Cacao Butter: Why it is a top Keto fat and how to use it (2023)

FAQs

Cacao Butter: Why it is a top Keto fat and how to use it? ›

Cacao butter is a smooth and silky fat source derived from cold-pressed cacao beans. This dairy-free butter makes the perfect ketogenic fat source, since it contains antioxidants, saturated fats and disease-fighting compounds. Use it to add rich chocolatey flavor and aroma to recipes—including Bulletproof Coffee.

Cocoa butter contains a high amount of fatty acids, which make it well-suited as a primary ingredient in skin cream. Fatty acids help to hydrate the skin. The fat in cocoa butter creates a protective barrier that holds in moisture and prevents your skin from drying.

However, just because it can be used in cosmetics, doesn't mean that it's not edible! Raw cocoa butter has a delicate cocoa flavour and a fatty texture, so although you wouldn't want to eat it in its purest form, it creates the perfect chocolate bar when combined with cocoa powder and other ingredients!

There are 14 grams of total fat in one tablespoon of raw cocoa butter, but no protein or carbs exist. That almost makes cocoa butter the perfect keto food since the goal is to get most of your calories from fat. They don't have any hidden sugars either, so you don't have to worry about that throwing off your ketosis.

Boost your morning coffee and make it 'bulletproof' by adding cacao butter. By switching out dairy that's traditionally used in the bulletproof coffee and using cacao butter as the base, it gives the coffee a subtle hint of chocolate and makes it super creamy.

Use it in place of coconut butter or oil and as a substitute for butter in vegan or dairy-free recipes. Because of its high smoke point, cocoa butter is ideal when cooking at high temperatures as it won't burn easily; it's also not necessary to use as much as other fats.

Used medicinally, Cocoa Butter works as an anti-inflammatory moisturizer that offers relief to skin afflicted with the swelling, irritation, and redness characteristic of conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and rashes. Cocoa Butter is reputed to naturally enhance the body's immunity by promoting relaxation.

When properly stored cacao butter can have a shelf life of 1,5 to 2 years. You can keep it with your beans, because both products need the same storage conditions: a clean and dry room with relative humidity close to 50%, and certainly not higher then 65%, and room temperature between 15°C and 20°C.

Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids, which is why it's often touted for its ability to hydrate and nourish the skin and improve elasticity. The fat in cocoa butter forms a protective barrier over skin to hold in moisture. Cocoa butter is also rich in natural plant compounds called phytochemicals.

Is cacao butter bad for cholesterol? ›

In a recent experiment cocoa butter did not raise LDL cholesterol as much as predicted by its total saturated fatty acid content. However, because of its significant palmitic acid content, cocoa butter did raise LDL-cholesterol concentrations more than do most liquid vegetable oils.

Despite its reputation as a saturated fat, cocoa butter is a healthy saturated fat that is similar to coconut oil. Its saturated fat percentage (as opposed to unsaturated fat) ranges from 57 percent to 64 percent of total fat content, depending on the kind. Both of them are equally healthy.

Immediately, you should notice that your skin looks smoother and more moisturized. After a few weeks, skin's tone and texture is visibly improved and marks are softened. In time you'll notice an overall improvement in the appearance of your stretch marks while skin takes on a healthier, firmer look.

Is there a Difference Between Cacao Butter and Cocoa Butter? Nope, they are the same product, made the same way. They are the fat that comes from cocoa beans. The beans are taken from the larger cacao plant before being warmed and pressed to extract all the gorgeous fats.

Melting Cocoa Butter

If necessary, Unrefined Cocoa Butter can be heated in the microwave, but it is important to do so carefully as over-heating the butter can damage its beneficial properties.

Stir 1 tbsp. of raw cacao into your cup of coffee for a boost in dietary fiber, antioxidants, and magnesium. Tip: Look for organic raw cacao to get the most benefits, and learn the difference between raw cacao and cacao powder.

Aside from giving a gentler energy boost without the jittery effects and crashes, cacao is significantly healthier than coffee, possessing more nutritional benefits. One cup of cacao contains roughly 420 mg of magnesium, which helps calm the nervous system and moderate the release of stress hormones.

You can apply cocoa butter to your skin once or multiple times per day. Using cocoa butter might improve the overall health and appearance of the skin on your face. Moisture, elasticity, and sun protection are all desirable attributes for keeping skin looking healthy.

Studies have also found that cocoa helps to regulate energy use and metabolism while also increasing feelings of fullness. In other words, although chocolate is commonly associated with weight gain, cocoa powder may actually help to reduce weight while providing important nutrients.

