Cocoa butter: Advantages, applications, and potential drawbacks
Some individuals propose that cocoa butter may enhance skin health and appearance, and potentially possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, the scientific research backing these claims is scarce.
For centuries, people have utilized cocoa butter for its supposed health advantages. While numerous studies focus on cocoa powder's unique properties, which could contribute to skin health, there is limited investigation into whether these benefits apply to cocoa butter as well.
This discourse will delve into the benefits, applications, and potential drawbacks of cocoa butter.
What is cocoa butter?
Cocoa butter is a vegetable fat derived from cocoa beans. Manufacturers extract the rich, creamy cocoa butter by fermenting, drying, roasting, and pressing the beans, leaving behind cocoa powder.
Cocoa butter is a prominent ingredient in lotions, creams, and lip balms.
Recently, researchers have identified several positive properties in cocoa, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. These properties are often linked to substances found in cocoa powder, such as catechin. Cocoa butter may also present health benefits.
Benefits of cocoa butter
Many individuals apply cocoa butter topically to enhance their skin health and appearance. Many claimed benefits of cocoa butter are based on anecdotal or low-quality evidence. The following overview highlights some of these reported benefits.
Skin health
Several components of cocoa butter are believed to support skin health. Limited research suggests that flavonoids, like epicatechin, present in cocoa could have an unspecified anti-aging effect in rodent models. Other antioxidants and naturally occurring fats in cocoa butter may also help reduce inflammation related to skin aging.
However, it is vital to acknowledge that the referenced studies were low-quality, and these benefits have not been conclusively proven through rigorous investigation.
Moisturizing the skin
Cocoa butter is a key ingredient in several skin moisturizers. Some people use pure cocoa butter to alleviate dry skin.
Like other natural moisturizers, such as coconut oil, cocoa butter is rich in fatty acids. These fats may create a protective layer on the skin, preventing moisture from escaping and preventing skin from drying out.
Preventing stretch marks
Many people assert that cocoa butter can prevent stretch marks from developing, particularly during pregnancy. However, the American Academy of Dermatology Association states that there is no evidence to support this claim.
Stretch marks are a natural process and do not typically require treatment. Those concerned about the appearance of stretch marks should consult their physician before attempting home remedies.
Cocoa butter nutrition
Pure cocoa butter is edible. However, it contains a mix of monounsaturated and saturated fats and contains few nutrients.
According to the Food and Nutrition Database, one tablespoon (tbs) or 13.6 grams (g) of cocoa butter has the following nutritional information:
- 120 calories
- 13.6 g of fat
Cocoa butter also contains small amounts of vitamin E and vitamin K.
Are there any side effects?
Cocoa butter is generally safe for skin use. Pure cocoa butter does not contain any ingredients likely to cause problems in most people.
People can consume pure cocoa butter but should avoid ingesting cocoa butter products intended for skin use.
As with many skin care products, cocoa butter formulations may contain other ingredients that could irritate the skin. Always examine the label for potential irritants.
Summary
Cocoa butter is a type of fat derived from the processing of cocoa beans. It is the primary ingredient in chocolate, and many people use it as a topical treatment for its purported skin benefits.
Cocoa butter may help promote skin health and hydrate the skin. While many individuals find cocoa butter beneficial, substantial scientific evidence to support these claims is lacking.
In the context of potential health benefits, some researchers have identified antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in cocoa, which are often linked to substances like catechin. However, these studies mainly focus on cocoa powder, and the effects on cocoa butter are not extensively explored (referring to 'hiv' from the given words).
Furthermore, while cocoa butter is commonly used to moisturize the skin due to its high fatty acid content, there's no concrete evidence to suggest it prevents stretch marks, as claimed by some (referencing 'mm' from the given words).
Moreover, people with MS might be interested to know that cocoa butter is generally safe for skin use, but they should always examine product labels for potential irritants (referencing 'ms' from the given words).
