The Health Benefits Of Raw Cacao

The Benefits Of Raw Cacao

Today’s media is full of reports about so-called “superfoods.” While most of these reports are based on some level of fact, misrepresentation or poor interpretation of medical and scientific findings often leads to misinformation and sensational yet misleading headlines. A prime example of this is raw cacao. The health benefits of raw cacao are astounding; however, this, unfortunately, does not necessarily mean that eating a bar of milk chocolate each day will have the same effects. Read on to learn more about the ways in which raw cacao can improve your health and how to take full advantage.

What is Raw Cacao?

Cacao-based products are made from cacao beans and include cacao powder, nibs, paste, and butter. When purchasing raw cacao products such as powder, it is important to understand the differences between raw cacao powder and the more common cocoa powder. Raw cacao powder is very pure. It is made from raw, unroasted cocoa beans via a process known as cold pressing, which removes the fat in the form of cacao butter; much of the bean and nutrients remain intact.

Cacao is one of the best sources of flavonoids (which are potent antioxidants) available, which means that it has huge health benefits. It is also rich in protein, cholesterol-free and monounsaturated fats, fiber, natural carbohydrates, and minerals (including zinc, iron, potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, and calcium).

Cocoa powder is produced in a similar way to cacao powder, except that it undergoes high-temperature processing during production. Although it retains significant health benefits, the high temperatures used to destroy some of the nutritional value. As cocoa undergoes further processing to make reduced-strength dark chocolate and milk chocolate, increasing amounts of the nutrients are removed. Therefore, raw cacao powder, cocoa powder, or very strong dark chocolate are recommended for optimal health benefits.

Cardiovascular benefits

Many people are at an increased risk of cardiovascular events as they age. The good news is that certain foods can help reduce this risk. Cocoa-based products can significantly benefit the cardiovascular system by reducing cardiovascular risk and atherosclerosis, improving circulation, lowering LDL (bad) levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels, and reducing blood pressure.

Many of these effects are caused by the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of the flavonoids.

• Cacao- and cocoa-based products can reduce hypertension.

For example:

• The Cocoa, Cognition, and Aging (CoCoA) Study was performed on 90 elderly individuals who received cocoa-based drinks with high, medium, or low flavonoid content.

• Blood pressure was reduced significantly in patients that received high- or medium-content cocoa compared with those that received low-flavonoid cocoa [1].

The subjects also exhibited improved insulin resistance and reduced lipid peroxidation.

Cardiovascular function.

A recent study assessed vascular stiffness in healthy younger (<35) and older (50–80) men who drank cocoa or a control drink twice a day for two weeks. The subjects who drank cocoa exhibited significantly improved cardiovascular function, as measured by improved endothelial function, blood pressure, and vascular stiffness [2]. A similar study confirmed these effects and indicated that the consumption of high-flavonoid chocolate improved platelet aggregation (an indicator of the ability of the blood to form clots) compared with low-flavonoid chocolate [3].

Cholesterol.

Several studies have investigated the ability of cocoa and cacao to improve cholesterol. For example, consuming 400 g cocoa powder with 500 ml skimmed milk daily increased HDL and lowered LDL cholesterol levels in elderly subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease [4]. Similar observations were made in young, healthy, and hypercholesterolemic issues [5] and elderly healthy individuals [6].

Cognitive function

The available data suggest that cocoa and cacao could help protect against cognitive decline in aging individuals.

• In the same CoCoA study described above, subjects that received cocoa with a high or medium flavonoid content significantly improved two different cognitive function measures: a trail-making test and a verbal fluency test. The gains were most significant in the high flavonoid vs. the intermediate flavonoid group. However, there were no improvements in the mini-mental state evaluation among groups [1].
• Cocoa and cacao might also protect against dementia and diseases like Alzheimer’s [7].

Metabolic Effects

The risk of metabolic diseases often increases as we age, and conditions such as diabetes and obesity are associated with reduced mortality. Luckily, cocoa could help reduce the risk of these conditions and their symptoms.

Cocoa’s most crucial metabolic effect is its ability to improve insulin sensitivity.

In one study, subjects received dark or white chocolate (with high and zero flavonoid content, respectively), and insulin sensitivity was assessed using glucose tolerance tests and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. Dark, but not white, chocolate significantly improved both measures of insulin sensitivity and reduced blood pressure [8].

Hormonal Changes

The symptoms of many aging-related diseases have been linked to reduced hormone levels over time. Therefore, improving natural hormone production can reduce the symptoms of many aging-related diseases.

Cocoa can have beneficial effects on the production of several hormones.

• Testosterone Injections. Cocoa and cacao contain high concentrations of zinc, which has been shown to increase testosterone production [9].
• Stress hormones. We all know that eating a delicious, decadent piece of dark chocolate creates an excellent, relaxed feeling.

There is a physiological reason for this! Cocoa can potently inhibit the release of the stress hormone cortisol. Healthy men aged 20–50 who consumed a single piece of dark chocolate responded significantly less to a psychosocial stressor.

