Cocoa powder - health benefits and harms, recipes for hair and face medistok.ru

Chemical composition and nutritional properties

The chemical composition of cocoa bean powder surprises many. It contains a significant amount of vitamins and other beneficial nutrients. It contains acids, macro- and microelements necessary for the body, without which normal functioning of the body is impossible.

To confirm the value of the product, we list its chemical composition:

beta-carotene;
thiamine;
riboflavin;
pantothenic acid;
folic acid;
pyridoxine;
tocopherol;
niacin;
manganese;
iron;
zinc;
phosphorus;
molybdenum;
fluorine;
chlorine;
sulfur;
copper;
sodium;
calcium;
potassium.

The powder is obtained from cocoa beans

Eating any product that contains cocoa powder as one of its ingredients is always beneficial. But this should be done in moderation. Cocoa is very beneficial for the whole body. It is a powerful antidepressant, improves mood, helps fight stress, and improves brain function. For people with high cholesterol, it is important that natural cocoa powder normalizes blood lipids and eliminates the risk of developing atherosclerosis.

IMPORTANT! Cocoa powder is high in calories. Considering what cocoa consists of, namely the presence of fats, the powder is not low-calorie. It contains from 289 to 324 kcal per 100 g of product. Basically, this calorie content is provided by the lipid content.

Don't worry about the high calorie content. To prepare a cup of drink you will need from 5 to 25 g of powder, depending on the desired strength. Therefore, the number of calories per serving is small. But this only applies to natural products. The highest calorie powder is a mixture with sugar, so take this into account when calculating calories. When adding milk powder, the calorie content is even higher.

The nutritional composition is distributed as follows: 25 percent are proteins, about 15 percent are lipids and 10 percent are carbohydrates. The rest of the product consists of dietary fiber and water.

Use in cosmetology

The use of cocoa powder in cosmetology is not new. Now they produce whole series of cocoa-based products.

In stores you can find:

lip balms;
masks;
creams (for face, hands and body);
scrubs;
shampoos;
shower gels;
moisturizing milk.

And this is only a small list of cosmetic products that are produced on an industrial scale. Cocoa powder is great for any skin and hair type and helps solve a number of problems:

improves cellular metabolism and helps retain moisture;
makes the skin more elastic, tightened, smoothes wrinkles;
nourishes the skin;
relieves inflammation of the skin;
stimulates blood circulation;
makes the skin smooth and pleasant (velvety).

But do not forget that the product is an allergen, and therefore, before applying a mask or other product to your skin/hair, you should experiment on your wrist. If after applying the product there is no redness or itching, then you can use cocoa powder on any other part of the body.

Cocoa powder masks

Making masks from cocoa powder is not at all difficult, the main thing is to find a quality product, because only this can bring maximum benefits.

In addition, you should follow the recommendations to get the best possible effect:

Girls with fair skin and hair should be very careful with cocoa powder, since the pigment contained in its composition can behave unexpectedly and color the surface of the product in a dark shade.
Cocoa powder should always be diluted with some kind of liquid to a paste. This makes it possible to obtain the maximum amount of useful substances from the product.
If you use a hair mask, then apply it only to clean curls. And hats (you can use regular towels) that create a steam effect will help make the result more pronounced.
The general time for using masks based on cocoa powder is from 20 to 40 minutes.

The frequency of mask use also plays an important role. In this case, more is not better. It is enough to do the procedure for the face, hair, and body once a week.

For hair

To make your hair beautiful and well-groomed and cope with hair loss, you can use the following mask recipes:

The products you will need are cocoa (no more than 1 tsp), a chicken egg (whole) and kefir (by eye, until a paste forms). Having combined all the ingredients, the mask is applied to the curls along the entire length. Particular attention should be paid to the roots to nourish them. The effect of the procedure: hair becomes stronger, fuller and more voluminous.
Another interesting version of the mask is made on the basis of cocoa powder (one heaped tablespoon), vegetable oil (no more than 2 tablespoons) and egg yolk. The mixture should be rubbed well into the ends of the hair. Effect: problems with dry hair will disappear, hair follicles will also become stronger, and this will lead to less hair loss.
An excellent vitamin mask is made from honey (preferably liquid, taken in an amount of no more than 1 tsp), cocoa powder (the same amount as honey) and capsules with vitamins A and E (you can buy them at any pharmacy, they cost inexpensive). When preparing a mask, it is very important to heat the vitamins a little, but there is no need to bring them to a boil. All components should be combined, stirred very well and rubbed into hair. If you adhere to the regularity of the procedure, the effect will soon be noticeable: the hair will become silky, shiny and well-groomed.

