Chocolate as sun-block?
Yes, but chocolate science is more than skin-deep.
German researchers gave 24 healthy women 3 ounces of a high flavanol cocoa (326 milligrams) or low flavanol (27 milligrams) cocoa as a powdered drink for 12 weeks.
UV light caused less skin sensitivity in the high flavanol group. And that group had more subcutaneous blood flow, higher skin density by 16 per cent, skin thickness by 12 per cent and skin hydration by 28 per cent.
Low flavanol chocolate didn’t make a diffence.
Why? Because the flavonols in cocoa are polyphenols.
And polyphenols likely absorb light in the skin, as they do free radical compounds in the body. And they perhaps signal other molecules to do the same work.
polyphenols from wine, cocoa and tea, are known to improve your blood pressure, and how your arteries flex and react to stress.
And polyphenols reduce oxidation of LDL (lousy) cholesterol, which injures arteries and can lead to heart attack and impotence.
Where to find flavanol rich chcolate?
Try CocoaVia or for a high-flavanol gourmet chocolate try artisan vere chocolate.