Cocoa butter is a major ingredient in lots of food items that we love to eat, including chocolate, fudge, and ice cream.
But did you know about the numerous health benefits of cocoa butter? (1)
Cocoa Butter can be used both internally and externally to treat the skin and enhance the function of your heart, immune system, and the skin. (2)
Cocoa Butter has been used in some beauty products for centuries and has many health benefits.
It is widely used to make ointments, cosmetics, medicine, and other pharmaceutical products. (3)
Cocoa beans are grown mainly in tropical countries like South and Central America, parts of Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, and Asia. (4)
In this article, you will learn how effective cocoa butter is for your health and how you can put it to use.
Continue reading to learn:
- What is cocoa butter?
- Cocoa butter nutrition facts
- 17 cocoa butter health benefits
- How cocoa butter is harvested?
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What is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is an ancient food with proven health benefits even in our modern times.
The fat from the cocoa plant has been used traditionally by ancient the ancient Mayans and Aztec people for medicines.
The fat from the cocoa bean is used to make cosmetics because of its fantastic plant nutrients and healing properties.
Cocoa Butter is capable of improving your lifestyle in many ways.
Cocoa Butter is Chock-full of Healthy Nutrients
Palmitic acid is anti-aging. It also helps remove dirt from the skin and protect other ingredients from direct light. It is a stabilizer used to help blend oil and water which is beneficial when using cosmetics. It is also moisturizing and nourishing. (7)
Lauric Acid (8) kills bacteria, and fungus (9), aids in digestion and is easily absorbed by the body. It helps fight acne, heals sores and fights viruses that can cause cold and flu. It also helps reduce the risk of heart disease and can be used as a preservative.
Arachidic Acid helps reduce skin inflammation (10)
Stearic Acid adds fragrance, helps reduce surface dirt on the skin. It also helps reduce surface dirt on the skin. It moisturizes, lubricates, preserves and protects the skin. (11)
Myristic Acid is a fragrance enhancer, moisturizer, and skin exfoliator. (12)
Oleic Acid helps fight heart disease.
(13) (14)
Vitamin E is rich in antioxidants that help ward off damage to the cells. It promotes immune health and improves the condition of the skin. (15) It Protects skin from the harsh rays of the sun and helps reduce inflammation on the skin. It also protects against wrinkles and dark spots and reduces dryness.
Vitamin K Vitamin K helps reduce dark spots on the skin and heals wounds and scars. It also is good for reducing stretch marks and minimising circles under the eyes. It also helps to minimise spider veins around the eyes and aids in relieving scars, bruises, and swelling after surgery.(16)
Palmitoleic Acid: Palmitoleic acids are rich in Omega-7 fatty acids that help promote healthy hair, skin and nails, reduce wrinkles, and lubricates the skin to reduce dryness. It also helps promote good digestive and heart health. (17)
Key Takeaway: When compared to other foods, cocoa butter is packed with rich minerals and nutrients for overall health and well-being.
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17 Health Benefits of Cocoa Butter
Research is still ongoing about cocoa butter, but some things cannot be ignored.
It is said to act as a barrier between the skin and substances that can cause irritation and infections.
Let’s explore how it works in these areas of the body:
1. Use Cocoa Butter for Luscious Lips
The creaminess of cocoa butter is excellent for keeping the lips moist, plump and moisturized.
Cocoa butter helps keep the lips moist and prevents chapping and dryness. It helps protect the lips from cold and heat damage and treat sores and blisters in the mouth.
2. Cocoa Butter Moisturizes the Skin
Cocoa butter is rich in fatty acids that keep the skin hydrated. Cocoa butter is a good product for smoothing away rough, dry skin.
It helps heal and nourish the skin from the inside to keep it hydrated, and it also gets absorbed easily and quickly to keep the skin supple.
3. Cocoa Butter Prevents Skin Aging
The nutrients (polyphenols) in cocoa butter helps to keep the skin looking and feeling younger.
