In honor of Ghana’s cocoa week, it is important to highlight the massive contribution made by the country’s production of cocoa. With continuous investment in the cocoa sector, Ghana is currently the second largest cocoa producing country in the world, and has capacity to be number one.
Chocolate is a popular sweet loved by millions in the world. It is a myth that chocolate is inherently unhealthy due to its high fat and sugar content.
The higher the cocoa content in chocolates, like in dark chocolate, the more the benefits.
Here are some benefits of Cocoa.
- Cholesterol – Chocolate can help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is also known as “bad cholesterol”.
- Cognitive Function – It is suggested by scientists at Harvard Medical School that drinking two cups of hot chocolate a day could help keep the brain healthy and reduce memory decline in older people. Another journal study suggested that eating chocolate at least once a week could improve cognitive function.
- Heart disease – It is said that chocolate could lower the risk of cardio metabolic disease according to research published in the BMJ.
- Stroke – A study conducted by Canadian scientists showed that eating one serving of chocolate is likely to reduce a stroke experience by 22%. People who eat about two ounces of chocolate a week were 46% less likely to die from a stroke.
- Fetal Growth and Development – A study by the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Atlanta, GA in 2016 should that consuming 30g of chocolate every day during pregnancy might benefit fatal growth and development.
- Athletic Performance – It is suggested by a study in the journal of the International Society of sports nutrition that a little dark chocolate might boost oxygen availability during fitness training
In the end, indulging in an occasional chocolate treat shouldn’t be fraught with stress or guilt, whether it is antioxidant-rich dark chocolate or white chocolate, which has very little nutritional benefit. We should all take a bite as the week goes by to appreciate the work that our farmers do in producing the lovely crop cocoa.