Health Facts

Aside from the health benefits above, cacao is also a great antioxidant that ranked first among the 10 known fruits with antioxidant properties today. It contains 4 times the anti-aging compounds commonly found in a Goji berry which makes it a potent solution for those who wants to get rid of harmful radicals in their body that contributes to wrinkles, scars, weak and pale skin, and so on.

Despite the potency of cacao as a superfood, keep in mind that there is a big difference with raw cacao and chocolates sold in the market today. It all depends on what types of chocolates you eat to get the most benefit out of it. Dark unsweetened chocolates made from raw cacao are the best since most of its compounds are retained even after processing.

We can never deny the fact that we love chocolates. Though many consider these sweets to be unhealthy and addictive, did you know that its raw ingredient — the cacao — is a super health food? That’s right; the cacao is the main ingredient in many chocolate brands today. The raw cacao is said to contain various substances that is healthy to the body — granting it the title of superfood by many health organizations.

History of Cacao

As with any popular fruit, there is always a story on how it came to be — same goes with cacao. The ancient Mayan civilization believed that the cacao is a gift from the gods. Even today, a festival is held every April to honor the god that introduced this wonder fruit to the world. Its scientific name, “Theobroma” means “Food of the Gods”. This fruit was also used as a form of currency by the Aztecs during the pre-Columbians Mesoamerican civilization.

Cacao Groups

There are 3 groups of this fruit and each has its own unique qualities, as well as its respective worth in today’s cocoa market. The Criollo group is practically the most rare and expensive of all the cacao family — a popular choice of the Mayan culture. The Criollo cacao is less bitter compared to its cousins and has a more aromatic texture that makes it a perfect choice for dark chocolate solutions.

The Forastero cacao makes up 80% of today’s chocolates. The tree itself is more adaptive and sturdier during cultivation, thus, making it a lot cheaper compared to Criollo due to the ease of production. Last, but not the least, is the Trinitario cacao. This group is a hybrid of both the Forastero and Criollo which makes about 10% of the world’s chocolates.

Nutritional Facts

There are said to be more than 300 compounds in raw cacao, but the more popular ones with the most benefit to our bodies are as follows:

1.  Magnesium – helps to develop stronger bones and used as a muscle relaxant;
2.  Sulfur – helps for stronger nails and hair
3.  Phenylethylamine (PEA) – is a chemical produced by our adrenalin glands that induces excitement. This chemical that is found in cacao increase our pulse rate and doubles body activity — helping us become focused and alert.
4.  Anandamide – this chemical is also found in raw cacao that increases our alertness and causes us to feel excited; this chemical is often used by doctors to treat patients under the throes of depression.

Cacao As Antioxidant

Medical experts agree that cacao is one of the best antioxidants in the market today. Depending upon its cultivation, cacao yields 4 times as much antioxidant compounds found in other fruits, like Goji berries. But despite its anti-aging properties, eating too much cacao may cause some side-effects so its best if you ask a medical expert to help you come up with a proper dosage for it to avoid problems later on.