Dark Chocolate for Better Skin Protection

by WiredBerries Editors — February 25, 2008

Yep, yet another reason to savor a bit of dark chocolate - in a small study, German researchers found that eating dark chocolate can aid in the fight against skin cancer. According to Science News, the study involved 24 women who added cocoa to their breakfast every day for 3 months - half of which received flavonoid-rich (dark chocolate is an excellent source of flavonoids) coca and the other half received cocoa lacking flavonoids. In the June Journal of Nutrition, the same team reports that the women drinking the high-flavonoid cocoa had 15 percent less skin reddening from UV light after 6 weeks of cocoa consumption and 25 percent less after 12 weeks of the trial. Both figures are comparisons with the same women's response to UV light before the study started. The women drinking the cocoa with low flavonoids showed no change during the trial. So lather up with sunscreen, wear a glamorous hat and shades, and enjoy some dark chocolate!