6 Health Benefits of Cocoa
It is a fact that the health benefits of cocoa are immense. No, it does not mean that you can gorge on chocolate whenever you want! It is the unprocessed raw cocoa that contains maximum nutrients and other beneficial compounds than the bar of chocolate that you find in the nearest departmental store. Other than antioxidants, cocoa contains flavonoids which are beneficial in a number of ways for the human body. Listed below are 6 health benefits of cocoa:
1. Maintains heart health
Cocoa contains antioxidants which help the body to get rid of free radicals which lead to damaged cells and diseases. These antioxidants also help in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
2. Protects from harmful radicals
Plants produce certain compounds called flavonoids, which are beneficial for human beings. Cocoa contains flavonoids like epicatechin, catechin, and procyanidins, which are very powerful antioxidants and help, protect the body from harmful free radicals.
3. Enables proper functioning of blood vessels
The flavonoids in cocoa also help protect the body from cardiovascular diseases. It enables proper functioning of the blood vessels and reduces blood pressure. Also, they help in protecting the body from many other heart related ailments.