Cocoa Butter
Cocoa Butter is obtained from the cacao bean which is found inside the cocoa pod that grows on from the cacao tree. Cocoa butter, also called theobroma oil or theobroma cacao, is a pale-yellow, pure, edible vegetable fat extracted from the cocoa bean. Cocoa beans are fermented, roasted, and then separated from their hulls. About 54% – 58% of the residue is cocoa butter. It is usually deodorized to remove its strong and undesirable taste. It is used to make chocolate, biscuits, and baked goods. It is also used in manufacturing some pharmaceuticals, ointments, and toiletries. It is adds flavor, scent, and smoothness to these products. It has a mild chocolate flavor and aroma.
Cocoa Butter is a natural moisturizer that melts at skin temperature, ideal for skin but it is rather hard at lower temperatures. Its health benefits come from its cocoa mass polyphenol.
Cocoa butter is widely used as a treatment for pregnancy stretch marks. With its A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, vitamins, it is excellent moisturizer for skin health.
Cocoa butter contains a large proportion of minerals including calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper and iron, all of which are in a highly bioavailable form that render them more effective than commercial vitamin supplements. Not only that, though, it also contains tryptophan, involved in the formation of serotonin, the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter, and also dopamine and phenylethylamine, all good substances. It is brain food as well as food for your skin.
Health benefit of Cocoa Butters:
- This rich cocoa butter is composed of essential fatty acids Omega-6 which are important for your brain function, they help your skin and hair to replenish and cocoa butter help you maintain strong bones whilst regulating metabolism.
- In cocoa butter there is monounsaturated Omega-9 which is also called oleic acid (is what is found in olive oil) and cocoa butter may be good for the health of our heart.
- cocoa butter is a plentiful source of Vitamin E making cocoa butter great for your skin.
- Finally cocoa butter's chemical and hexane free so you can eat cocoa butter knowing you are getting a whole food.