Brief Answer:
Good morning and welcome to HCM - The Benefits of Cocoa

Detailed Answer:
You asked a very good question, thank you for allowing me to assist in your understanding of this food product.Recent research has shown cocoa to:
*have a positive effect on blood pressure
*decreases insulin resistance resulting in better blood sugar control
*affects platelet function- works against clot formation
-possible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory (good for arthitis??)
Proposed health functions that need further research are:
improved heart function; relief of angina; stimulation of the nervous system (interfere with pacemaker???); stimulates digestion; improves kidney and bowel functions.
Remember that cocoa is not the same as chocolate. We think that cocoa has a biologically active phenolic compounds that may be the reason it seems to have so many positive effects on the body. Beware of excess calories from its consumption.Do not confuse natural cacao with the cocoa processed with cocoa, sugar, milk and other ingredients in a food solid. I am not certain where to order pure cocoa.

Always talk to your doctor before you add anything to the diet that might affect the heart. If he gets my list of how cocoa acts he may have an opinion on using it based on medical information I am not privy to. For example, if your husband is on a blood pressure lowering drug and you add cocoa and his blood pressure drops he may pass out and fall. The doctor will have to monitor more frequently blood pressure trends and lower the dosage of the medication if this occurs. So always talk to the doctor as well.

The effects of cocoa are diminished if consumed with milk. Surprising, isn't it??
Labels: look for COCOA POWDER and you can look for recipes to make it palatable without combining it with milk.

Dosages are not available as this is still in the research stages. I have looked, but cannot find any reliable, evidence bases suggestions on the amount to consume per day.

I surely hope I have assisted you in understanding the proposed benefits of the cocoa powder for your husband along with cautionary information on what to watch for and how necessary it is to involve the doctor with all changes in the regime of his patient.

Please contact me again if you need clarification on anything I have said related to your original question. I hope I have been helpful to you.
To A Healthy Life !!!!

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