Unsweetened raw cocoa powder, the same stuff that is used to make that sinfully good “guilty pleasure” food chocolate, has a multitude of health benefits. They are often overlooked because it is so often incorporated into overly sweetened and fattened up treats like candy bars. 

However, the raw powder that is the basis for all of these indulgent treats is surprisingly low in calories, high in fiber, and rich in several potent antioxidants.  In fact, when added to some heated low-fat organic milk (or vegan milk of your choice), and with a touch of stevia sweetener, you’ve got yourself an antioxidant-packed, low fat, nutritious and tasty drink! It is one of my favorites for the long winter months and cool fall days for a quick pick me up.    

Cocoa in its raw form is more bitter to the taste than what most of us have customarily come to recognize in its deliciously sweetened form of chocolate.  Milk chocolate is sweeter because it contains more sugar and more fat, giving it a creamier consistency compared to darker varieties. Dark chocolate is generally healthier because it has more actual cocoa in it and contains less fat.  

There are varieties of chocolate now that have a lower percentage of sugar. Even lower than your typical dark chocolate. They are a little more on the bitter and chalky side, but they really pack a nutritious punch. Some even say they get a bit of an energy buzz from eating these darker varieties — likely due to the higher caffeine content of darker chocolates.

Cocoa Contains Flavonoids

So, what are they? Flavonoids are a complex antioxidant compounds that are found in certain plants.  Cocoa powder, ground from cocoa beans,  contains a high concentration of flavonoids.  These antioxidant compounds are known for their anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-cancer, blood flow promoting capabilities, and foods rich in these compounds should be included abundantly in any healthy diet.  

Quercetin is one of the flavonoids found in cocoa powder. It has demonstrated potential heart health benefits due to its positive effects on our circulatory system. One recent study also linked it to decreased blood pressure.  At any rate, it seems this compound has some sort of all-around benefit for improved heart health due to its positive effects blood flow and blood pressure.

Cocoa is a Mood Enhancer

Think you’re imagining things when you get an instant mood boost from eating a piece of chocolate?  You’re probably not.  Chocolate has a reputation for putting people in a better mood. This link goes beyond the fact that chocolate is used in some of the most decadent and popular desserts here in the US.  

Dark chocolate has demonstrable mood and cognitive boosting effects on the brain centers that control mood and cognition.  So, eating a couple pieces of dark chocolate may not only enhance your current state of mind emotionally, but can also give you a leg up in critical thinking. Of course, the fact that cocoa contains some caffeine as well may have something to do with these brain and mood boosting benefits.  

The bad news is, while the effects are real, they are fleeting. Any brain or mood boosting effects enjoyed can wear off in about 60-90 minutes. And be careful to choose a lower sugar chocolate. This way you’re not experiencing a blood sugar crash on top of coming down from your “chocolate high.”