In a double-blind study conducted in Germany, researchers gave 24 women, ages 18 to 35 about a half-cup of cocoa per day for 12 weeks. Half drank cocoa with 329 milligrams of antioxidants per portion, while the other half drank cocoa with only 27 milligrams of antioxidants per portion. After three months, skin improvements were only seen in the group that consumed the 329 mg portion. For this group of women, their skin was moister, smoother, and less scaly and red when exposed to ultraviolet light. The researchers think the flavonoids, which absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, improving its appearance.
Overall, here is what the study noted:
- A 25 percent reduction in UV light induced skin reddening compared to tests conducted before the study
- A 42 percent reduction in scaliness
- A 30 percent reduction in roughness
- A 16 percent increase in density
- A 13 percent increase in moistness
- And a 11 percent increase in thickness
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Our world contains harmful pollution, radiation, smoke and other chemicals, which create unstable molecules known as… free radicals. These unstable molecules “steal” electrons from nearby stable molecules causing the formerly-stable molecules to turn into free radicals – and thus… a continual chain reaction occurs. Antioxidants are great because they actually help fight free radicals by donating one of their own electrons. The donation ends up neutralizing the chain reaction and the antioxidant itself remains unaffected, standing strong even after it donated one of its own electrons.Chocolate comes from the bean of cacao fruit. Cocoa beans, also known as cacao beans, have been used medicinally for thousands of years. Fresh cocoa beans are super-rich in antioxidants – molecules that protect skin from environmental damage – containing 10,000 milligrams of flavanol antioxidants for every 100 grams of cocoa. Compared to other foods, they are among the best sources of antioxidants.
In the not so distant past, chocolate was blamed for many beauty problems including acne. However, things are different now. Its antioxidant properties alone have catapulted chocolate into the skin care industry as a “hot” trend ingredient causing it to become the latest craze among spa goers and manufacturers. Though, even to this day, there are researchers and doctors that are skeptical claiming that the scientific evidence to back up this premise is lacking.
Even still, this decadent ingredient continues to find a place in the aesthetics industry as a staple in skin and body treatments and it can be found in skin care products in a variety of forms: Face creams, face masks, body wraps, moisturizers, and lip balm… just to name a few.
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