CHOCOLATES: GOOD FOR THE SKIN?

Ever heard someone telling you that eating too much chocolate can cause breakouts?

Well, congratulations because this claim is just a myth!

The scientific world has tried to link breakouts and eating chocolate but there’s been no clear evidence to support this claim.

However, don’t use this as an excuse to splurge your next grocery shopping in the chocolate aisle. Remember a high-sugar/high-fat diet can increase sebum production and promote inflammatory responses in the body — which can lead to acne. So oily and combination skin type guys out there, don’t rejoice yet. Keep this motto in mind: In moderation, we trust.

So chocolate is not bad at all? Why do I still have some breakouts?

Well, those milky and white chocolate could be the culprit in your skin breakout enigma.

High-sugar and high-fat diet such as soft drinks and dairy are known to cause oil build faster than eating fiber-enriched diet such as fruits and vegetables.

Milk and white chocolate overall have more dairy, sugar and other additives than dark chocolates counterpart in that same chocolate aisle. So, these dairy and sugary substances trigger our bodies to react and release hormones which in turn may cause inflammation for acne-prone skin types.

Alternatively, dark chocolates became very popular recently because of the proven health benefits not only for our cardio-vascular system but also on our skin health.

How does it work?

Dark chocolates have more cocoa than the dairy or sugary ingredients.

High content of cocoa will give your more of these two flavonoids, catechin and procyanidin, which are chemicals that are good antioxidants. Flavonoids protect cells from harmful molecules—called free radicals—that are produced when the body breaks down food or is exposed to sunlight or smoke.

Antioxidants are scientifically proven to be very good not only for our skin but for the entire body. These good chemicals flush out toxins in our body system especially those that can cause heart diseases, hypertension and cancer. And, recent studies also show promising results that flavonoids in dark chocolate absorb UV light, help protect and increase blood flow to the skin, and improve skin’s hydration and complexion. A big thumbs up on you dark chocolate!

Our conclusion: Dark chocolate is definitely a Yes!