Cocoa Powder Nutrition Benefits and Facts

Nutritional summary

Cocoa powder is a concentrated source of flavanols (plant compounds with antioxidant properties), which have been linked in observational studies to improved blood pressure and cardiovascular health .
Regular consumption of flavanol-rich cocoa products may assist with weight management, as a systematic review found that supplementation of more than 30 grams per day for at least 8 weeks was associated with reductions in body weight and BMI .
Pure cocoa powder is generally well-tolerated and does not appear to cause significant changes in blood sugar, liver enzymes, or kidney function in healthy individuals .
Some cocoa powder products may contain small amounts of heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead, which are naturally absorbed by the cocoa plant from the soil .

Interesting fact

The 'Dutch processing' method, which treats cocoa with alkali to reduce acidity and darken its color, was invented by Coenraad van Houten in 1828.

Standout nutrients

EPIC

SOURCE

Chromium

SUPER

SOURCE

Molybdenum

EPIC

SOURCE

Copper

EPIC

SOURCE

Magnesium

330

kcal per 100g

Protein18.2g

Fat19.1g

Carbs30.0g

Fiber24.4g

Sugar0.88g

Fat breakdown

Polyunsat0.55g

Monounsat6.35g

Saturated11.3g

Seasonality

Not available

Diet

VeganVegetarianPescatarianGluten FreeDairy FreeKetoLow FodmapPaleo

Sustainability

Moderate

Cocoa production is a major driver of deforestation in West Africa, though emissions per kg are lower than animal products.

Confidencehigh

Storage

Airtight Container

1–2 years

Keep in a cool, dry place to prevent clumping and flavor loss.

Cool Dark Place

1–2 years

Flavour

Data & Sources

Harmonized from 4 validated sources

French Food Database

1 contributing source food

Phenol-Explorer

1 contributing source food

McCance & Widdowson

1 contributing source food

USDA

USDA FoodData Central

1 contributing source food

Claim citations

The Health Effects of Chocolate and Cocoa: A Systematic Review

[1]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Cocoa Polyphenols and Dark Chocolate on Obese Adults: A Scoping Review - PMC

[7]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Dark Chocolate • The Nutrition Source

[10]nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu

What Are Antioxidants? - The Nutrition Source

[11]nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu

Coverage

Nutrients

FoodCompass

69.5

Version

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