The Natural Way to Healthy Skin: Eat More Chocolate

Many people feel pangs of guilt each time they peel off the silvery lining of a new chocolate bar. Kids of all ages have been told for years that eating chocolate will lead to acne and bad skin, but this is actually far from true. Not only will eating chocolate not turn your face into zit central, it may actually provide some glowing benefits for your skin.

Just to be clear, this article is referencing dark chocolate (70% cacao or more) which has a far greater list of health benefits associated than your everyday milk or white chocolates. Some of the most notable effects of eating dark chocolate include stress and blood pressure reduction, protection from the sun, and skin moisturizing.

In terms of blood pressure reduction, cocoa, the main ingredient in dark chocolate, has been proven to reduce stress hormones in the body, which can lead to a bevy of benefits for humans. Anything from an easing of wrinkles in the face to an overall lessening of heart-attack risk can be attained with the proper use of dark chocolate. Keep in mind; however, that chocolate is dense in calories, so one must find the perfect balance of use for beneficial results without going into overuse and weight gain. 

Dark chocolate has also been proven to help the body protect itself from damaging ultra-violet rays. Flavonols are a compound found in dark chocolate are vital in protecting the skin from sunburn and redness. And finally, with a surplus of vitamins and nutrients, dark chocolate can help to add moisture and glow to the skin. Dark chocolate has been used throughout history in numerous remedies and healing pastes, and as with many ancient remedies, science is finally catching up and proving that there was something to its use all along. So the next time that sweet tooth kicks in, find some dark chocolate and rest easy knowing that your skin will thank you.