It helps reduce age spots, heals and soothes sensitive skin, and maintains even skin tone.
Cocoa butter is also effective in improving the skin’s elasticity. It also acts as a natural, mild sunscreen and also helps reduce wrinkles. (21)
Key Takeaway: Cocoa is an excellent skin protector. It protects against the rays of the sun (sunscreen) and helps remove dirt and dead skin. Your skin will stay moisturized and hydrated inside and out.
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4. Cocoa Butter Promotes Healthy Hair
Did you know that cocoa butter is good for your hair as well?
Cocoa butter is useful in keeping the hair well moisturized and more manageable. It also makes the hair look full and lustrous.
It helps condition and promote a healthy sheen look, reduces dandruff on the scalp and stimulates the hair follicles.
Cocoa butter, when applied to the hair, also helps prevent breakage and split ends,
and promotes hair growth.
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5. Cocoa Butter Relaxes and Rejuvenates
After a hard day or stressful week, it is a joy to relax and unwind yourself.
A good soak in a warm bath and a few drops of melted cocoa fat can do wonders after a long day.
Its sweet smell helps you relax by shaking off stress and tension and leaves your feet and skin feeling soft and well pampered.
6. Cocoa Butter Treats Scars, Infections, and Burns
In case of burns, rashes, scratches, and infections, cocoa butter is good to help soothe and promote healing.
It helps in conditions like eczema and dermatitis and also heals rashes.
Key Takeaway: Cocoa Butter is an effective treatment for skin conditions. It soothes rough, dry, irritated, chapped skin, treats and helps heal scars, wounds, and bruises.
7. Cocoa is an Added Boost in Aromatherapy
The fragrance in cocoa butter is very appealing.
It is a good addition to cosmetic products that help lift your mood, ward off depression and promote better sleep.
You can add cocoa butter to other essential oils such as patchouli, sandalwood, rose, geranium, and chamomile to help soothe and reawaken the senses.
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8. Cocoa Butter is Good for Stretch Marks
We all know the challenges some pregnant and nursing mothers face with stretch marks.
Cocoa butter is rich in vitamins and minerals such as B1 B2, B3, vitamins C and E that are good for the skin.
Sometimes the skin becomes stretched and can often become irritated from constant itching.
Cocoa butter can help soothe itching skin and reduce signs of stretch marks.
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9. Cocoa Butter Helps Soothe the Skin During Shaving
Here is good news for men!
Most men talk about the nicks and irritation associated with shaving.
Cocoa butter helps soothe irritated skin around the chin, throat, and sideburns that are prone to scars, cuts, and bruises while shaving.
It also helps the skin remain smooth after a shave.
10. Cocoa Butter Heals Us fom the Inside Out
Cocoa butter is said to contain very high levels of fat that can be compared to coconut, palm, and other plant oils.
Although the fats are recognized as saturated fats, the plant-derived fat still has superior health benefits.
Cocoa fat is normally solid at room temperature but can melt pretty easily to make your favorite chocolate goodies.
It is used as an added boost in certain medicines. Additionally, it can be stored for a while as it hardly gets stale and lasts a very long time. Its nutrients remain strong for longer periods.
Key Takeaway: The best-known feature of cocoa butter in chocolate is the high antioxidant content. Studies show that dark chocolate, made with
cocoa butter, in particular, is rich in nutrients that help protect the heart, brain, and other organs.
11. Cocoa Butter is an Immune Booster
Antioxidants are the building blocks for a strong immune system since they help fight free radicals that cause illness and disease.
Studies show that the plant nutrients in cocoa butter help many beneficial antioxidants to fight inflammation. (18)
Some studies suggest that cocoa butter can also help the body fight fibromyalgia, psoriasis, high blood pressure, depression, and arthritis.
Cocoa butter when ingested can help reduce and fight inflammation, inhibit cell damage and strengthen the immune system to help fight off viruses and infections.
12. Cocoa Butter Helps Keep the Heart Healthy
Studies show that cocoa contains anti-inflammatory nutrients, and provides a highly rich source of polyphenols and flavonoids.
