Cocoa Butter Benefits
The most important cocoa butter benefits include skin and hair care and boosted immunity. It also helps prevent signs of aging and reduce inflammation.
What Is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is a type of vegetable fat that is extracted from cocoa beans. The other name for cocoa butter is Theobroma oil, a popular ingredient around the world. It is used in various applications, including cosmetics, chocolates, ointments, and some pharmaceuticals, but you may be unaware of what it actually is.
Due to the strong flavor and aroma of cocoa beans, cocoa butter shares a very similar taste and smell. It is edible but is very high in calories, so despite its health benefits, be aware that it can contribute to obesity if consumed in large quantities.
One of the most important qualities of cocoa butter is its high stability as compared to other fats. This unique aspect gives it a very impressive shelf life of 2-5 years, which is even further improved by the antioxidants found in cocoa butter, thereby reducing the chances of the oil becoming rancid. You can find it in many forms, but it is still primarily consumed in chocolate. Its stability at room temperature but relatively low melting point also make it an ideal base oil for suppositories and other medicinal creams. Let’s take a closer look at some of the health benefits of cocoa butter.
Cocoa Butter Health Benefits
Cocoa butter helps to treat many health issues such as hair loss, skin irritation, and signs of aging. Let’s discuss each benefit in detail.
Anti-dandruff
Cocoa butter has also been linked to a lower incidence of dandruff and healthier hair follicle beds, thereby reducing hair loss and preventing the onset of male pattern baldness.
Hair Care
Apart from its delicious aroma, cocoa butter can also help to moisturize your hair, helping to improve its general appearance and strength.
Skin Care
The antioxidant qualities of cocoa butter certainly take care of most signs of aging, but cocoa butter also protects the skin from outside agents as well. The antioxidants and beneficial organic molecules protect the skin from environmental, internal, and external forces that can cause irritation or damage to the skin.
Removes Scars
Research has also shown cocoa butter to reduce the appearance of scars on the skin and help to boost overall skin health.
Prevents Aging
One of the reasons that cocoa butter is so valuable is its high concentration of antioxidant compounds, including oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. Although these are technically fatty acids, they are beneficial for the body and help to neutralize free radicals throughout the body, particularly in the skin. By reducing the occurrence of oxidative stress, cocoa butter can help reduce the signs of aging, including wrinkles and age marks.
