Speaking at this year’s Ghana Cocoa Awards held on November 14, CEO of Ghana Cocoa Board, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, referred to cocoa as “food for the gods” The reference is derived from the meaning of its botanical name, Theobroma cacao.
Ghana’s Cocoa – The untold benefits
In Greek mythology food for the gods made the gods immortal. This loosely translates to the immense benefits that cocoa consumption has to offer.
Cocoa is highly rich in antioxidants that prevent damage to cells by free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive substances that can damage cells and cause cells to function poorly or die.
“The more free radicals you have in your body, the more your body is likely to suffer from various ailments, from diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer” among others, said Joseph Boahen Aidoo.
Cocoa is said to have the highest concentration of antioxidants amongst many foods that have been studied that counteracts the effects of the free radicals. So, it is imperative to consume a lot of cocoa, Joseph Boahen Aidoo empahasized.
“On daily basis I take not less than 5 cups of cocoa a day,” Joseph Boahen Aidoo said.
He advised that the cocoa should be taken without sugar and milk especially for those at age 40 and above. This is because sugar and milk take away the beneficial and nutritional essence of the cocoa.
Studies in Japan indicate children who consume chocolate with a high concentration of cocoa, have their “cerebral cortex which ordinarily shrinks on a daily basis” experience growth. With this growth comes a mark of intelligence said Joseph Boahen.
Additionally, Noble prize winners within the scientific community have also been known to emerge from places where chocolate is consumed the most, Joseph Boahen further added.
Given Ghana’s position as the second-largest producer of cocoa, he urged people in every home to consume more cocoa than coffee or tea since cocoa’s nutritional value far outstrips that of tea or coffee.
“The more cocoa you take, the younger you look,” Francis Boahen said.
