Cocoa Butter: Health Benefits

Cocoa butter is the result of thermal exposure to cocoa beans. Processed grains fall under the press, resulting in cocoa butter.

What does cocoa butter look like

This is a yellowish-white or creamy mass with a solid consistency, which loses shape at a temperature above 21 degrees. The oil begins to completely melt at a temperature above 31 degrees. The product becomes transparent at temperatures above 39 degrees. It has a bitter aftertaste, has a characteristic smell and taste of cocoa. The product is widely used in cooking, cosmetology and medicine.

Kinds

Two types of oil are separated: natural and deodorized. Natural cocoa butter is obtained by separating the core from the shell, followed by processing and frying. The result is fat containing a large amount of vitamins, minerals. Natural oil has a yellowish-white color, has the aroma and taste of cocoa beans. It should not be stored in the refrigerator. If the product melts at 20 degrees, then the composition contains rapeseed and palm oil.

Deodorized cocoa butter undergoes additional processing. This procedure is carried out to increase the shelf life of the product. Such an oil contains all the same minerals, vitamins, and fats as raw oil. But it does not have the characteristic aroma of cocoa. Such a product is used to make white chocolate.

Composition and calorie content

1. Oleic acid. It accounts for 43% of the total volume of fatty acids. Thanks to this acid, metabolic processes in the human body improve. It helps to remove cholesterol from the body, strengthens the human immune system, has a beneficial effect on women's health. Acid is good for the skin. It helps to cope with stretch marks, moisturizes and nourishes the skin, fights small wrinkles.
2. Stearic acid. It makes up 34% of the total volume of fatty acids. It has beneficial effects on the skin. Penetrating into the layers of the epidermis, the acid is able to protect against external factors, nourishes and moisturizes the skin.
3. Palmitic acid. It makes up 25% of the total volume of fatty acids. Increases the penetration of beneficial substances into the body.
4. Vitamins of groups A or retinol. The most important vitamin for the human body. Helps to restore the cells of the body, it is important for the formation of bone tissue. Regular use slows down skin aging. It has a positive effect on vision, improves the functioning of the immune system, restores the skin, helps to cope with irritation, dryness, small abrasions and wounds.
5. Vitamins of group B. Nourish the skin, hair and nails, have a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous system, strengthen immunity and improve the body's resistance to various diseases. Improve bowel function, restoring flora.
6. Vitamin E. It is able to restore and moisturize damaged skin. Eliminates irritation on the skin, helps to cope with acne and red spots, improves the functioning of the vascular system, removes harmful toxins and toxins from the body, acting as an antioxidant.

Caffeine, which is part of the composition, tones the body and charges it with energy.

The composition also includes minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, sodium.They help in the treatment and prevention of diseases associated with anemia, oncology, the gastrointestinal tract, improve blood circulation and normalize blood pressure. The product is very high in calories. 100 g contains 899 kcal and 99 g of fat.

What is useful cocoa butter

General benefit

1. Methylxanthine and tannin, which are part of the skin, help skin cells recover.
2. The product has a tonic effect.
3. The oil is suitable for the treatment of skin rashes, sunburn and inflammation.
4. The magnesium in the composition improves the functioning of the heart and nervous system.
5. The product restores vascular elasticity, reduces the risk of heart failure.
6. The minerals and vitamins in the composition reduce the risk of tumors.
7. Flavanol has a beneficial effect on neurons, restoring and improving memory.
8. Stearic acid normalizes blood cholesterol.
9. The use of cocoa butter for a long time tidies the condition of the skin and nails, and also improves the general condition of the body.

For women

1. Regular use of cocoa butter has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. Sleep improves, mood improves, apathy passes.
2. With constant use of cocoa butter, weight is reduced. It starts the work of metabolic processes at the cellular level.
3. The product improves hormone growth.
4. Drinking oil in the morning reduces appetite. There is an improvement in the work of the protein-hormonal balance. Due to this, the amount of food consumed is reduced.
5. The condition of the skin improves. Redness, itching and skin irritation pass. Cocoa-based masks narrow pores, eliminate acne, and make skin soft and velvety. Hair masks contribute to the overall improvement of their condition. They become strong and obedient. The systematic use of oil will help get rid of dandruff, hair loss, and normalizes the condition of the scalp.

