Eating cocoa products is the best food to fight the coronavirus

Health News of Saturday February 6, 2021

Source: GNA

02/06/2021

Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) CEO Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo pleaded with Ghanaians to consume more chocolate and other cocoa products on a daily basis as it contains antioxidants to fight coronavirus disease.

This, he said, would strengthen their immune system to resist the infectious disease.

COCOBOD says research into the nutritional and health benefits of cocoa has found that it contains iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and antioxidants that may strengthen the immune system to resist the damaging effects of COVID-19.

In addition, eating cocoa could stimulate blood circulation, brain power, and improve the overall well-being of the body.

Mr Aidoo gave the advice at the launch of National Chocolate Week 2021 in Accra on Thursday with the theme “Eat Chocolate, Stay Healthy and Grow Ghana”.

This year, National Chocolate Week would be celebrated from February 8 to 14, to raise awareness of the need for people to consume more cocoa products daily, in order to improve their health.

Chocolate Week was first celebrated in February 2005, replacing Valentine’s Day aimed at creating national enthusiasm for chocolate consumption.

The COCOBOD CEO noted that the country’s per capita consumption was 0.53 kilograms, which was well below the consumption rate in Europe and the Americas which hovered around 6.6 kilograms per capita consumption.

He said the nation needs to increase its per capita consumption of chocolate and other cocoa products locally, to boost the national economy and reduce exports of raw cocoa beans for processing.

Currently, Ghana processes 40 percent of its raw cocoa beans locally, therefore Aidoo said the government has set a target of processing at least 50 percent of its cocoa beans locally.

Mr. Aidoo expressed the government’s commitment to provide incentives to local chocolate makers and artisan manufacturers to stimulate the production of innovative cocoa products.

Nana Agyenim Boateng, Managing Director of Cocoa Processing Company, in a remarks, assured that the company would involve the Ghanaian Health Service (GHS) and Food and Drugs Authority in the celebration of the week, to facilitate dissemination of relevant and health information. benefits of chocolate and other cocoa products to the public.

He said this would ensure there are enough cocoa products to celebrate the week.

Mr. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the appointed Minister of Information, who represented the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, assured the government’s commitment to support local cocoa farmers and chocolate manufacturers to produce products of more innovative cocoa for export.

He pledged to convey a cocoa farmer’s proposal to the government on the need to set up a cocoa processing company as part of the “One District, One Factory” initiative.