Cocoa seems beverage with beneficial effects on human health. A significant number of scientific studies showing cocoa contain high concentrations of flavonoids and procyanidin, ingredients that have antioxidant offender, preventing the oxidative action of free radicals and thereby protect against cancer, heart disease and aging.
It's very rare to find someone so many nutrients concentrated in a single product. The effects of cocoa flavonoids in the heart and circulation are due in part to their ability to inhibit the oxidation of cholesterol and the development of atherosclerotic plaque.
Recent studies have shown that polyphenols may reduce the concentration and platelet aggregation, which increased activity and concentration associated with thrombosis and probably involved in the development and evolution atherosclerotic lesions. The cocoa consumption thus appears to have no effect on release aspirin on platelet function. These compounds (tanins )prevent the formation of free radicals alter the consistency and structure of the cell membrane.
The procyanidins significantly increase levels of prostacyclin and reduces plasma levels of leukotrienes in plasma. The prostacyclin produced by the vascular epithelium and promotes vasodilation, inhibits platelet aggregation, blood clotting and the penetration of LDL cholesterol in the arterial wall.
Instead, the leukotrienes are vasoconstrictors, causing slow and sustained contraction in smooth muscle of blood vessels, and may be cause platelet aggregation. Reduce the proportion of leukotriene / prostacyclin may have beneficial effects on platelets and possibly inflammation and vasodilation.
A further effect of cocoa polyphenols can affect the health of the cardiovascular system is the ability to regulate immune cells because of their effect on transcription of the gene for interleukin-2. It has been suggested that inflammatory diseases of the immune dysfunction could be blamed for many cases of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.
In conclusion, cocoa based properties can be a very beneficial food for the body. It is rich in antioxidants. The only thing to note is its high calorific value and excessive drinking can lead us to a great increase of our daily energy intake.
Surveys and studies
Comparative study in the Department of Food Science at Cornell University in New York presents Cocoa (1 cup) has twice antioxidant activity than red wine (1 glass), three times more than green tea (1 cup) and five times higher than blacktea (1 cup).
• Studies on populations of Panama who consume 4-5 glasses daily hot beverage cocoa and add cocoa powder to many foods, showed that much do not have hypertension in older age and lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
There was the same effect on people who had migrated to urban areas and no longer drank some cocoa. And that is because flavonoids activate an enzyme that is responsible for opening the walls of arteries and improve blood flow (low pressure).
• The University of Georgetown, on inquiry, they isolated a substance in cocoa, the procyanidin(Proanthocyanidin,oligomeric proanthocyanidin) to consider action in cultured breast cancer cells. The main purpose of this study was the identification of possible actions procyanidin in genes linked to spread of cancer cells.
The inquiry report concluded that the submission of procyanidin stop the proliferation of cancer cells. Although he has found just the way procyanidins action, presumed similar action for other types of cancer.
Researchers at Imperial College London looked at the effectiveness of theobromine against the cough, a common protective reflex certain situations, but in the long term becomes tedious and tiring the patient. The results showed that theobromines were 30% effective against persistent cough even from codeine that is now considered a very good cough medicine without side shows.
The effect of theobromine is peripheral and not the brain, stopping the action of the vagus nerve, responsible for cough.However it is wrong for the moment to say that replacing the cough medicines with cocoa to treat cough.
