Cocoa Beans – Rich source of Iron

Most people assume that they naturally get an adequate supply of iron from their diet, when in reality, much of the world's population is iron-deficient. Iron is an extremely important mineral, and can actually be found in one of the world's major superfoods – Cocoa beans.

Cocoa beans have been subject to much research lately about their potential health benefits. Since cocoa beans have been discovered to contain iron, this adds a good number of good health advantages. Iron is extremely important for the proper functioning of the human body, being involved in many different biochemical processes.

It is estimated that around 10% of the population are currently suffering from anemia, which is also known as "iron deficiency". This is a condition that is potentially dangerous to human health, though usually initially manifests as a yellowish tinge to the eyes and skin. Since cocoa beans provide iron as a supplement, it could then be surmised that consuming cocoa beans may help protect against anemia. It is also a fairly well-recieved fact that iron deficiency is associated with loss of concentration, as well as moderate fatigue.

Perhaps the most important function of iron in the human body is the production of hemoglobin, the substance that gives red blood cells their crimson color. Red blood cells are essential to good health, since they are responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to other areas of the body. Since it is generally difficult for the human body to absorb iron efficiently (it is approximated that less than 10% of iron ingested is actually absorbed), the body stores iron in the bone marrow, liver, spleen and kidneys. Since iron has such a low absorption rate, it is important to consume iron-containing foods, such as cocoa beans, on a regular basis.

Cocoa beans are a fairly rich source of iron, and making cocoa beans an integral part of your diet can be an important step towards overall better health. Since the majority of people do not realize that most of the iron they consume is not absorbed into the bloodstream, the importance of eating iron-rich foods is often overlooked. Cocoa beans provide a good supplemental source of iron, and have many additional benefits that promote good health.