You can add essential oils to any hair mask; they will give your hair a pleasant aroma for a long time. You can also add castor oil; it has a very good effect on hair, strengthening it. And kefir can be replaced with milk or water.

For facial skin

Despite the fact that cocoa powder is suitable for any skin type, when choosing a mask you should take into account the full set of components, since the accompanying ingredients also affect the skin.

After using the masks, you can apply a moisturizer, but not a greasy one, so as not to clog the pores.

For dry skin

The following mask options are suitable:

To prepare the mask, you should prepare fennel greens (a little), cocoa powder (1 tablespoon), egg yolk and olive oil (teaspoon). Everything is mixed in a bowl, while the fennel greens are chopped as finely as possible. The composition is applied to the skin, avoiding the area around the eyes, and stays on for 15 minutes. The mask is removed with a sponge or washed off with warm water. The effect will be noticeable after 8 hours: peeling and unpleasant tightness will disappear.
Cocoa powder, honey and corn flour, taken in equal proportions, will also help combat dry skin. To give the mixture a slurry consistency, you can add a little milk or water. The effect will not take long to appear: the skin will become pleasant to the touch, soft and velvety.

For oily skin

You can choose one of the following recipes:

Ground coffee (not instant) and cocoa powder, taken in equal proportions, are diluted with milk to a thick paste. Keep the prepared mixture on your face for 15 minutes, then wash off with cool water. Effect: the skin acquires a beautiful shade, and the oily sheen goes away.
It is necessary to take white clay, cocoa powder and oatmeal in equal proportions. Bulk ingredients are filled with green tea without additives. The mixture is applied to the face and washed off after 10 minutes. Effect: not only does the complexion even out, but the skin also acquires a matte tint, and the sebaceous glands do not work as intensely.

For skin problems

You can use the following masks:

Mix one and a half tablespoons of cocoa powder with milk (½ cup) and olive oil (1 tsp). In the procedure, it is very important not to forget to heat the oil and then pour it in a thin stream into the cocoa-milk mixture. All ingredients are mixed to a thick mass and applied to the skin of the face. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then remove it with a cotton pad. Effect: inflammation will subside, and after two months of regular procedures, the rash will decrease.
Cocoa powder, cinnamon, turmeric and olive oil are mixed in equal proportions and applied to cleansed facial skin. The effect can be noticed after just a few procedures: redness will decrease and the wounds will begin to heal.

For aging skin

There are many anti-aging masks, but one of the most effective is made from cocoa powder, honey, natural yogurt (can be replaced with kefir) and vitamin E (1 capsule is enough). The ingredients are taken for one time; there is no need to prepare the mask for future use. Honey is heated in a water bath, after which it is mixed with cocoa powder, yogurt and vitamin E. The mixture is applied to the face and washed off after 15 minutes. After such a mask (provided that it was done 2 times a week for 2-3 months), wrinkles will smooth out, the skin will become tightened and beautiful.

Wraps

Wraps based on cocoa powder not only tighten and tone the skin, but also fight “orange peel” on the hips and butt. The procedure is very useful for those who are just starting to exercise, since when losing weight, the skin becomes flabby, and cocoa powder helps solve this problem.

What makes the wrapping procedure enjoyable is its accessibility: you only need cocoa powder and water. But the product must be natural (instantly soluble is not suitable). For 200 grams of powder you need half a liter of water. The liquid is first heated, but not brought to a boil. A little water should be added to the cocoa first and stirred, which will help avoid lumps. After this, the liquid cocoa mass is poured into water and heated. After removing the mixture from the stove, it should be cooled slightly so as not to burn the skin. The prepared composition is applied to problem areas in a thick layer, wrapped in cling film, and pants are put on top. You need to walk like this for 30-40 minutes, and then take a shower.

If you carry out the wrapping procedure regularly (2-3 times a week) and are not lazy, the results will not keep you waiting. Effect: the skin is tightened, fat folds are smoothed out.

It is better to apply wraps after a shower, on clean skin. After washing off the cocoa, you can massage it with special brushes, this will enhance the effect.

Baths

Taking cocoa-based baths is very beneficial. You don't have to melt chocolate bars for this; cocoa powder works great.

The benefits of such procedures are as follows:

Your mood improves.
Fatigue after training is relieved, muscles relax.
The problem of pronounced cellulite on the skin becomes less. Wrinkles are smoothed out and the skin is tightened.
The skin becomes pleasant, velvety, and the feeling of dryness disappears.
The pores are cleaned and there are fewer breakouts.
On skin, especially light skin, after a cocoa bath, a slight tanning effect will be noticeable.

