Ghana celebrated its 18th National Chocolate Day on the 14th of February, 2022. The annual event began in 2005 when then tourism minister Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey announced that St. Valentine’s Day would be replaced by a celebration of chocolate, in a bid to encourage citizens of the world’s second largest cocoa producer to consume more of the crop(Cocoa) themselves.
The Member of Parliament for Offinso South, Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku has made aphrodisiacal claims for cocoa foods, asserting that the cocoa beans have properties thought to be mood boosters and sexual stimulant. He continued saying that, drinking raw cocoa powder and cocoa bitters produced by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana can increase user’s sexual desire.
Not concluding on that fact, he proceeded saying, cocoa powder may be able to lower one’s blood pressure, may improve brain health and minimize the risk of dementia and stroke.He made this statement on the floor of Parliament to promote Cocoa consumption.
Researchers from Boston have made it clear that polyphenols and flavanols in cocoa powder are also anti-inflammatory, which may help improve your heart health. Taking in much cocoa products can also reduce the second leading cause of death in the world, Cancer.
Consuming more cocoa products can also strengthen dental health because of the presence of Theobromine in cocoa. Cocoa products can also reduce blood clots and enable easy flow of blood in our veins and arteries, preventing Cardiovascular diseases because cocoa contains Flavonoid.
Apart from the taste we get from consuming Cocoa products, it has countless benefits toward our health. At least, consuming 1.6 ounce dark bar chocolate every day is best for your health.
By: Awale Basit – TOT, KNUST (Obuasi)