Cocoa Powder
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Botanical Name: Theobroma cacao
Cocoa is the plant from which chocolate is made. Bitter chocolate is produced by pressing roasted cocoa kernels (seeds) between hot rollers. Cocoa powder is produced by squeezing the fat (cocoa butter) from bitter chocolate and powdering the remaining material.
Some people apply cocoa butter to the skin to treat wrinkles and to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
In manufacturing, cocoa butter is used as a base for various ointments and suppositories made by drug companies.
Cocoa contains a variety of chemicals, including antioxidants called flavonoids. It is not clear how these might work in the body, but they appear to cause relaxation of veins. This could lead to lower blood pressure.
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Botanical Name: Theobroma cacao
• High blood pressure
• Improving memory
• Diarrhea
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Preventing wrinkles
