Is Chocolate a Superfood?

Recently, you’ve probably started hearing rumors about chocolate being the hottest new “superfood.”

Recent studies show that cocoa — the main ingredient in chocolate — is great for your heart, your brain… even your waistline! (Who knew?)

But what is the science behind how chocolate affects your skin?

It turns out chocolate is one of the most powerful beauty foods on the planet. Here’s why:

#1) It’s loaded with beauty-boosting polyphenols

You may already know that antioxidants are great for your skin…

Because they neutralize the free radicals in your body that cause cell breakdown… and make your body age.

Well, polyphenols are basically ULTRA-POTENT antioxidants —  And chocolate is chock-full of them.

Even better, cocoa polyphenols are known to help increase the body’s levels of nitric oxide, which helps boost healthy circulation...

Bringing oxygen-rich blood flow — and thus a healthy, youthful GLOW — to your skin cells.

#2) It’s naturally low in sugar

Now obviously, a Hershey's bar is a sugar bomb…

Which is bad news for your skin — since dietary sugar is a main culprit behind the skin-aging glycation process.

But here’s the good news:

• The sugar in that Hershey’s bar… isn’t from the chocolate.

• The cocoa itself contains almost no sugar. It’s the candy manufacturer that dumps it in for added sweetness.

However, that’s not actually necessary.

Because our brains already associate chocolate with sweetness, it takes very little added sugar to make the flavor really “pop,” and feel like a decadent dessert.

In fact, your local health food store probably carries stevia-sweetened chocolate by now… for a sweet treat without the ‘look older’ glycation damage.

#3) It relaxes your mood… and your skin

A study published in a prestigious research journal showed that regularly eating chocolate for two weeks noticeably decreased subjects’ stress hormone levels.

That’s scientific evidence that eating chocolate can help you feel relaxed, happy, and content. (No surprises there, right?)

Now this is GREAT on its own. Who doesn't like a dessert that boosts my mood?

But this is amazing for your skin too.

That’s because your main stress hormone — cortisol — is a collagen-destroyer.

Remember, collagen is the natural protein in your skin that keeps it tight and lifted...

So when that delicious chocolate dessert drops your cortisol levels — it’s also protecting that precious collagen.

The result? Skin stays firmer… tighter… and more youthful!

Now, before you run out and grab a big bag of M&Ms to consume, let me clarify TWO things:

1. First and foremost, not just any chocolate will do. Always go for a dark chocolate with a minimum cocoa content of 72%.

That will keep sugar low, and beauty benefits high. (Remember, the cocoa has all the benefits… not the other “filler” ingredients… so the darker, the better!)

2. A “chocolate regimen” WON’T replace a great skincare routine. Huge ‘look younger’ points for chocolate so far! But that’s not all...
The very BEST ‘look younger’ routines focus on both the inside and the outside...

So while eating beauty superfoods like dark chocolate will give you an amazing boost, don’t toss away your “outside” skincare routine! That outer layer is still what people see. :)

The post Is Chocolate a Superfood? first appeared on Eclectic Red Barn

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