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11. Who Was First?
Many believe that it was the Mayans who first discovered the cacao bean and created the process of making cocoa powder. However this belief is actually wrong. The original discoverers of cacao and makers of chocolate were the Olmecs who then passed on the information to the Mayans. Back then it wasn’t called cacao but rather ”kawkaw”. I guess the Olmecs should be known for chocolate rather than just for carving colossal stone heads for people to see.
12. Cacao is a Heart Protector
The Aztecs knew about the benefits of the cacao bean on their hearts and how it provided a boost to their cardiovascular system. This was why they named the fruit ”yollotl eztli” which translates directly to heart blood.
The benefits come from the rich flavonoids namely, procyanidin, catechin and epicatechin which help in protecting cells from damage and also help strengthen the heart. The anti-inflammatory properties of Flavanols may protect the consumer against cardiovascular disease, improve blood circulation and reduce the risk of a stroke.
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