Cocoa Butter health benefits includes providing nutrition to the body, preventing aging, treating stretch marks, supporting weight gain and a good source of vitamins and minerals. Other benefits includes balancing mood swings, good source of energy, supporting healthy hair and nails, treating sunburn, supporting dental health and treating scars and skin conditions.
What is Cocoa Butter?
The bean that the most delicious food on earth- Chocolate is made from also produces Cocoa Butter. In Ancient Greece, it was dubbed the food of gods and rightly so. Some records record the use of Cocoa by Mayans in their celebratory beverages. This was specifically a beverage drunk to celebrate love. This is where the romanticizing of chocolate began.
Spaniards even went so far as to keep their chocolate drink, chocolate a secret until others discovered it. Shakespeare even wrote about Cocoa from Spain, Peru, and Lima in his plays. Spain held a monopoly in the trade of Cocoa and the Cocoa market for about a century until the French started regarding it as a delicious and healthy bean drink, which leads to the widespread use of Cocoa in France.
The first hot chocolate shop thankfully was opened in the 1700’s. This shop was opened in England by the name of “chocolate houses.” This was the introduction chocolate needed to enter the world of production and confectionary. The revolutionary steam engine technology helped advance the Cocoa industry by commercially grinding the beans and manufacturing products. The Raw organic chocolate is considered a superfood in line with blueberries, green tea and such. Chocolate is the bane of the Dessert industry, a dessert without chocolate? What’s the point?
Many products use Cocoa as a base ingredient, and Cocoa butter is one such commodity. Cocoa butter can be edible and is also one of the most nourishing ingredients for skin and hair. This is a pale yellow oil extract from the Cocoa bean. It has a very distinct and delicious aroma and flavor. Here are a few benefits of the Cocoa butter:
11 Amazing Health Benefits of Cocoa Butter
1. Nutrition
Cocoa butter is the by-product of Cocoa beans which are considered a superfood in their raw and unprocessed form. Cocoa contains vitamins and saturated, polyunsaturated and monosaturated fat. It can fulfill up to 43% of your daily requirement of fat.
2. Prevents Aging
Cocoa butter is a powerhouse of antioxidants, such as palmitic acid, oleic acid, and stearic acid. These are essential fatty acids but also have antioxidant properties. Both eating and applying Cocoa butter is beneficial to prevent the effects of age. It prevents sunspots, wrinkles and crow’s feet.
3. Stretch Marks
Stretch marks often occur in fat loss, pregnancy due to any other reasons. Cocoa butter with coconut oil is a great way to minimize the appearance of stretch marks. Even during pregnancy, it is a safe and natural way of stretch mark prevention. Conventional products contain harmful chemicals and additives that are not a good option during pregnancy or feeding times.
4. Weight Gain
People suffering from anorexia or other eating disorders need to gain weight when on the path to recovery. Adding healthy sources of fat is the right way to go. Slowly incorporating healthy plant-based butter or daily at into your diet can help you reach your ideal weight. Raw, unprocessed Cocoa butter can be added to your morning oatmeal or smoothie to reach your goal healthily.
5. Source of Vitamins and Minerals
Cocoa butter can be the healthy addition you are looking for in your diet. It has an impressive number of vitamins and minerals in it. About an ounce contains up to 7mcg of vitamin K, about .5 mg of vitamin E and tiny amounts of minerals.
6. Balancing Mood Swings
Cocoa is a great way to balance the hormonal mood swings; it increases the levels of serotonin that the brain produces. Cocoa butter added to diet especially during PMS can be beneficial in calming the mind and body and reducing the effects of hormonal imbalance.
7. Source of Energy
Cocoa butter made from pure, unprocessed organic Cocoa is very healthy for the body. Healthy natural butter is a good source of energy, and Cocoa butter is one of the best options. It adds the necessary vitamins, fatty acids and fat to your diet which keeps you full for longer. The body releases energy slowly and helps stay active.
8. Healthy Hair and Nails
Cocoa butter is derived from Cocoa beans which are an excellent source of sulfur. Addition of sulfur to your diet is a good way of getting that glow-from-within complexion, shiny hair, and healthy nails. Cocoa butter can also be used in DIY hair and skin treatments; it is a healthy source of moisture especially for dry skin.
9. Sunburn Treatment
Too much sun can be more damaging to your skin than beneficial, sunspots and UV rays cause premature aging and can also result in severe skin conditions. Cocoa butter is a good way of soothing the sunburn and healing it naturally and effectively. If you experience sunburn, try using Cocoa butter or a body butter that contains Cocoa butter. It calms the inflammation without introducing the skin to harsh chemicals.
10. Dental Health
Oil pulling has been a method used since ages to remove harmful toxins from the entire body. Although it may seem like a method to clean the mouth, oil pulling can be effective in riding your body of toxins. Cocoa butter can be melted to use for oil putting. Melt about a tablespoon of Cocoa butter and use it first thing in the morning for a healthy mouth and body.
11. Scars and Skin Conditions
The antioxidant and moisturizing properties of Cocoa butter are exceptional in healing damaged skin. Scars are difficult to get rid of, but Cocoa butter is one of the most effective remedies for scars. Regular use will guarantee a faded scar. It is also an effective lotion for people suffering from dry skin patches and other such conditions.
In A Nutshell
Cocoa butter is very effective in DIY treatments for skin, hair, and nails. It can be used as a body butter or as a cuticle oil. For long-lasting results, it is best to apply it after every shower. It can use in hydrating chapped lips as well.
Here is a recipe for whipping up the best body butter ever.
- Raw Cocoa butter half a cup
- Coconut oil five tablespoons
- A few drops of your favorite essential oil (Skip this if pregnant)
Melt the Cocoa butter and coconut oil in a bowl over boiling water, once melted remove and add a few drops of essential oil, we like lemon essential oil for this. Add this mixture to the mixer and keep the setting on low. Slowly you will see the oil and Cocoa butter forming butter. Once it cools down, store it in a container and keep it in the fridge in summers and your bathroom in winters. This also doubles as an excellent shaving cream. Melt it between your hands and apply before shaving away.
