The body uses food for the growth, repair and control of body functions and to provide the energy required for its daily activities. No one food contains all the nutrients required and therefore a balanced diet is important to ensure the body receives all the nutrients it requires. Fats provide a source of energy. Cocoa and chocolate contain fat in the form of cocoa butter. The digestibility and assimilation of cocoa butter is quite high.
Proteins have a value as builders of body tissue.
Carbohydrates in the form of sugars provide a source of quickly available energy. If the immediate resources of the body become deficient due to exercise or lack of regular food intake, the sugars in confectionery provide one of the quickest ways of restoring the balance and so cocoa and chocolate products are often eaten as snacks between meals. Cocoa contains a variety of minerals and vitamins. Cocoa powder contains proteins in small and varying levels but the protein from cocoa powder is low in digestibility. Whenever a cocoa powder is manufactured from well fermented cocoa beans and these are roasted in the correct manner it will contain carbohydrates in the form of sugars.