These are especially found in the powder form that is one of the main ingredients in chocolate and chocolate products.
The flavonoids and plant nutrients in cocoa butter can help:
- lower inflammation levels in the body
- the body absorb better
- reduce plaque around the arteries
13. Cocoa Butter Helps in Cancer Prevention
Studies show positive results of cocoa butter in helping to prevent cancer. While studies are ongoing, they show that cocoa butter helps slow the growth of dangerous cells and tumors that can cause cancer. (20)
14. Cocoa Butter for Better Digestion
Studies also show that cocoa and cocoa butter help relieve constipation.
Adults and children who have difficulty with bowel movements are said to be able to
benefit by using cocoa butter a bit more often.
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15. Cocoa Butter is a Great Mood Enhancer
Cocoa butter is a vital ingredient in chocolate, one of the world’s biggest sellers.
Almost everybody loves chocolate and how it makes them feel.
Studies indicate that the cocoa butter in chocolate is good for boosting your mood.
It is said to increase the ‘happy hormones,’ serotonin and endorphin, to help lift the mood and promote feelings of happiness.
During PMS, studies found that ingesting chocolate made with cocoa butter can help
prevent mood swings associated with PMS.
Helps promote alertness and increases energy and stamina.
Key Takeaway: Cocoa butter is effective in lifting the mood and regulating bowel movements.
16. Cocoa Butter Makes Your Skin Glow
Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It is a cover for all the other major organs and is always exposed to external conditions.
This means that the skin is directly in contact with the rays of the sun, heat, cold, other environmental factors, and undergoes cuts and bruises.
Proper skin care is vital for overall health in so many areas.
To get the most out of cocoa butter in its natural state, just place the solid butter in the palms of your hands, gently rub to melt and simply apply to the skin using your fingers. (6)
Key Takeaway: Use cocoa butter for overall body protection: the skin, lips, heels, nails, cuticles, torso, after shaving, the hair, knees, elbows, and anywhere and everywhere!
17. Cocoa Butter Heals, Moisturizes and Protects
Cocoa butter is an excellent product for healing, moisturizing and protecting the skin.
Areas that tend to be dry and flaky such as the knees, elbows, heels, and hands will improve and keep more moisturized by applying cocoa butter. Apply it daily for healthier, hydrated skin.
How Cocoa Butter is Harvested
- The mature beans are harvested to extract the oil and fat which makes the cocoa butter.
- The cocoa beans are cleaned, then left to ferment, then roasted and finally separated from the hull.
- What remains is the liquid which is then pressed to separate the fat or cocoa butter.
- Since raw cocoa is said to be very bitter, the raw product can sometimes be cleaned or deodorized to help reduce some of its bitter taste.
- When the fat/cocoa butter is removed, the remains are made into cocoa powder and are used to make chocolate, and it’s by-products. (5)
- Cocoa butter in its natural, unrefined state has a healthy looking creamy/yellow tint. It has a naturally strong underlying scent of chocolate. It has a very long shelf life and hardly goes stale. It can last up to almost 5years.
There are many forms which you can use Cocoa Butter in:
- Hair Oils, Conditioners, and shampoos
- Skin salves and balms
- Perfumes
- Lip care balms
- Bath and foot soaks and rubs
Cocoa butter is healthful both internally and externally. It protects from the rays of the sun, exfoliates dead skin and keeps skin looking clean and clear. It is also used as a cleansing agent in soaps and other cleaning products.
Bottom Line
Nature has provided a wonderful food product: COCOA BUTTER, that is great for internal and external health and healing.
It is used popularly in chocolate and is said to be rich in vitamins, plant nutrients, and antioxidants.
Cocoa butter has many benefits that help promote healthy glowing skin, heal wounds and scars, strengthen the immune system, and promote good heart and digestive health.
Was this post enlightening to you? Let us know which of the cocoa butter benefits have transformed your life for better. Write in the comment section.
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