For men

Regular consumption of cocoa butter in food will help reduce the risk of genital diseases. It has a beneficial effect on male potency, improves the quality of male sperm, and stimulates the blood supply to the genitals.

Cocoa butter is suitable for athletes. It is able to regulate metabolic processes in the body, reducing weight gain, suitable for use after strength training, helps to soothe muscle pain.

Daily use reduces the risk of blood clots and heart disease.

During pregnancy

1. The caffeine contained in the composition has a tonic effect.
2. Magnesium helps the formation of the fetus.
3. Iron reduces the risk of anemia during childbirth, and also has a beneficial effect on the developing fetus.
4. Theobromine improves vascular function by strengthening the walls and thinning the blood.
5. When a reasonable amount of cocoa butter is consumed, blood vessels dilate, pressure improves, seizures decrease, and immunity improves.

For eating, it is worth giving preference only to natural cocoa butter, without adding harmful impurities, dyes and preservatives. It is suitable for use as an additive to basic food, is a dietary product and does not cause allergic reactions.

The product is suitable for external use, reduces the risk of stretch marks, normalizes skin condition.

When breastfeeding

Daily use improves weakened immunity. Since a woman is limited in her choice of medicines during lactation, a natural product will help to cope with a number of diseases. A thin layer should be applied to the nasal mucosa, this will create a barrier to the penetration of bacteria.

For sore throats, 1 tsp should be consumed. cocoa butter per day.

The product is suitable for external use. It will help get rid of stretch marks on the body, from cracks in the chest.

For kids

The use of children under three years of age is considered unsafe, since the product can cause allergic reactions.The caffeine contained in the composition is able to overexcite the children's nervous system.

You can use oil for external use. To protect the delicate baby skin from sudden changes in temperature, frostbite and chapping, you should use cocoa butter as a cream, applying a small amount to the skin. To create additional protection against viruses, the nasal mucosa should be treated with melted oil.

When losing weight

Regular use of the product leads to the normalization of metabolic processes. Cocoa butter has enough energy value to fill the body with energy. The use of 15 g of oil during the day significantly reduces food intake.

The product is widely used in cosmetology. Regular wraps will help get rid of cellulite. Penetrating into the middle layers of the skin, oil stimulates the burning of fat, helps get rid of stretch marks and small scars.

Medical use

1. With heart disease. For normal functioning of the cardiovascular system, oleic acid is needed. It improves the condition of the walls of blood vessels, makes them elastic, penetrates deep into the cells and improves their work, normalizes blood pressure, and reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
2. To strengthen the immune system. The composition of the product includes antioxidants. They remove toxins and harmful substances. Regular use enhances immunity, improves the general condition of the body, helps to resist viral disease. To create an additional barrier against viruses, you can process the sinuses.
3. For diseases of the respiratory tract. Cocoa butter will help to cope with respiratory diseases. It has an expectorant effect, accelerates the elimination of sputum from the body. In case of bronchitis, it is necessary to massage the chest with cocoa butter. Massage will increase blood flow, and beneficial substances that penetrate the body will speed up recovery.
4. For the skin. Cocoa butter has the ability to restore and heal the skin. For quick regeneration of the skin, a small amount of oil should be applied to cuts and abrasions. Oleic acid is able to protect the skin from the effects of bacteria and fungi. Oil-based wraps help eliminate stretch marks, help in the fight against cellulite. Oil creates a protective film on the skin, protecting it from harmful effects, preserves the water balance of the skin.
5. With atherosclerosis. Daily eating helps to normalize cholesterol, improves blood quality, eliminates plaques on the walls of arteries.
6. With cholecystitis. It is a good choleretic agent. Daily use in food will help remove bile from the body, improve bowel function, and reduce the risk of inflammatory processes on the intestinal wall.
7. With gastritis. Cocoa butter has an enveloping property, suitable for use during exacerbation and for prevention. In chronic gastritis, destruction of the tissues of the stomach occurs. The minerals in the composition gently envelop the walls and help the tissues recover.
8. With diabetes. Regular consumption of cocoa butter helps restore metabolic processes in the body. Doctors recommend eating moderate-dose cocoa products.

