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 I remember, somewhere in the 90s was such a fun song about the cocoa ... and if Seriously, cocoa - a very useful drink. Not so long ago, scientists from Cornell University in New York conducted tests and found that the antioxidants in cocoa more than in tea and red wine.
For the fact that we are able to drink the cocoa, we must thank the ancestors Mayan. They even have a legend about the origin of cocoa:
There was once, in ancient times, a gardener who grew the most beautiful trees and flowers. One day he grew in his garden maloprimetnoe tree and called it the cocoa. The tree was magical fruit, oblong, and bitter the taste, but the drink made from them, gave man the joy and strength. Many, tasted it, began to give him the gardener a lot of gold, its respected and admired. And the gardener so arrogant, that provoked the wrath of the gods sent down to him madness. Overcome with rage, he began to destroy his gardener garden and destroyed all the lovely trees, except one. Saved a tree and turned cocoa.
Cocoa -
Theobroma cacao
- Evergreen tree of the family Malvaceae up to 12 meters in height. The leaves of the cocoa leathery, glossy, in the form of a pointed oval.
Small pinkish-white waxy flowers are most often serve directly from the bark of an old tree in the form of beams - on the surface of the barrel and large branches.
The tree blooms and bears fruit throughout the year. Long fruit in the shape of a cucumber up to 20-40 cm long ripens on the tree for about four months. As its maturation and partially woody leathery shell of the fruit change the color: one variety - from red to carmine, then crimson, orange or reddish-brown; the other - from green to yellow.
 Inside fruit in the five rows are arranged almond seeds - the cacao beans that immersed in a sticky liquid, easily solidifying in the air in a whitish pulp. In addition, each seed is surrounded by a parchment skin oily with two blades.
The highest harvest is in July-September. The fruits of cocoa Aborigines cut with a machete or knife wood on a long pole. Harvest consists into baskets and brought to a clearing where dumped in piles. Then, each fruit is opened by hand and remove the seeds - the cocoa beans.
In the wild cocoa tree grows on the coast of Mexico, Central and South America. It is cultivated in all tropical countries. Most cocoa producing Ecuador, as there grow and wild cacao trees, forming a whole grove, and laid a huge cultural plantations of trees.
In culinary, medical and cosmetic to use the seeds of cocoa. The casing contains the alkaloid theobromine.
Cocoa seeds contain proteins, starch, cellulose, fatty oil, tannins, organic acids, red pigment, traces of caffeine, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium, theobromine - alkaloid with stimulating effect.
Healing properties of cocoa
The pharmaceutical industry uses in the manufacture of cocoa laxatives and pain relievers candles, various medicinal ointments.
- Traditional medicine appoints cocoa to recuperate after the hard work, moved the disease, to relieve migraine headache, for healing from depression gastric ulcer and bronchial asthma.
 - Drink of cocoa powder normalizes cholesterol levels, supports blood formation, accelerates wound healing, inhibits bacterial growth, reduces pain in angina and prevents the formation of tartar on the teeth.
- Alkaloid - theobromine contained in the drink, uplifting, invigorating, gives a boost of energy and does not give to sit around.
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Stomach ulcer
Take 40-50 grams of cocoa powder, butter, honey, 2 fresh chicken egg yolk, mix everything until smooth. Take 1 tbsp. spoon every 3-4 hours for 30 minutes before a meal and 1 hour after meals for a period of 2-3 weeks. After a 2 week break, repeat the course.
For cosmetic purposes
It has long been noted that the masks for the face of cocoa improves color, smooth fine lines and nourish the skin.
- To become soft skin and velvety, make the most simple mask of cocoa.
2 tbsp. tablespoons cocoa powder poured into an enamel or earthenware bowl and add boiled water to obtain a creamy consistency. Apply weight to the face, neck, chest for 10-15 minutes, rinse with water at room temperature.
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Mask for oily and normal skin
Mix 2 tbsp. tablespoons of cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons. tablespoons minced coffee and 4 tbsp. tablespoons of warm cream. Apply to face, neck, chest for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
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For aging skin
Take 1 tbsp. spoonful of powder cocoa, add 1 tbsp. a spoonful of oatmeal, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of honey and 2 tbsp. Spoon a little warm cream and apply on face for 10-15 minutes, rinse with warm water.
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Mask of cocoa for brown and dark hair
By 2 tbsp. spoons of cocoa powder, add 2 tbsp. tablespoons of henna, 2 drops of rose essential oil diluted with warm water. To the hair over the entire length of half an hour. The hair will be shiny, silky, fluffy and firm. Blonde hair will become reddish.
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Mask for all hair
Mix 1 teaspoon of cocoa with ½ cup sour milk or yogurt, add 1 egg, mix everything. Apply to the hair along the entire length of half an hour before washing. Put on plastic cap and tie the head with a towel. Wash your hair shampoo suitable for your hair. Rinse with a decoction of herbs.
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