Cocoa butter is the natural fat from cacao beans. The extracted fat, light yellowish in color, is edible, with a slight chocolaty flavor and scent. It also goes by the name of theobroma oil. For some reason the British called Cacao beans Cocoa beans. The reason seems to have gotten lost in history.

Cocoa butter has many health benefits internally and externally. A natural fat that is extracted from the cacao bean, cocoa butter is used in cosmetics, topical lotions and creams as well as in the making of high quality chocolate. Cocoa butter has a large amount of CMP (Cocoa Mass Polyphenol) which is a chemical that helps to prevent heart disease as well as treat the symptoms of arthritis and dermatitis.

Cocoa butter is used as a moisturizer for dry skin and to prevent stretch marks. Cocoa butter is also effective against eczema and dermatitis.

High magnesium levels in high quality chocolate containing cocoa butter can prevent the progesterone drop that leads to PMS.

Cocoa butter can lower LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. Also, cocoa butter contains oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that raises HDL (good cholesterol) levels.

Cocoa butter contains a chemical called Pentamer which can help protect against cancer.

Cocoa butter is high in antioxidants in the form of flavonoids that protect the heart and arteries from damage by free radicals.

Cocoa butter in chocolate raises endorphin and serotonin levels in the brain which can improve your mood.

Functions in Skin Care
Pure cocoa butter has been recognized for centuries as the ultimate emollient ingredient for keeping the skin supple. It is able to absorb into the skin easily because of its tendency to melt at body temperature, and therefore soak into the skin almost immediately upon contact. It also has strong antioxidant properties, which give it a long shelf life, and benefits the skin by shielding it from harmful environmental factors. It is able to alleviate eczema and dermatitis because it works to inhibit the production of immuno globluin, which continues and worsens these conditions. Because of its ability to be absorbed so deeply into the skin and hydrate and protect the skin, cocoa butter is used frequently by pregnant women to prevent and treat stretch marks.

Benefits
Applied topically, cocoa butter immediately impacts the texture of the skin, making it feel more supple and soft. It also provides instant irritation and pain relief for skin irritations. Because it can penetrate the skin layers so deeply, its effective use in eczema and dermatitis treatment offers the added benefit of not having to continually re-apply the cocoa butter lotion or cream more than a couple of times daily. Continued use keeps the skin hydrated, enforces collagen and elastin production, and prevents the skin from the long- to medium-term effects of external influences, such as pollution. Cocoa butter's silk-like feeling and soothing scent yield stress-relieving and relaxation benefits when the substance is used in massage.

Presence of antioxidants and vitamins
Cocoa butter has very strong antioxidants that help in fighting free radicals that are the major cause of aging and diseases like cancer. The major antioxidants found in cocoa butter are known as flavonols which are very strong antioxidants. The presence of vitamins in cocoa butter, with vitamin E being very abundant in cocoa butter makes it very beneficial on skin as it protects skin that is irritated and sunburnt.

Other Uses of Cocoa Butter
Cocoa butter is used to make milk and white chocolate. Because of its ability to maintain a shelf life of two to five years, cocoa butter is also used to make cocoa powder. It is also used in pharmaceutical products designed to ease arthritis and prevent heart disease.

Pronounced like: ka-cow. It seems the Brittish couldn't pronounce the word cacao, so they called it cocoa instead. Many people consider eating chocolate a "guilty pleasure." But the reputation of chocolate as a junk food should more accurately be attributed to the harmful effects of commercial processing and refining techniques, and the other ingredients commonly added, most notably white sugar. All chocolate is made from the cacao bean, and cacao beans in their natural, unprocessed, unadulterated state are rich in nutrients and beneficial to health.

Why Unprocessed Chocolate is Good for You

Antioxidants: Cacao has more antioxidant flavonoids than any food tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, and black and green teas. In fact, it has up to four times the quantity of antioxidants found in green tea. While blueberries contain 32 antioxidants, and wild blueberries contain 61 ..cacao beans contain an unbelievable 621 anti-oxidants!!! Health benefits of these antioxidants include:

• Promote cardiovascular health - Help dilate bloods vessels, reduce blood clotting, improve circulation, help regulate heartbeat and blood pressure, lower LDL cholesterol, and reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks.
• Protect from environmental and metabolic toxins - Help repair and resist damage caused by free radicals, and may reduce risk of certain cancers.

Neurotransmitters: By increasing the levels of specific neurotransmitters in our brains, cacao promotes positive outlook, facilitates rejuvenation and simply helps us feel good.

