It is a good source of potassium
It is full of magnesium for a healthy heart and brain.
It has more calcium than cow’s milk.
And it is a natural mood elevator and an anti-depressant!
Now, let’s discuss further the importance of these minerals, one by one.
Potassium
Let’s start with potassium. Potassium is the third most abundant mineral in the body. It functions as an electrolyte. Also, it helps regulate fluid balance, nerve signals, and muscle contractions. Eating a potassium-rich diet can help us maintain a good fluid balance.
In addition, potassium plays an important role in activating nerve impulses throughout our nervous system. Nerve impulses help regulate muscle contractions, the heartbeat, reflexes, and many other processes.
Potassium levels have a significant effect on muscle contractions. However, altered levels can cause muscle weakness, and in the heart, they may cause an irregular heartbeat.
Calcium
Now, let’s know more about the calcium mineral. Calcium is important because we need it for our bone health, for muscle contraction, for the cardiovascular system.
- For bone health
Around 99% of the calcium in our body is in the bones and teeth. Calcium is essential for the development, growth, and maintenance of our bones.
- For muscle contraction
Calcium helps regulate muscle contraction. When a nerve stimulates a muscle, the body releases calcium. The calcium helps the proteins in muscle carry out the work of contraction.
- For the cardiovascular system
Calcium’s role in muscle function includes maintaining the action of the heart muscle. It relaxes the smooth muscle that surrounds blood vessels.
Various studies have indicated a possible link between high consumption of calcium and lower blood pressure. Some studies have also shown that consuming enough calcium may result in:
• Lower risk of developing conditions involving high blood pressure during pregnancy
• Lower blood pressure in young people
• Improved cholesterol values
• Lower risk of colorectal adenomas, a type of non-cancerous tumor
Lack of calcium could lead to osteoporosis and other health issues. For adults, especially women, too little calcium may increase the risk of developing osteoporosis, or frail and porous bones that easily fracture.
Remember! Our body doesn’t produce calcium, so we have to rely on our diet to get the calcium we need.
Magnesium
Another important mineral that cacao is rich in is magnesium. Magnesium plays a key role in many body processes. It helps with muscle and nerve function, regulates blood pressure, and supports the immune system. In particular, magnesium helps keep blood pressure normal, bones strong, and the heart rhythm steady.
Magnesium promotes bone health, helps prevent diabetes, aids cardiovascular health, cures migraine and headaches, helps prevent premenstrual syndrome, helps prevent anxiety, and many more.
- Promotes bone health
Magnesium is essential for healthy bone formation.
- Helps prevent diabetes
Studies show that a high magnesium diet is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes since it plays an important role in glucose control and insulin metabolism.
- Aids cardiovascular health
Our body needs magnesium to maintain the health of muscles, including the heart.
- Cures migraine and headaches
Magnesium therapy helps prevent or relieve headaches. This is because a magnesium deficiency can affect neurotransmitters and restrict blood vessel constriction, which are factors link to migraine.
- Helps prevent premenstrual syndrome or PMS
Studies suggest that taking magnesium supplements along with vitamin B-6 can improve PMS symptoms.
- Helps prevent anxiety
Magnesium levels may play a role in mood disorders, including depression and anxiety. Low magnesium levels may have links with higher levels of anxiety. This is partly due to activity in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is a set of three glands that control a person’s reaction to stress.
Wow! Those are just some of the amazing health benefits of cacao! Cacao is really a superfood! Wouldn’t you agree?
Sources:
Healthline
(https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-does-potassium-do#section8)
Healthline
(https://www.healthline.com/health/8-fast-facts-about-calcium)
Medical News Today
(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/286839)
Medical News Today
(https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248958)
WebMD
(https://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-magnesium#1)