Folk recipes:

1. Gynecology. A mixture of sea buckthorn oil and cocoa butter will help in the treatment of cervical erosion. To do this, mix the ingredients in equal proportions, after melting the cocoa butter. Soak a swab in a mixture of oils. The procedure is performed before bedtime for 3 weeks.
2. Hemorrhoids. To combat hemorrhoids, the following mixture should be prepared. Brew chamomile flowers, in a proportion of 1 tbsp.into a glass of water. Add 10 g of cocoa butter to the cooled mixture. The mixture is introduced through the anus using an enema. Repeat the procedure for up to 2 weeks. With hemorrhoids and problems with stool, you can perform the following actions. Introduce cocoa butter (1 tsp) into the anus. After emptying the intestine, treat the anus with oil. It will help relieve inflammatory processes and reduce pain. With an exacerbation of the disease, you can perform the procedure up to two times a day.
3. Pathology of the respiratory tract. In cases of bronchitis, it is useful to massage the chest with cocoa butter. It activates the flow of blood, the disease will pass faster and easier. For sore throat and severe cough, you should prepare a therapeutic drink. Heat 200 ml of milk, add 1 tbsp. honey and cocoa butter. Drink such a drink at least three times a day. It will help remove sputum from the lungs and reduce pain.
4. Constipation For problems with stool, it is recommended to eat 1 tbsp. cocoa butter before the first meal. Oil gently envelops the stomach, normalizes bowel function, speeds up metabolism. After 3 days, the stool is normalized.
5. For the skin. Cocoa butter is used not only as a cosmetic product. They can heal minor wounds and abrasions, restore the skin after sunburn. If severe redness appears after sunbathing, you need to make an oil-based dressing. The burn site should be treated and a dry cotton cloth bandage applied on top. Repeat the procedure for 5 days.

Cocoa butter in cosmetology

The composition includes fatty acids, which are often used in the basis of all cosmetics. The oil has a moisturizing effect, helps to cope with redness and irritation, regenerates, nourishes and smoothes shallow wrinkles, is suitable for dry skin. It is worth refusing to use only for people with oily and combination skin.

For face

1. For girls with dry skin prone to irritation and peeling, cocoa butter is recommended to be used instead of a night cream. Apply a small amount to previously prepared face skin and leave until completely absorbed. After waking up, remove oil residues with cosmetics.
2. The oil is suitable for use in winter to protect the skin from chapping and frostbite. The fatty acids that make up the oil create a protective film on the face.
3. When abrasive components such as coffee, salt, soda are added to the oil, a scrub can be obtained. 20 g of melted butter mixed with 2 tbsp. coffee meal. Such a scrub will gently cleanse the pores and help remove dead cells.
4. To combat wrinkles, prepare the next mask. Make carrot juice fresh from one carrot. To it add in equal parts honey and cocoa butter, one chicken yolk. Mix all ingredients thoroughly. Distribute evenly on face and décolleté. The mask can withstand 30 minutes. Wash and moisturize your skin thoroughly. After a month of intensive use, wrinkles will be noticeably reduced, the oval of the face will become smoother, the skin will be soft and silky.
5. For tired skin, such a recipe is suitable. Finely chop a bunch of parsley. Mix with 1 tbsp. melted cocoa butter. Leave on for 20 minutes. Repeat up to 3 times a week.

For hair

1. The following recipe will help dry hair prone to hair loss. Melt 50 g of oil to a liquid state and massage it into the hair roots with massage movements. Apply the rest over the entire length. Stand the mixture for 40 minutes, after wrapping the hair in a terry towel. After a month of regular use, the hair will gain shine, the ends will no longer be split.
2. For hair that is constantly subjected to heat treatment, cocoa butter is a real salvation. 50 g of melted product mixed with 1 tsp. oil of an orange tree. Repeat the procedure at least 3 times a week. Hair will become soft and docile.
3. In the fight against hair loss or slow growth, a mask of burdock oil and cocoa butter will help.Melt 50 g of cocoa butter in a water bath, gradually adding 30 g of burdock to it. Apply the heated mixture with massage movements on the hair roots and along the entire length. Wrap your hair in a bath towel for 2 hours.
4. This mask will help cope with itchy scalp and dandruff. 50 g of cocoa butter mixed with 10 g of tea tree oil. Add one egg yolk to the mixture. Apply the mask with massage movements on the hair roots. Leave on for 40 minutes and rinse thoroughly with shampoo. This recipe aims to activate skin cells.
5. Vitamin mask suitable for any type of hair. She will make ringlets soft and strong. Hair will shine, will cease to be cut. You will need to mix in equal proportions cocoa butter and liquid honey. Spread over the entire length of the hair for 30 minutes.

