Cocoa powder is the part of the cocoa bean that is left over after cocoa butter has been extracted. Since cocoa is a bean that comes from a plant, plain, unsweetened cocoa powder, can certainly be included as part of a Paleo lifestyle. There isn’t much processing involved to make cocoa powder, so it fits under the idea of just eating real food
The Nutritional Content of Cocoa Powder
In addition to making an excellent addition to just about any Paleo dish (it doesn’t have to be dessert), cocoa powder is actually quite nutritious. It is high in carbohydrates, but it also has a respectable amount of fat and protein. Although devoid of vitamins, it comes loaded with minerals, particularly iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorous. If you ladies have ever wondered why you crave chocolate during a certain time of the month, it’s because that’s your body’s way of telling you it needs magnesium STAT.
Cocoa Powder and Anti-Oxidants
Cocoa powder is also an excellent source of flavonoids, a type of antioxidant whose consumption has been linked to a reduction in things like heart disease and stroke.
The Power of Perception
On the other hand, how we perceive a food can have a lot to do with whether we should include it in our diets. If you’re trying to complete a Whole30 challenge and can’t decide if you should include cocoa powder, check out this debate.