Before plunging into a warm bath, you should prepare your skin by exfoliating. To do this, you can take coffee or sea salt (fine). The procedure lasts 20-30 minutes, after which you should take a contrast shower.

For a classic bath you will need 200 grams of cocoa powder and a liter of hot water. The powder is poured into the liquid and mixed thoroughly. After this, the mass is poured into the bath and immersed in it for half an hour. If desired, you can add essential oils, grated ginger or milk.

Hair coloring

Dyeing with cocoa powder is more suitable for girls with dark hair, since the product does not always act evenly on light hair.

Natural coloring has a number of advantages:

practicality and additional care;
simplicity and availability of ingredients;
pleasant smell after the procedure.

But at the same time, the following factors should be taken into account:

You should not apply cocoa powder to hair dyed with ammonia, as the result is difficult to predict and may result in a completely unexpected shade.
You need to use only natural cocoa powder.
Rinse off cocoa powder only with warm running water. It is advisable to refuse additional masks, balms and other things at this moment.
The effect will not be noticeable on hair that is too hard and dense.

The only disadvantage of paint based on cocoa powder is that it is quickly washed off. After the first wash with shampoo, the pigment will come off. To enhance color and durability, you can use additional ingredients, such as henna or black tea. The amount of cocoa powder is difficult to determine, as it depends on the length of the hair. But usually 2-3 tablespoons are enough for medium-length hair.

Varieties

There are several varieties of the product that can be seen for sale on store shelves. To choose the right and best one, you need to know how they differ.

Light powder is a natural product, alkalized cocoa looks darker and richer

According to the method of cocoa production, there are:

natural - this type is prepared by crushing the cake of cocoa beans after they are pressed. Typically, a natural product is light in color and has a weaker odor. When cooking, it must undergo temperature treatment so that the product dissolves better, otherwise unpleasant lumps of undissolved raw materials will appear in the liquid;
alkalized - undergoes alkali treatment, which reduces the amount of tannins. This product has a richer taste and a pronounced chocolate tint and aroma. Alkalized cocoa is highly soluble in water and milk, which allows you to prepare instant drinks and not be afraid of spoiling the product.

Alkalized cocoa powder

According to the method of extraction of beans, cocoa powder can be:

industrial - such raw materials are grown in large volumes; mineral supplements and fertilizers are used for accelerated growth and high fruiting. Almost all cocoa trees are industrial and are used in this way, so in stores buyers buy industrial cocoa;
organic – the product is grown without adding fertilizers, which significantly affects the taste of the powder;
“live” - the so-called live cocoa is collected from trees growing in natural, wild conditions. The fruits are harvested by hand, and the trees are not treated with any chemicals during the growth process. The powder is highly valued for its exceptional qualities, which is why it costs a lot. You can’t buy it in a regular store - real cocoa product is made in small quantities to order.

Alkalized cocoa powder - what is it?

There is also a product on the market that goes through all stages of processing and additionally - alkalization, due to which it acquires new properties (more intense color, taste and aroma, the ability to quickly dissolve). Alkalized cocoa powder is not synthetic or a substitute; it retains the main properties of natural, but has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Alkalization stages, current GOST

Alkalization is one of the additional processing steps. Its essence is to achieve a change in acidity in order to improve taste and aroma, increase shelf life, and increase solubility. To achieve such results, cocoa beans or already grated powder are heated to high temperatures (about 250 degrees) and treated with carbon-alkali compounds (usually potassium carbonate) of synthetic or plant origin. As a result of this processing, a product with new properties is obtained.

When producing cocoa, producers must be guided by the interstate quality standard. GOST, in force in the Russian Federation since 2014, defines alkalized powder as a semi-finished confectionery product, which is made by grinding grated cocoa or nibs treated with carbonic alkali. At the same time, the following product characteristics must be preserved:

mass fraction 9-12%;
humidity – no more than 5.5%;
color – from light to dark brown (gray tint is unacceptable);
when rubbing there is no feeling of the presence of grains;
the taste and aroma must be characteristic of cocoa (there are no foreign tastes or odors).

Advantages and disadvantages of this type compared to conventional

The alkalized product has several advantages over regular cocoa. Among them:

The color, aroma and taste are more intense, but at the same time soft.
Its solubility in liquid increases.
The powder undergoing alkalization becomes crumbly.
Resistant to high temperatures. When heated, its color and taste remain rich. This allows you to reduce its dosage when used in cooking.
To make a delicious drink, you don't need to boil it. Simply add hot water to the powder and stir. In this case, no sediment appears.
The shelf life increases: you can store it for about 2 years.

But it should be borne in mind that such harsh treatment as alkalization does not pass without leaving a trace.

