Remember how we recently posted about daily chocolate consumption being linked to lower rates of heart disease and stroke?
We recently came across another health-enhancing benefit of of your chocri addiction- studies indicate that chocolate can actually reduce damage done to skin by sun exposure. A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology indicates that regular consumption of "antioxidant-rich dark chocolate" boosts your skin's natural defenses against UV damage.
A researcher on the study spoke to O Magazine about the findings:
"'The higher the percentage of cacao, the more antioxidants you're getting,' says Joe Vinson, PhD, a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton who has led previous chocolate studies. 'It also helps to eat little bits over the course of a day to extend its benefits.'"
Although we don't recommend replacing your daily sunscreen with chocri just yet, this is certainly a cool benefit for everyone who really loves their daily dark chocolate fix. If you're looking to boost your antioxidant intake, try a chocri creation with blueberries, cranberries, and/or dark cherries. (And as we recently reported, dark chocolate also has been shown to reduce stress- chocolate helps you chill out, too!)
Chocolate- is there anything it can't do?