The power of the Cocoa bean
Benefits to the hair, skin and body
The cocoa bean or simply cocoa,is the dried and fully fermented seed of Theobroma cacao, from which cocoa solids (a mixture of nonfat substances) and cocoa butter (the fat) can be extracted. Cocoa beans are the basis of chocolate, and Mesoamerican foods including tejate, an indigenous Mexican drink that also includes maize.
Learn more on WikepediaWhat is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter, is a pale-yellow, edible fat extracted from the cocoa bean. It is used to make chocolate, as well as some ointments, toiletries, and pharmaceuticals. Cocoa butter is a decent source of vitamin E, which benefits your body in many ways. Vitamin E supports vision, reproduction, and the health of your brain, skin, and blood.
What is Cocoa Solids?
Chocolate is made from sugar, fat and cocoa beans that have been roasted to release their flavour and then ground to produce chocolate ‘liquor’ which is about half finely ground cocoa solids and half cocoa butter. This liquor is then processed to form cocoa solids. Chocolate also contains sugar, milk, lecithin (from egg yolks, used to stabilise the ingredients), vanilla or other flavourings and so on.
The Myth - Chocolate is bad for you?
For many years people were told chocolate was simply an indulgence and ‘bad for you’ but this is not true. High quality chocolate (70% or higher cocoa solids) actually has several health-promoting qualities: It contains vital trace elements and nutrients such as iron, calcium and potassium. Good chocolate, high in cocoa solids, also has vitamins A. B1, C, D, and E.
Learn more at Read Cocoa