For eyelashes and eyebrows

Cocoa butter is a great way to make your eyelashes thicker. Apply it better before going to bed. It is most convenient to use a brush for eyelashes or a cotton swab. Oil should not get into eyes. Repeating the procedure is recommended daily.

To strengthen the eyebrows should prepare the following mixture. 10 g mix cocoa butter with an egg. Stir until a homogeneous mixture. Dip a cotton pad into the mixture and put on eyebrows for 30 minutes.

To restore the eyelashes after the extension procedure, a mixture of burdock oil and cocoa butter is suitable. Apply a warm mixture of oils with an eyelash brush before bedtime. Repeat the procedure daily.

For nails

1. To strengthen cocoa nails, oil should be mixed with aloe. Rub the resulting slurry into the nail plate for 10 minutes. Rinse with water and moisturize with a nourishing cream.
2. To eliminate yellowness and white spots, mix 15 g of cocoa butter, juice of half a lemon. Rub the mixture into the nail plate. Repeat daily. After a week, the yellowness will pass, the nails will become noticeably stronger, the skin around the nails will become softer.
3. For dry skin of hands and nail plate, the following recipe is suitable. 20 g of honey mixed with 20 g of olive oil and cocoa butter. Rub the mixture into the skin of the hands and the nail plate. Leave for half an hour, wrapping your hands in a terry towel. A noticeable result will be visible after 3 uses. The skin of the hands will become softer, the nail plate will stop flaking, the nails will break less.
4. Cocoa butter is a real find for a coarse cuticle. Hands should be steamed to make the skin softer. Treat the cuticle with a slice of cocoa butter. After such a procedure, doing a manicure will become much easier. After the procedure, moisten the hands with melted cocoa butter, using it instead of the usual cream.
5. For nail growth, such a recipe will help. Mix 1 tbsp. cocoa butter and honey and apply on the nail plate. Repeat every day for 3 weeks.

For lips

1. For dry skin of the lips, a mixture of cocoa and honey is suitable. Take 1 tsp. each ingredient, mix and apply on the lips with massage movements. Repeat every day. The skin will peel less, lips will acquire a healthy look.
2. For delicate skin of the lips, a scrub of the following composition is suitable. Mix 1 tsp. soda and cocoa butter. Apply in a circular motion to the lips. This recipe will help eliminate dead skin cells and make your lips soft.
3. A regular slice of cocoa butter will help protect your lips from chapping. Half an hour before going out, lips should be moistened with cocoa butter.

For body

1. Cocoa butter will help in the fight against cellulite. Evenly apply melted butter to problem areas. Cover the treated areas with cling film. This will create a greenhouse effect. All nutrients penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin, the breakdown of fat will accelerate.
2. To eliminate inflammatory processes, redness and acne, the following composition should be prepared. 15 g mix cocoa butter with 10 g tea tree oil. Apply to problem areas on the skin, leave for 20 minutes.
3. To make the skin soft and tender, you need to prepare the next scrub. Mix in equal parts coffee cake and soda. 50 g of melted butter to combine with 2 tbsp. honey. Combine all ingredients and mix until a homogeneous mixture. Apply to the skin with massage movements.After a week of intensive use, the skin will become softer.
4. To moisturize dry skin, cocoa butter should be applied before bedtime, using instead of the usual cream. Any oil is very dense in composition and is able to clog pores. In order not to get the opposite effect, the skin should be prepared before application. It is advisable to clean it with a scrub. After waking up, it is imperative to take a shower and also cleanse the skin of residual oil.
5. To combat scars, scars and stretch marks, the following mixture will help. Combine 30 g of cocoa butter with aloe pulp and vitamin E. Treat the problem area of ​​the skin. Repeat the procedure daily.

