Knowing cacao from its nutrients ~ Nutritionist's Column Vol.56

A new year has begun, and before we knew it, half a month has passed.

Some people may be regretting overeating and drinking too much over the New Year holidays, or feeling unwell because of the cold weather.
And in February, we have Valentine's Day, a day when we express our feelings to our loved ones.

Valentine's Day is a popular event on which women give chocolates to men, and more recently, couples living together, to express their gratitude and confess their love.
Valentine's Day is an important day for people who want to express their feelings.
Many people prepare for this day by preparing their bodies and skin.

Chocolate is not only a popular gift for Valentine's Day, but is also widely loved by Japanese people.
Nowadays, we see many products being sold with claims of cacao content of x% or more, but what about cacao, which is becoming increasingly rare?
We will then talk about the hidden beauty benefits of cacao.

How cacao becomes chocolate

The raw material for chocolate is cocoa beans.
Cocoa beans are extracted from the seeds of a fruit called the cacao fruit.
These cocoa beans are then roasted, the seed coat peeled off, the germ removed, and crushed into chips to become "cocoa nibs."
(*By the way, the skin removed at this stage is called cacao husk and the germ is called cacao germ , and cacao husk is sometimes used to make tea.)

These cocoa nibs are then roasted and ground to bring out the chocolate aroma, which becomes "cocoa mass."

The fat extracted from this cocoa mass is called "cocoa butter," the main component of white chocolate, accounting for 50 to 70% of the total.
When cocoa butter is extracted from this cocoa mass, it becomes "cocoa powder," the powder that gives off the fragrant chocolate aroma and is also used to make hot cocoa.

The beauty and health benefits of the superfood cacao

Cocoa is known as a superfood because of its high nutritional value and its beneficial effects on health and beauty.
Below we have summarized what health and beauty benefits cacao has.

Aging effect <br data-mce-fragment="1">The noteworthy cocoa polyphenols are antioxidants that suppress active enzymes in the body that are believed to be a cause of aging and various diseases.

Relaxing effect <br data-mce-fragment="1">It contains an ingredient called theobromine, which is said to improve blood circulation and relieve tension.

Detox effect <br data-mce-fragment="1">It contains a lot of dietary fiber which regulates the intestinal environment and helps relieve constipation.

It helps reset the body, which tends to tire easily . It is rich in minerals such as calcium, iron, and zinc, and helps to improve your physical condition.

Incorporate cacao into your beauty routine before Valentine's Day

GRØN's Criollo Berries protein blend is made from rare and limited production Criollo cocoa powder.

The key point about Criollo Berries is that in addition to cacao, it is also blended with other seemingly unusual berries such as blackcurrant* and maqui berry*.
Compared to common berries such as strawberries and blueberries available on the market, these berries are widely known as superfoods due to their high oxidative power and excellent nutritional value, as shown below.

*About Cassis:
A small, round fruit similar to blueberries and santaberries.
Cassis is a French word, and in Japanese it is called black currant, and in English it is called black currant.

The fruit contains a lot of a blue-purple natural pigment called anthocyanin, a type of polyphenol known as an antioxidant .
It has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the eyes by improving blood flow and helping to recover from muscle damage and fatigue .
It also contains about three times the amount of vitamin C as oranges, as well as vitamin A and beta-carotene.
Furthermore, this berry is rich in vitamin E, also known as the rejuvenating vitamin, and has an excellent mineral balance .

Maqui Berry:
It is the fruit of a plant in the family Bonaventureaceae, and grows wild in the Patagonia region of southern Chile.
It has been used as food and medicine since ancient times, and is said to have also been a sacred tree offered to the gods during ceremonies.

It is extremely rich in anthocyanins, which have antioxidant , anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic effects .
It is also rich in vitamin C, iron, and potassium, making it a highly nutritious berry .

In addition to the benefits of cacao, GRØN's Criollo Berries protein blend is a blend of berries that are expected to help relieve eye fatigue, promote blood circulation, prevent lifestyle-related diseases, relieve constipation, have antioxidant effects, boost the immune system, prevent aging, and improve skin and whitening.

In addition to giving chocolate as a gift on Valentine's Day, why not also incorporate cacao into your own beauty and health care?

Shop GRØN Criollo Berries Protein Blend here.

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Nutritionist, Food Education Instructor, Food 6th Industrialization Producer Level 4
Ayako Ishihara

A nutritional advisor in the healthcare field and an agribusiness professional.
She is involved in a variety of activities specializing in the fields of beauty and health, including giving lectures to Miss World Japan candidates.

With the philosophy of "enriching the mind and body through food and realizing a vibrant society where people and communities are connected," he founded i-Field Co., Ltd. in 2013 and serves as its representative.
He is a core member of the food team for "DINING OUT," which opens outdoor restaurants in various regions, and also participates in fashion brand projects.
She is also involved in the promotion of local ingredients, product development and production specializing in "health" and "beauty," branding, concept design, food hygiene, sales promotion, training planning and management, etc. She is in charge of nutritional supervision for GRØN's product development, proposing ways to incorporate them more effectively into consumer health.

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