• Serotonin - Cacao raises the level of serotonin in the brain; thus acts as an anti-depressant, helps reduce PMS symptoms, and promotes a sense of well-being.
• Endorphins - Cacao stimulates the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the “runner’s high” a jogger feels after running several miles.
• Phenylethylamine - Found in chocolate, phenylethylamine is also created within the brain and released when we are in love. Acts as mild mood elevator and anti-depressant, and helps increase focus and alertness.
• Anandamide - Anandamide is known as the “bliss chemical” because it is released by the brain when we are feeling great. Cacao contains both N-acylethanolamines, believed to temporarily increase the levels of anandamide in the brain, and enzyme inhibitors that slow its breakdown. Promotes relaxation, and helps us feel good longer.

Essential Minerals: Cacao beans are rich in a number of essential minerals, including magnesium, sulfur, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium and manganese.

• Magnesium - Cacao seems to be the #1 source of magnesium of any food. Magnesium balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and helps regulate heartbeat and blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency, present in 80% of Americans, is linked with PMT, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and joint problems.
• Sulfur - Cacao is high in the beauty mineral sulfur. Sulfur builds strong nails and hair, promotes beautiful skin, detoxifies the liver, and supports healthy pancreas functioning.

Essential fats: There is a misperception that chocolate is fattening. In truth, the fats in cocoa butter are healthy fats. Cacao contains oleic acid, a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, also found in olive oil, that may raise good cholesterol. Also, substances found in cacao are known to help reduce appetite.

Important note: To fully benefit from chocolate’s wide array of nutrients, eat chocolate that is as close to its natural state as possible. Whole cacao beans are best. You lose many of the health benefits when you eat commercially produced chocolate.

Cacao: Its History and Use From the Time of the Aztecs to Today

The cacao tree has been cultivated in Mexico and Central and South America for thousands of years, and it has been so highly valued that some Native peoples once used its seed, or bean, as currency. The Aztecs believed cacao to be of divine origin, and both they and the Mayans used the roasted bean in the famous beverage Chocolatl, together with vanilla and other flavorings.

In the early 16th century, Columbus brought sacks of cacao back to Europe, but he did not realize its economic value. Then, in 1519, Cortez brought cacao back to Spain, and it was soon made into a luxury drink for the upper classes. By the 17th and early 18th centuries, chocolate was considered a cure for many illnesses, as well as a catalyst for provoking passion, although it was still too expensive for the general populace. Finally, in the 18th century, chocolate houses were established in London, making chocolate available to a broader spectrum of society, and their popularity quickly surpassed that of the coffee houses.

Today cacao is planted on over 43,000 square miles worldwide. Forty percent of production is from Cote d’Ivoire, while Ghana and Indonesia produce about 15% each, and Brazil, Nigeria, and Cameroon provide smaller quantities.

How Cacao is Harvested

Cacao beans are harvested today in much the same way as they were by the Aztecs. After the pods ripen, which takes 5 to 6 months, they are removed from the tree and carefully cut open with a machete, and the cacao beans are extracted.

After harvesting, the beans are placed on banana leaves in large wooden boxes and left to ferment for several days. During fermentation, complex chemical changes take place. The bitterness of the bean is reduced and the rich chocolate flavor begins to develop. The beans are dried after fermentation, and during this drying process, the brown color develops and further flavor development occurs.

The Different Varieties of Cacao

There are three main cultivar groups of cacao beans grown today:

• The Criollo group, which was used by the Maya, is the most rare and expensive of the three. Only 10 to 15% of cacao trees are Criollo, and they are small and difficult to grow. The chocolate made from the Criollo bean has a delicate and complex array of flavors. Often referred to as the “King of Cacao,” Criollo is highly prized and is used by many of the new “micro chocolate makers.”
• The Forastero group makes up about 70% of the cacao grown today. Forastero trees are easier to grow and significantly hardier than Criollo, resulting in more affordable beans. Well-prepared Forastero is what most of us are used to eating in chocolate.
• Trinitario is a hybrid of Criollo and Forastero, and it makes up about 20% of the cacao beans produced today.

For most people 1 or 2 cacao beans a day is ample. Cacao beans are seeds and like most seeds are nutrient rich since they contain the necessary nutrients for new life. All seeds and nuts should be eaten sparingly for this reason.

100% Pure Cocoa Butter (Bulk Apothecary)

Cocoa Butter (Nuts.com)

Cocoa Butter - Bulk (JEDWARDS International, Inc.)

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Cacao Nibs, Roasted (The Spice House)

Cacao Beans - Raw (Live Superfoods)

Organic Cacao Beans 16 oz - Tribest SJ003B (Newegg)

Organic Cacao Beans 16 oz - Tribest SJ003B (Greater Medical)

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