How to use cocoa butter in cooking

Cocoa butter is widely used not only in cosmetology, but also in cooking.

1. Cocoa butter is added to make the basis for cakes and cookies, making creams, fillings for sweets, muffins, rolls and pies.
2. Various drinks are made on the basis of cocoa butter.
3. When mixed with various ingredients, you can not only create a topping for the dish, but also a complete dessert.
4. If you mix butter, cocoa and honey, you get a delicious chocolate syrup that can decorate any pastries.
5. Can be used instead of regular butter. Dishes will immediately become softer, a light aroma and taste of cocoa will appear. If you use this scheme in the preparation of the classic manna, the dish will get an unusual chocolate flavor. They can surprise the youngest gourmet.
6. With cocoa butter you can make not only tasty, but also healthy drinks. For example, when combining hot milk with butter and cocoa powder, you get not only a delicious chocolate drink, but also an excellent cure for bronchitis.

Harm and contraindication

Cocoa butter has several advantages. But in some cases, the use of this product should be discarded. Refrain from it is recommended for people with diabetes. With an exacerbation of the disease, cocoa butter can aggravate the disease. Doctors are of the opinion that moderate consumption of cocoa products does not harm the body.

Excessive consumption can provoke the appearance of allergic reactions. Caution should be exercised in treating this product during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The composition contains caffeine, which has a tonic effect. Therefore, it is not recommended to use the product for children under three years of age. Their nervous system is arranged somewhat differently than in an adult. A large amount of oil can overexcite the fragile body of the child.

It is worth abandoning the product with exacerbation of skin diseases. You can not use it as a cream for the skin with dermatitis, psoriasis. Cocoa butter can worsen the condition of the patient.

How to choose and store cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is a rather exotic product. You should choose very carefully, carefully studying the packaging. It must be airtight. Oil should be stored at a temperature not exceeding 18 degrees.

Natural oil has a characteristic smell and taste of cocoa, has a beige or light cream color. It should become soft at temperatures above 20 degrees. If it melted at room temperature, then margarine is present at the base of such a product.

Since such a product is always an export product, its price should be high. The composition should not contain such ingredients: palm or soybean oil, various thickeners, carcinogens and dyes. Do not use deodorized oil in food.

Storage conditions for natural product:

1. The antioxidants included in the composition will not allow the natural product to deteriorate. The shelf life of natural cocoa butter is up to three years.It may form a light white coating. This means that the top layer of oil is weathered.
2. When purchasing a product for human consumption, it is necessary to make sure of the expiration date. Such oil should be stored in the refrigerator. When purchasing a product for use in cosmetic procedures, you should store it in a cool place, without exposing it to direct sunlight. Air temperature should not be higher than 20 degrees. Do not store in the freezer. A frozen product is harder to melt.
3. Oil should be stored in a sealed, tightly closed container. It is best to use plastic or glassware and avoid exposure to sunlight.

How to make cocoa butter at home

Cocoa butter is rich in vitamins and fatty acids. Useful elements contained in the product make it popular among housewives.

As a rule, many people are not satisfied with the purchase option, so we offer a recipe for making cocoa butter at home.

What do you need?
Making cocoa butter is not difficult. Prepare the cocoa beans. Make sure they are of excellent quality. There should not be any spoiled or unripe grains.

You will also need a juicer with grinding functions. This is an important condition. Experienced housewives praise the Champion device. The equipment has enough power to cope with the task.

How to make?

1. Place the cocoa beans on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Additional mold grease is not necessary.
2. Preheat the oven to 120 degrees and place the grains there. Leave at that temperature for 25 minutes.
3. “Blow” hot grains with a hairdryer or fan so that the husk flies off.
4. Grind the peeled beans in a coffee grinder or mill.
5. Turn on the juicer and place the milled mixture in the bowl. Set the average speed, go to the grinding mode. Wait until the first drops of cocoa butter appear.