The disadvantages of this product include:

Significant reduction of useful substances in the composition. This makes it less beneficial for the body.
Not recommended for use with cocoa butter substitutes. They contain lauric fats, so when combined with an alkalized powder they can spoil the taste of the dish (they give it an unpleasant bitterness).
Features of application. When using regular cocoa, just add regular baking soda to the dough, and a quenching reaction will occur. The alkalized product has no acidity and therefore does not react with soda. Instead, they use a special baking powder, which contains acid and alkali.

Features of choice

It can be quite difficult to choose a high-quality alkalized powder. Today, more than 90% of cocoa products are industrial.

For production, raw materials are used, collected from trees that are generously fertilized with pesticides. In this case, almost all the beneficial properties of cocoa beans are lost.

It is better to choose the organic variety. Its advantages:

The raw materials for its production do not contain harmful chemicals.
The alkalization process uses alkali obtained naturally (from ash).

Conscious manufacturers honestly indicate on the packaging of their product that it is susceptible to alkalization. This is evidenced by the inscriptions “contains an acidity regulator”, “potash”, “contains E501”, “potassium carbonate”.

Production

Before becoming a familiar powder, the raw material goes through several stages of processing. Initially, the raw material for the production of powder is bean cake. It is obtained after pressing cocoa beans to obtain butter. Depending on what product they want to obtain, the production technology also changes. There are alkalized cocoa for preparing drinks and a natural industrial product used in confectionery production.

The process of obtaining the powder goes through several stages:

grinding and cooling cocoa bean cake;
rapid cooling of the raw material and its sifting, as a result of which a crushed homogeneous powdery product is released from the mixture;
packaging of finished raw materials and packaging.

Cocoa powder is an ingredient in many confectionery products.

Typically, instant cocoa is used to make the drink, as well as to make dough and icing. For drinks, it is important that the cocoa particles are as small as possible - this way they mix in the liquid until homogeneous and do not form sediment or undissolved lumps. This is very easy to check - the suspension should not settle to the bottom within two minutes.

REFERENCE! Natural raw materials are used for confectionery production - here it is not so important to obtain a homogeneous liquid, and the powder particles mix well with flour. This is enough to obtain an evenly distributed mass.

Powder production largely depends on the quality of raw materials. The degree of grinding must be at least 90 percent. If it is necessary to produce an alkalized cocoa product, cocoa is additionally treated with alkali - after removing tannins, particles of the raw material do not settle.

Which natural cocoa powder to choose

Many people prefer a natural product, but often do not know which one to choose. When choosing, you should pay attention to the composition and external characteristics.

Production stages

Cocoa is made from the cake that remains after the oil has been separated. There are many ways to prepare a natural product. Most often, the production process consists of several stages:

Crushing and cooling of raw materials. For this purpose, special devices are used - disk or ball mills. It is important to maintain a certain temperature regime (no more than 12 degrees).
Grinding and sifting. At the crushing stage, a change in the chemical composition occurs - humidity and acidity decrease, tannins disappear. Due to this, bitterness is reduced. After this treatment, a crushed homogeneous mass is obtained (cocoa powder itself).
Pressing. In this case, the raw material is heated (up to 80 degrees) and water is added to it (no more than 15% of the total mass). Mix all this thoroughly and turn on the vacuum. At the same time, excess moisture evaporates and volatile acids are removed.
Cocoa powder production
Drying and roasting. The product is dried at a temperature of about 100 degrees. Roasting requires higher temperatures (over 130 degrees). At this stage, the powder acquires its color and rich taste.
Cooling. After frying, the raw material enters a special cooling unit - a machine equipped with a fan and a stirrer.
Packing. The finished semi-finished product is sent to the conveyor, where it is packaged in special packaging bags.

Often, to improve the taste and aroma, a certain amount of vanillin is added to the powder (usually the proportion is 40 g per 1 ton of raw materials).

Selection rules

Cocoa is a popular and affordable product. It can be purchased at any store or supermarket. The cost depends on the quality, as well as the manufacturer. But high price does not always determine quality. When choosing, you should pay attention to the following characteristics:

The organic type is considered the most useful. In its production, high-quality raw materials are used, collected from trees that have not been fertilized with pesticides.
The RAW marking is used for designation.
Compound. A healthy product should not contain various chemical impurities. In addition, natural high-quality cocoa contains at least 15% fat.
External characteristics: color varies from light brown to dark brown (there should be no gray tint);
consistency – homogeneous, without unnecessary impurities and lumps;
the smell is pleasant, chocolate.

After preparing a drink from natural powder, sediment is allowed to form. It should not be in instant form.