Can you drink cacao butter? ›

Cacao butter is very healthy for the human body if consumed in moderation. It's considered a heart-healthy fat as it's high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Healthy fats not only support your brain health, but they also boost your mood and can even help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Cocoa Butter Cocoa butter is used in the making of chocolate and is another healthy fat loaded with antioxidants and polyphenols. Cocoa butter may help to improve your body's immune system and lower inflammation levels. You can use it when baking to replace regular butter.

A: It's not at all sweet to me, but there is no bitterness. It tastes oily -- if you taste a piece by itself. The smell is powerful, rich and like the best cocoa powder. It's hard to tell if the taste of cocoa comes through in the butter itself, or because of the smell.

Cocoa has been reported to have medicinal properties. It contains a wide range of phytochemicals, including polyphenols, which have been shown to exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, and also to have a positive effect on pain.

It's certainly too early to say ingesting cocoa powder might “breakdown” plaque buildup. However, much evidence exists to support the overall cardiovascular/arterial benefits of the flavanoids contained in cocoa powder, mainly due to its antioxidant properties.

Abstract. Cocoa butter, which is still widely used as a suppository base, has several well-known defects, such as slowness to harden if overheated and the assumption of solid forms with low melting points. In tropical countries, a further disadvantage is the proximity of its melting point to average room temperature.

Unlike shea butter, cocoa butter has a distinct smell, similar to chocolate. It's also firm in texture and doesn't melt at room temperature.

Simmer a couple inches of water in a pot and place the bowl over (but not touching) the water to melt the cocoa butter. When everything is melted, remove the bowl from heat and place in the refrigerator for about an hour.

Cacao is the raw, unprocessed version of cocoa. Both can benefit your health, but it's best to stick to either the raw version, cacao, or a chocolate product that has a high chocolate liquor content. Raw cacao can take some getting used to. It tastes a little different than cocoa products and can be slightly bitter.

Cocoa butter deeply penetrates and nourishes the hair, while soothing and supporting scalp health. It won't weigh your hair down and helps maintain long-lasting hydration. Using a scalp treatment with cocoa butter is especially nourishing for natural hair.

Can I use cacao butter on my face? ›

You may have wondered “Can you use cocoa butter on your face?” The answer is yes! Cocoa butter is naturally antioxidant-rich and helps fight free radical damage that can cause aging and dullness. To keep your skin soft, hydrated, and younger-looking, you can use cocoa butter as a facial moisturizer.

Cacao butter really is a superfood whether you eat it or apply it to your skin. Make sure you are getting the good stuff, though. The pure, cold, processed chocolate will retain more of the vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants that make this food super.

Statistically significant lowering of LDL and total cholesterol levels by consuming dark chocolate. No meaningful impact on HDL (slight increase) or triglyceride levels (which is good) since chocolate did not adversely affect these parameters; no harm was done.

Additionally, studies have shown that cacao butter can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and inflammation if consumed as part of a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Cocoa powder and dark chocolate support healthy lipids (triglycerides, cholesterol) levels. Numerous studies have shown improvements in lipids. One study found a 21% reduction in females' triglyceride levels, eating 41 grams of high polyphenol dark chocolate daily for 6 weeks.

Cocoa butter for wrinkles is an excellent idea as the butter moisturizes the skin and slows down the rate of aging and leaves you with a clear skin free of wrinkles. If you have the fine lines already, cocoa butter can help minimize their appearance.

Cocoa butter

There's some proof that this organic butter is able to fight fungus within the body. That's because it contains caprylic acid, a substance known for its anti-candida properties.

Cocoa butter contains compounds called cocoa mass polyphenols, which some studies have found can help diminish signs of aging, plus soothe sensitive skin suffering from dermatitis or rashes. Polyphenols are types of antioxidants that promote health both internally when eaten and when used topically on the skin.

Cocoa Butter is easily absorbed into the top layer of the skin and the dermis layer where the body is able to retain more moisture. Cocoa butter is rich in Vitamins A, E and stearic acid, and it will go deep into your scarred skin to slowly improve its appearance.

Cocoa butter helps to soften stretch marks and even prevent them. In early pregnancy, it is recommended to begin applying cocoa butter to the areas that can be easily affected by stretch marks on month one all the way up until delivery.

How long does it take for cacao to kick in? ›

How long does it take to feel the effects of ceremonial cacao and how long do they last? For most people, most of the time it takes between twenty minutes to half an hour for the effects of ceremonial cacao to be felt. These effects usually last between two to four hours depending on the dosage and the individual.

Cocoa butter temperature should not be taken higher than 86-90F. If this happens, you will have to re-temper the color.

Because cocoa butter melts between 93-101°F/34-38°C, it separates from the cocoa particles and fats, much like melted butter separates into fats and milk proteins. If the chocolate gets too hot it becomes grainy.

