HEALTH PROTECTING COMPONENTS OF COCOA

Cocoa and cocoa based products are consumed in great demand worldwide due to its unique flavour and aroma.The favourable effects of some components of cocoa powder and chocolates have been studied by several scientists all around the world. Researchers focused on those components that have beneficial effect on different organs of the human body. Dietary fibre is both preventive and therapeutic for bowel functional diseases. Soluble cocoa products are good sources of dietary fibre that may be supplemented with this dietary component.. Polyphenols are products of the secondary metabolism of plants. These compounds are reported to exhibit anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, antithrombotic, immune modulating and analgesic activities, among others and exert these functions as antioxidants . Here we are presenting our results regarding the total phenolic content and dietary fibre content of eight cocoa and cocoa based products.