Does Cocoa Butter Contain Caffeine?
Most people do not experience negative effects from caffeine in small doses, but some people are more sensitive than others. If you have a health condition such as high blood pressure or heart disease, your doctor may recommend that you avoid caffeine. If you are highly sensitive to caffeine, you may be concerned about eating white chocolate or using lotions or creams that contain cocoa butter.
Effects of Caffeine
Caffeine is the most popular psychoactive drug in the world. People all over the globe consume caffeine as part of their daily routine. It increases alertness and helps reduce drowsiness. Caffeine is also a muscle relaxant that is used medicinally to treat migraine headaches and asthma. It is also a mild diuretic and can cause insomnia, headaches, stomachaches and dizziness when used in excess.
- Caffeine is the most popular psychoactive drug in the world.
- Caffeine is also a muscle relaxant that is used medicinally to treat migraine headaches and asthma.
Safe Caffeine Levels
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According to guidelines published by the South Dakota Department of Health, 300 mg of caffeine per day is a moderate amount for most adults. Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others. If you are accustomed to taking large amounts of caffeine, your body may have built up a tolerance to the drug, and you will notice that you need more caffeine to experience the same stimulant effects.
What Is Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is the fat portion of the cocoa nib. Cocoa nibs contain about 54 percent fat. During processing, the cocoa nibs are reduced to a paste called chocolate liquor, which may be pressed to remove some or all of the cocoa butter, or it may be mixed with sweeteners and milk solids to create chocolate. Cocoa powder is chocolate that has had up to 75 percent of the cocoa butter removed.
- Cocoa butter is the fat portion of the cocoa nib.
- During processing, the cocoa nibs are reduced to a paste called chocolate liquor, which may be pressed to remove some or all of the cocoa butter, or it may be mixed with sweeteners and milk solids to create chocolate.
Uses For Cocoa Butter
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Cocoa butter is often mixed with sweeteners and milk solids to create white chocolate. The name is a misnomer because it does not actually include cocoa nibs. Cocoa butter also is a common ingredient in skin creams and some hair care products as well.
No Caffeine In Cocoa Butter
The naturally occurring caffeine in the cacao plant is concentrated in the nibs of the bean. When the cocoa butter is pressed out of the chocolate liquor, the cocoa solids and the caffeine are left. Cocoa butter is the pure fat of the cacao bean. It does not contain caffeine 1. Because white chocolate does not contain cocoa solids, it does not contain caffeine either.
- The naturally occurring caffeine in the cacao plant is concentrated in the nibs of the bean.
Related Articles
References
- National Geographic: Caffeine
- Katz DL, Doughty K, Ali A. Cocoa and chocolate in human health and disease. Antioxid Redox Signal. 2011;15(10):2779–2811. doi:10.1089/ars.2010.3697
- Erdman JW, Carson L, Kwik-uribe C, Evans EM, Allen RR. Effects of cocoa flavanols on risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2008;17 Suppl 1:284-7.
- Mathur S, Devaraj S, Grundy SM, Jialal I. Cocoa products decrease low density lipoprotein oxidative susceptibility but do not affect biomarkers of inflammation in humans. J Nutr. 2002;132(12):3663-7. doi:10.1093/jn/132.12.3663
- Heiss C, Jahn S, Taylor M, et al. Improvement of endothelial function with dietary flavanols is associated with mobilization of circulating angiogenic cells in patients with coronary artery disease. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2010;56(3):218-24. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2010.03.039
- Baba S, Osakabe N, Kato Y, et al. Continuous intake of polyphenolic compounds containing cocoa powder reduces LDL oxidative susceptibility and has beneficial effects on plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations in humans. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(3):709-17. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.3.709
- Balzer J, Rassaf T, Heiss C, et al. Sustained benefits in vascular function through flavanol-containing cocoa in medicated diabetic patients a double-masked, randomized, controlled trial. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008;51(22):2141-9. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2008.01.059
- Therapeutic Research Center. Natural Medicines.
- National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know.
Writer Bio
Tricia Ballad is a writer, author and project geek. She has written several books including two novels, teaches classes on goal setting and project planning for writers, and loves to cook in her spare time. She is living proof that you can earn a living with a degree in creative writing.