Enjoy Chocolate for Healthy Skin
As we all know, chocolate is a delicious treat. But did you know it has some surprising skin benefits too? Recent research has found that consuming high flavanol cocoa powder can help improve skin hydration and reduce scaliness. So, if you’ve been searching for an excuse to enjoy a little dark chocolate, look no further!
The sweet treat is rich in cocoa flavanols, plant compounds with antioxidant properties, which help hydrate skin and improve circulation. Women who consumed a high flavanol cocoa powder drink daily for 12 weeks experienced less skin roughness and scaliness compared to a control group. That’s impressive, but it’s important to note that these women consumed the equivalent of 3.5 ounces of dark chocolate every day—far more than most of us would care to consume in one sitting!
We know that dark chocolate is good for us (in moderation), but what about milk and white chocolates? Unfortunately, these varieties may not provide the same beneficial effects as their darker counterparts because they contain far less cocoa solids—the source of flavanols—than dark chocolate does. Plus, they are typically higher in sugar and fat too. That said, there are now some milk chocolates available on the market with added cocoa ingredients or cocoa extracts, so if you’re looking for a lighter option with similar health benefits as dark chocolate, this could be worth exploring.
Conclusion:
All in all, we now have another great reason to reach for the occasional piece of dark chocolate; it can actually have positive effects on our skin! However, bear in mind that moderation is key here; as delicious as it may be, don’t forget that overindulging in chocolates of any kind will likely do more harm than good when it comes to your waistline or overall health. For women looking to enjoy the skin-friendly benefits of dark chocolate without extra calories or weight gain, sticking to 1-ounce portions is ideal. So go ahead and indulge yourself; your skin will thank you later!