Cocoa Butter Can Clog Pores

Cocoa butter is considered mild to moderately comedogenic. This means it can clog your pores. So, if you're diligently rubbing cocoa butter onto your face every day, you may be doing more harm than good. If cocoa butter clogs your pores, it's actually contributing to breakouts.

Yes, you can safely add cacao powder to coffee. It's a powerhouse of a supplement and will give your morning coffee a mocha flavor, so it's a win-win situation. If you're looking to flavor coffee without sugary syrup or you need some extra minerals, try adding cacao powder to your morning cup.

One serving of snacking cacao contains about half the caffeine of a brewed cup of coffee. In addition, cacao also contains about ten times more Theobromine than it does caffeine. Theobromine has a positive effect on both our mood and state of alertness with fewer side effects than caffeine.

Consuming a lot of cocoa might increase the risk of bleeding and bruising in people with bleeding disorders. Heart conditions: Cocoa contains caffeine. The caffeine in cocoa might cause irregular heartbeat in some people and should be used cautiously in people with heart conditions.

One explanation is to be found in the particular constituents of cacao, the main ingredient of chocolate, which are said to have a mood-enhancing effect. One of them is tryptophan. The body uses it to produce the mood-elevating substance of serotonin – also known as the happiness hormone.

Many of our customers do drink hot cacao in the late afternoon or evening as they find it relaxing. Cacao contains a good source of magnesium which is great to calm our nervous system down. The best way to find out is to have a cacao in the afternoon, see how you feel.

Should cocoa butter be refrigerated? ›

So instead of the fridge: Store it in a cool, dry place. When chocolate is kept at a consistent temperature below 70°F (ideally between 65 and 68°F), and at a humidity of less than 55%, the emulsion of cocoa solids and cocoa butter will stay stable for months.

Cocoa butter is used in cosmetics and can be found in various skin creams, hair conditioners, and moisturizers. With respect to food, cocoa butter is an ingredient in sweet and savory dishes, cakes, ice cream, lattes, and hot chocolate, where it adds a creamy texture.

Because cocoa butter melts easily, it should be stored away from light and heat in a cool, dry spot. It can also be kept in the refrigerator. Cocoa butter will last several years if stored properly.

Cocoa has high levels of flavonols (e.g., epicatechin, catechin), which can cause antioxidant activity in the endothelium, vasodilation via increased nitrous oxide production, and inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme, all of which may lower blood pressure.

In humans, consuming cocoa is associated with a reduction in blood pressure (in healthy people and those with high blood pressure). This lowering of blood pressure, which relaxes the smooth muscles that line our arteries, could produce a calming effect, making it easier to go to sleep.

If you wish to use cocoa powder to burn fat, then make sure you buy a good quality, organic brand, which has no sugar in it. You can add the cocoa powder in small amounts to your warm glass of milk or your bowl of oats in the morning.

Best Overall

The Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Cream for Stretch Marks is our top pick because it provides a soothing, hydrating experience. It's made from water, glycerine, coconut oil, and shea butter, among other ingredients, and it's free from mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, fragrance allergens, and dyes.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Eventone Fade Cream visibly targets unwanted discoloration, dark spots or age spots caused by sun damage, aging skin or scarring.

Cocoa butter has fantastic moisturising qualities as it is rich in essential fatty acids that nourish and protect the skin. The butter is able to deliver deep, lasting hydration that doesn't feel greasy or sticky, helping to keep your skin in its natural healthy balance.

It contains large amounts of omega-3 and other fatty acids that help your skin, hair, and eyesight. Additionally, studies have shown that cacao butter can help reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and inflammation if consumed as part of a healthy diet and regular exercise.

Does cacao butter smell like chocolate? ›

Unlike shea butter, cocoa butter has a distinct smell, similar to chocolate. It's also firm in texture and doesn't melt at room temperature.

Cocoa butter will not magically erase your dark spots and acne, but its antimicrobial properties can help to fight and fade them.

It's a rich moisturizer: Cocoa butter is high in fatty acids and hydrates the skin deeply, making it a wonderful addition to body moisturizers and lip balms. It contains oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids, all of which nourish the skin.

When properly stored cacao butter can have a shelf life of 1,5 to 2 years. You can keep it with your beans, because both products need the same storage conditions: a clean and dry room with relative humidity close to 50%, and certainly not higher then 65%, and room temperature between 15°C and 20°C.

You can apply cocoa butter to your skin once or multiple times per day. Using cocoa butter might improve the overall health and appearance of the skin on your face. Moisture, elasticity, and sun protection are all desirable attributes for keeping skin looking healthy.