How to melt cocoa butter

Cocoa butter is solid and resembles a bar of soap. This form is very convenient to use in cosmetic procedures. The oil becomes soft right at a temperature of 20 degrees. At temperatures above 30 degrees, it melts. Touching the skin, it melts easily. Therefore, when carrying out cosmetic procedures, it is enough to hold a piece on the body.

To use the oil in food or add to cosmetics, it is better to bring it to a liquid state. To do this, prepare a steam bath. Boil water in a small saucepan. After boiling in a pan, lower the bowl with oil. Leave on low heat until the butter has completely melted.

Is it possible to grow cocoa beans at home

Cocoa tree propagated by cuttings. Therefore, it is possible to cultivate it at home. The seeds of a cocoa tree can be planted at any time of the year, after planting, keeping them for 24 hours in warm water. The plant needs loose soil and a large amount of moisture.

Moisture should not be trapped in the pot. Therefore, it is necessary to make a layer of sand. The pot of grains should stand in a cool place and not be exposed to direct sunlight. For successful seed germination, it is necessary to maintain optimal temperature and humidity in the room. At a temperature of 25 degrees, the seeds will germinate after 2 weeks.

The height of the indoor cocoa tree can reach 3 meters. In a young plant, the leaves have an orange-red color. Over time, they turn green and become brilliant. Small flowers may appear on the tree trunk. Under natural conditions, they are necessary for pollinating insects. At home, you will have to pollinate the tree yourself. Cocoa fruits will sprout on the tree trunk; they are similar in size to an apple.

The tree does not like draft and dry air.Keep it away from the batteries, next to it should be a humidifier.

Interesting Facts About Cocoa

1. The history of cocoa dates back over 3,500 years. For the first time, the Aztecs began to grow cocoa trees, living in the territory of modern Mexico. Cocoa fruits were appreciated. They were often used as money. The Aztecs considered cocoa the food of the gods. Another name for the cocoa tree is the food of the gods.
2. The church banned cocoa. In medieval Europe, the drink was under the strictest ban. It was believed that the use of a drink can change the color of the skin and blood in an infant.
3. Cocoa beans are healthy. With their help, you can get rid of depression, drowsiness and fatigue. Regular consumption of cocoa tree products reduces the possibility of the appearance of cardiovascular diseases, helps to cope with respiratory tract pathologies, and strengthens the immune system.
4. Cocoa is not harmful to teeth. It has no harmful and dangerous substances that destroy tooth enamel. A lot of harm is the use of chocolate. To enhance the taste, manufacturers add sugar and preservatives, which destroy tooth enamel.
5. The effect of love. Cocoa products contain caffeine, which tones and stimulates the nervous system. The effect of caffeine increases with the addition of glucose to the drink. There is a feeling of lightness and energy, which is so much like love.
6. Cocoa powder stabilizes pressure. Natural dark chocolate is able to normalize blood pressure. Just two small pieces a day are enough, and high blood pressure will return to normal.
7. Thanks to the vitamins and minerals that make up cocoa, it is very often used in cosmetology. With it, you can smooth out small wrinkles, tighten the oval of the face, remove redness and inflammation on the skin.
8. The most expensive chocolate in the world. Madeleine sweets are made exclusively to order. The composition of the treat includes premium cocoa, fresh cream, truffle oil, sugar. The price of such a candy reaches 15,000 rubles apiece.
9. Cocoa butter is processed cocoa beans. It has a solid structure and is able to remain in this state at room temperature. The product has a bitter taste, a characteristic cocoa smell and a light cream color. It is widely used in cosmetology, cooking and medicine.
10. To make 1 kg of chocolate, you need at least 1000 cocoa beans.
11. Up to 4 million tons of cocoa beans are processed annually in the world. The main global supplier is the African country of Côte d’Ivoire.
12. July 11th is World Chocolate Day.
13. Forster is a popular and unpretentious cocoa variety. Grown in Africa. It makes up about 80% of world production. This variety gives the highest yield. It grows quickly, has a bitter taste with a slight acidity.
14. In 1828, Holland created a technology for the production of cocoa butter and powder. From this moment, the drink became available to all segments of the population.
15. In the 19th century, they began to make chocolate based on cocoa butter. From that moment on, delicacies began to be made into small tiles.

Cocoa Butter Photo