COCOA: A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

COCOA: A GREAT EXAMPLE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE

Agriculture deals with cultivating the soil, growing crops, and raising livestock. It encompasses livestock, crops,aquaculture, fishery, forestry and so on. It mainly refers to as the art or science of growing crops and rearing of animals and cultivating the soil. Agriculture comprises of two types which are the subsistence agriculture and the industrialized agriculture which is also know as commercial agriculture. Apart from these types, agriculture can also be categorized into livestock production, crop production,agricultural economics, agricultural engineering, animal nutrition and biotechnology, crop science and so on.

Read more: http://www.fao.org/home/en/

Cocoa is a great example of agricultural produce. It is grown in many countries in the tropical region,although majority of the world’s cocoa is produced in Africa particularly in Ivory coast and Ghana. The cocoa is made from the seeds of the cocoa tree. These seeds are fermented, dried,roasted ( so as to create a cocoa bean) and then grinded to make a cocoa powder or chocolate liquor.

A cocoa tree

Cocoa has been said to be one of the richest sources of polyphenol mainly flavonoids which has alot of health benefits that includes lowering blood pressure, reducing the risk of having heart disease (which includes heart attack and stroke) and also improving the cognitive function i.e it improves the flow of blood to the brain and brain function,it also aids the control of weight in nany ways. The cocoa is a very good plant that is rich in Iron, magnesium and antioxidants. Cocoa have a variety of uses and benefits. It is used in the production of beverages and it is the main ingredient in chocolate. It is also used in baking,pharmaceutical companies and cosmetics.

COCOA POWDER

Also read : https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cocoa

Although cocoa has a wide range of health benefits but it can also be harmful to the health. Cocoa contains caffeine which can cause insomnia, anxiety and digestive issues in sensitive individuals. It is also high in fat and calories which can cause to unnecessary weight gain when overindulged. Therefore it must be taken in moderation to avoid all these health risk.