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The benefits of cocoa beans. Video
After the Europeans discovered the New World, they became acquainted with many edible plants, the existence of which had never even been suspected. Among them was the cocoa tree, from the fruits of which the Aztecs prepared a tonic drink “chocolat” with a specific, slightly bitter taste. This is how the well-known word “chocolate” entered the lexicon of European peoples. Very soon, Europeans appreciated the great benefits of cocoa beans, which are still successfully used not only in cooking, but also in medicine.
What nutrients does a cocoa bean contain?
The fruit of the cocoa tree contains a lot of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, trace elements and organic acids. They contain tannins that give products made from cocoa beans a bitter and tart taste, as well as alkaloids such as theobromine and caffeine. In addition, it contains a number of antioxidants that play an important preventive role, reducing the likelihood of developing many serious diseases, including malignant tumors. Therefore, the fruits of the cocoa tree have long been used for medicinal purposes.
It is no coincidence that among the Aztecs, cocoa beans were very expensive and were an analogue of monetary units.
For what medicinal purposes can cocoa beans and their grains be used?
What is the usefulness of the chocolate tree? The fruits of the cocoa tree have a pronounced tonic effect, reducing the feeling of fatigue, apathy, and increasing efficiency. They strengthen the immune system, help to recover from a severe debilitating illness. Regular (but with reasonable moderation) consumption of cocoa fruits has a beneficial effect on the work of the cardiovascular system, skin condition.
Cocoa beans help fight excess weight. They speed up metabolic processes, normalize fat balance and cause a quick feeling of fullness. A person can feel full by eating just a few cocoa beans on an empty stomach. Moreover, his body does not lack nutrients.
Due to the high content of the trace element magnesium, cocoa beans can prevent the development of hypertension. And the caffeine contained in them stimulates the production of serotonin – the “hormone of happiness”, which contributes to a good mood.
Cocoa butter, a fat obtained from cocoa beans, also has very valuable healing properties. It is abundant in saturated and unsaturated acids such as oleic, stearic, palmitic, arachidic and linoleic. It also contains some substances that have a stimulating and healing effect (tannin, methylxanthine). Therefore, cocoa butter is good for various skin diseases, burns, and strengthens the immune system.
Cocoa butter becomes liquid at temperatures above + 18 ° C, and at lower temperatures takes on a solid form of a whitish-yellow hue
If you melt ½ teaspoon of cocoa butter in 200 milliliters of hot milk, this drink is very good for coughing, for example, with bronchitis. Cocoa butter also works effectively for such unpleasant diseases as hemorrhoids or thrush. For example, when external hemorrhoids fall out, it is recommended to apply a cloth soaked in warm cocoa butter to them. Then the nodes will quickly break through and dry out. With internal nodes, cracks, a small amount of hard cocoa butter can be injected into the rectum. And with thrush, it is recommended to knead hard pieces of cocoa butter, roll it into balls, let it harden and insert it into the vagina once a day.
A number of sources claim that adding about 2% (by weight) tea tree oil to cocoa butter will help treat thrush much more effectively.
Cocoa butter is also very useful in treating cervical erosion. It must be mixed with sea buckthorn oil (in an approximate proportion of 3: 1), soaked in a tampon with this mixture and inserted overnight for 2 weeks. In the overwhelming majority of cases, after this period, erosion either completely disappears or noticeably decreases.
Cocoa butter is recommended for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, relieving itching caused by various reasons, and reducing pain in burns. It is also good for treating fungal skin diseases. Finally, cocoa butter, as a highly effective and completely harmless agent, is recommended for nursing mothers to lubricate cracked nipples. They then heal quickly.
Application of cocoa beans
Cocoa butter can be used to make a hair mask. It strengthens the hair structure, nourishes it from the inside. To prepare the product, it is enough to mix the oil with egg yolk, burdock oil and kefir. The mask should be applied to the hair roots with massage movements. The product should be used 2-3 times a week.
Cocoa butter can help eliminate some facial problems such as pigmentation and spider veins. To prepare the mask, heat the oil in a water bath and mix with parsley. The mixture is applied along the massage lines. Wash your face with cool water 20 minutes after application.
Also, the grains of the “chocolate” tree will help to make stretch marks on the body less noticeable. And this is not a complete list of the use of cocoa fruits and their grains for medicinal purposes! It is easy to see that this is the healthiest plant indeed.
Read about the benefits of fructose in the next article.