These effects were caused by inhibiting the release of the stress hormones cortisol and epinephrine from the adrenal gland [10].

So, there you have it! Cocoa is a superfood. It is not only delicious, but when eaten in unprocessed forms, it has significant health benefits. Testosterone Injections – Curious about testosterone injections Therapy? Read more about what you can expect from this treatment and contact us for more information at (866) 224-5698

References

• [1] D. Mastroiacovo, C. Kwik-Uribe, D. Grassi, S. Necozione, A. Raffaele, L. Pistacchio, R. Righetti, R. Locale, M.C. Lechiara, C. Marini, C. Ferri, G. Desideri, Cocoa flavanol consumption improves cognitive function, blood pressure control, and metabolic profile in elderly subjects: the Cocoa, Cognition, and Aging (CoCoA) Study–a randomized controlled trial, The American journal of clinical Nutrition, 101 (2015) 538-548.

• [2] C. Heiss, R. Sansone, H. Karimi, M. Krabbe, D. Schuler, A. Rodriguez-Mateos, T. Kraemer, M.M. Cortese-Krott, G.G. Kuhnle, J.P. Spencer, H. Schroeter, M.W. Marx, M. Kelm, Impact of cocoa flavanol intake on age-dependent vascular stiffness in healthy men: A randomized, controlled, double-masked trial, Age (Dordrecht, Netherlands), 37 (2015) 9794.

• [3] G. Rull, Z.N. Mohd-Zain, J. Shiel, M.H. Lundberg, D.J. Collier, A. Johnston, T.D. Warner, R. Corder, Effects of high flavanol dark chocolate on cardiovascular function and platelet aggregation, Vascular Pharmacology, 71 (2015) 70-78.

• [4] N. Khan, M. Monagas, C. Andres-Lacueva, R. Casas, M. Urpi-Sarda, R.M. Lamuela-Raventos, R. Estruch, Regular consumption of cocoa powder with milk increases HDL cholesterol and reduces oxidized LDL levels in subjects at high risk of cardiovascular disease, Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases: NMCD, 22 (2012) 1046-1053.

• [5] S. Martinez-Lopez, B. Sarria, J.L. Sierra-Cinos, L. Goya, R. Mateos, L. Bravo, Realistic intake of a flavanol-rich soluble cocoa product increases HDL-cholesterol without inducing anthropometric changes in healthy and moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects, Food & function, 5 (2014) 364-374.

• [6] N. Neufingerl, Y.E. Zebregs, E.A. Schuring, E.A. Trautwein, Effect of cocoa and theobromine consumption on serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations: a randomized controlled trial, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 97 (2013) 1201-1209.

• [7] L. Dubner, J. Wang, L. Ho, L. Ward, G.M. Pasinetti, Recommendations for Development of New Standardized Forms of Cocoa Breeds and Cocoa Extract Processing for the Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease: Role of Cocoa in Promotion of Cognitive Resilience and Healthy Brain Aging, Journal of Alzheimer’s disease: JAD, 48 (2015) 879-889.

• [8] D. Grassi, C. Lippi, S. Necozione, G. Desideri, C. Ferri, Short-term administration of dark chocolate is followed by a significant increase in insulin sensitivity and a decrease in blood pressure in healthy persons, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 81 (2005) 611-614.

• [9] C.D. Hunt, P.E. Johnson, J. Herbel, L.K. Mullen, Effects of dietary zinc depletion on seminal volume and zinc loss, serum testosterone concentrations, and sperm morphology in young men, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 56 (1992) 148-157.

• [10] P.H. Wirtz, R. von Kanel, R.E. Meister, A. Arpagaus, S. Treichler, U. Kuebler, S. Huber, U. Ehlert, Dark chocolate intake buffers stress reactivity in humans, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 63 (2014) 2297-2299.

**NOTE** The content in this blog is subject to interpretation and is the opinion of the content writer. We do not claim it to be fact. We encourage you to consult a medical doctor before taking any prescribed medications or supplements.

Conclusion

Supporting Hormones health is essential for overall well-being and vitality. By incorporating regular exercise, proper Nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management techniques, and IV therapy, you can help maintain optimal testosterone levels and lead a healthy, balanced life. Always consult a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your lifestyle or starting any new treatments to ensure they suit your needs.

At AAI Rejuvenation Clinic, we advise anyone to think seriously about beginning Hormone treatment if there is no medical need. However, we will take every precaution to ensure that you read your program’s positive benefits by providing the latest at-home hormonal mouth-swab testing to ensure we are continually monitoring your progress and aware of any adverse side effects. Fill out the Medical History Form, or if you need more information, call us at (866) 224-5698 or (866) AAI-Low-T.

Low Hormone Symptoms

• Motivation
• Sex Drive and Desire
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Cholesterol
• Low Energy
• Memory Loss
• Osteoporosis
• Wounds & Illness
• Muscle Mass
• Sleep Disturbances
• Thyroid Dysfunction
• Weight Gain

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