The word cocoa comes from the Aztec language of South America, in which the word means food of the gods or bitter water. To this day, people in Mexico still appreciate the taste of real cocoa (without adding sugar) as they add it to their chicken mole poblano. From South America, the cultivation of the cocoa plant spread and obsession with it spread throughout the world, and sometimes the properties that were known about it were taken advantage of, and at other times it was abused by adding harmful substances to it that cause addiction to it. It is a plant with fruits with a complex chemical composition that contain amphetamine-like substances, meaning that they raise some levels of chemicals in the brain associated with the feeling of pleasure. It also contains chemicals that bind to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, making them have a very weak effect similar to the effect of narcotics.

Cocoa has disadvantages and advantages, and its disadvantages are that it increases the severity of migraine headaches for those who suffer from it, and increases the monthly problems of women, and may increase the formation of kidney stones for those who are ready for it. As for its advantages, it was stated in a report published in France in 2002 that certain substances in cocoa powder penetrate into cancer cells and eliminate them without destroying healthy cells. A Japanese study also showed that small amounts of cocoa fruit juice called polyphenols seemed to be more effective than vitamin C in eliminating cancerous cells without affecting healthy cells. Experiments on mice also demonstrated that treating them with several phenols of cocoa fruits protected them from fatal infection with E. coli. Food research specialist Professor John Weisberger stated in 2001 that cocoa fruits and products prepared from them, such as chocolate and cocoa drinks, are rich in certain types of antioxidants, and eating them regularly may reduce fat oxidation, which reduces the risk of heart disease, and may also lead to blocking the path to the emergence of cells Cancer is in its early stages. A study conducted by the University of California in the same period showed that cocoa is good for the heart and good for digestion. It also prevents blood clots from clotting and has a sedative effect similar to the effect of aspirin.

Cocoa and chocolate, from which foods are prepared, are loved by young and old, but are considered unhealthy because they are rich in sugar and fat and have a delicious taste that encourages more of them. There are a number of facts you should know about cocoa:

The powder of the cocoa plant from which chocolate is prepared is innocent of all the accusations attached to it. It is originally a powdered bitter fruit that is free of sugars and almost free of fat. Cocoa butter consists of waxy triglycerides that are not absorbed by the body, but rather excreted, which reduces the effect of cocoa consumption. on serum cholesterol in the body.

All the disadvantages that are attached to it are caused by the materials that are added to it when manufacturing!! Almost all types of chocolate (other than white chocolate) start with the small, round cocoa powder that is fermented and roasted, then the outer shell and most of the natural fats in it are removed and ground into the highly bitter cocoa powder that we know.
The so-called white chocolate does not contain cocoa (the main ingredient of any chocolate), but it does have a chocolate flavor with a lot of milk, cream and sugar, so it has no cocoa benefits!!
Chocolate bars that are spread everywhere and are produced by many companies with names that are difficult to enumerate, not pure cocoa, but cocoa and many other materials, where nine grams of fat are usually added to each ounce of cocoa powder, as well as amounts of sugar, cream, saturated fat and other unwanted additives such as colourings. Flavorings, preservatives, thickeners…etc.
Eating cocoa powder is a better option than eating chocolate because cocoa powder is almost fat-free and contains almost twice as much antioxidants as chocolate, and the darker the cocoa powder, the more antioxidants it is.

There is a way to enjoy cocoa and benefit from its advantages while avoiding all those additives and harmful substances, by buying pure, unsweetened and organic cocoa powder (this is usually written on the box) and adding a quantity of it to hot water or hot milk to prepare a rich flavored drink and sweeten the drink with a little honey.