{"id":1878,"date":"2015-06-24T20:06:00","date_gmt":"2015-06-24T20:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/chocolate-countdown-number-3-reason-to-eat-chocolate-that-you-never-saw-coming.html"},"modified":"2016-09-19T11:07:13","modified_gmt":"2016-09-19T15:07:13","slug":"chocolate-countdown-number-3-reason-to-eat-chocolate-that-you-never-saw-coming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1878","title":{"rendered":"Chocolate Countdown, Number 3 Reason To Eat Chocolate That You Never Saw Coming"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It Protects Your Skin. Who saw that coming? <\/span><\/div>\n
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 <\/span>Follow @willclower<\/a><\/p>\n

My dad used to harass my sister about her skin, when she was an annoying adolescent. \u201cYou know, the reason you\u2019re having to pop those zits on our bathroom mirror in the first place is because you eat chocolate. Where do you think they come from?<\/i>\u201d <\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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It is popularly thought that chocolate consumption can produce blemishes and acne. However, after 40 years of studies, research still doesn\u2019t have an absolute answer for us. Some studies argue that it does, while others say that it doesn\u2019t. In other words, the jury is definitely still out.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

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One explanation for the scientific uncertainty is that acne may be correlated to the consumption of some kinds of chocolate, but not <\/span>caused<\/i> by it. For example, evidence suggests that dairy may contribute to facial blemishes, so the research that concludes that there is a positive association between acne and chocolate may actually be result from the dairy in the lighter milk chocolates.<\/span><\/div>\n

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By contrast, other results support the conclusion that chocolate may actually be healthy for your skin and even protect it from UV damage from the sun. This means that it can decrease the probability that you will get a sunburn.<\/span><\/div>\n

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In a study in London, researchers gave two groups chocolate to eat for 12 weeks. However, one group received a \u201chigh <\/a><\/a>flavanol<\/a><\/span>\u201d chocolate, such as you might get with a high-cocoa chocolate. <\/span><\/div>\n

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The second received a \u201clow flavanol\u201d chocolate, such as you might get with lighter milk chocolate. After 12 weeks, they tested the skin of these participants with a challenge of UV light to see whether cocoa provided any added protection to the skin from erythema (sunburn).<\/span><\/div>\n

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Over the 12 week span, the skin of those who ate low-flavanol chocolate was no more or less protected from UV radiation. However, those who ate the high-flavanols chocolate doubled their protection compared to the baseline.<\/span>[1]<\/span><\/span><\/span> In other words, after less than 2 weeks of eating high-flavanol chocolate, subjects\u2019 skin was protected from burning even at twice the UV level.<\/span><\/div>\n

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Why would this be? What explanation can make that make sense?<\/span><\/div>\n

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One plausible explanation may be the fact that high-cocoa chocolate can increase circulation into the skin itself. Increased blood flow to the topmost layers of the skin (those within only 1 millimeter of the surface) has been shown in women who consume high-flavanol chocolate drinks. This in turn can provide the healthy oxygenation your skin needs to help protect itself.<\/span>[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n

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Regardless of the biomolecular reasons why, it is clear that consistent consumption of high cocoa chocolate provides benefits that you never saw coming, like acting as the most delicious sunscreen you have ever had!<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/o:p> <\/span><\/div>\n

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[1]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> S Williams et al., \u201cEating Chocolate Can Significantly Protect the Skin from UV Light,\u201d Journal of Cosmetic<\/i>Dermatology<\/i> 8, no. 3 (September 2009): 169-73. <\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
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[2]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a> K Neukam et al., \u201cConsumption of Flavanol-Rich Cocoa Acutely Increases Microcirculation in Human Skin,\u201d European Journal of Nutrition<\/i> 46, no. 1 (February 2007): 53\u201356.<\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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For more information: Click here to visit Will Clower’s website. <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It Protects Your Skin. Who saw that coming?   Follow @willclower My dad used to harass my sister about her skin, when she was an annoying adolescent. \u201cYou know, the reason … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[494],"tags":[271,260,261,272],"class_list":["post-1878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles","tag-circulation","tag-cocoa","tag-skin-health","tag-uv-radiation"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7Qv5g-ui","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":7611,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=7611","url_meta":{"origin":1878,"position":0},"title":"Chocolate For Skin Health? Yes Sir!","author":"Will Clower","date":"July 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Those of you who know me saw this coming from a mile away. Hmmm, wonder what the number one good-for-your-skin food is going to be?? It turns out that the cocoa in the chocolate that you love to love can also protect your skin from UV damage from the sun.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"Chocolate Chunks","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Chocolate-Chunks.jpg?fit=1200%2C839&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Chocolate-Chunks.jpg?fit=1200%2C839&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Chocolate-Chunks.jpg?fit=1200%2C839&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Chocolate-Chunks.jpg?fit=1200%2C839&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Chocolate-Chunks.jpg?fit=1200%2C839&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1867,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1867","url_meta":{"origin":1878,"position":1},"title":"The Internal SPF. The Top 5 Countdown of Best Foods. Number 1.","author":"Will Clower","date":"June 8, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Those of you who know me saw this coming from a mile away. Hmmm, wonder what the number one food is going to be?? It turns out that the cocoa in the chocolate that you love to love can also protect your skin from UV damage from the sun. In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/chocolate-225x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1874,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1874","url_meta":{"origin":1878,"position":2},"title":"Chocolate Countdown, Number 1 Reason To Eat Chocolate That You Never Saw Coming","author":"Will Clower","date":"June 26, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Weight loss. Yes you do have to eat the right kind of chocolate, and no you can't over-consume it with a plunger.\u00a0But if you can manage those two issues (quantity and quality) then this is definitely the number 1 reason to eat chocolate, that you never saw coming!Follow @willclowerIf done\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/EatChocolateLoseWeight-180.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1881,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1881","url_meta":{"origin":1878,"position":3},"title":"Chocolate Countdown, Number 5 Reason To Eat Chocolate That You Never Saw Coming","author":"Will Clower","date":"June 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Because it's such a pain ... reliever.Follow @willclowerYou love chocolate, and it totally loves you back. Its cocoa creates a birthday party in your brain, with neuroactive agents to boost endorphin levels (natural opiates), stimulate your brain\u2019s cannabis receptors, light up the brain\u2019s pleasure centers, increase serotonin levels, and provide\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/woman2Beating2Bchocolate.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1875,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=1875","url_meta":{"origin":1878,"position":4},"title":"Chocolate Countdown, Number 2 Reason To Eat Chocolate That You Never Saw Coming","author":"Will Clower","date":"June 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"It's good for your teeth?\u00a0There are some caveats here (see below), and some myths to dispel but the happy news is ultimately yes.Follow @willclowerChocolate and Your Teeth Have you ever heard that you should not eat chocolate because it will \u201crot your teeth\u201d? It turns out that this is just\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Articles","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=494"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/chocolatetoothpaste.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5736,"url":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?p=5736","url_meta":{"origin":1878,"position":5},"title":"Chocolate Week Makes Your Skin Younger","author":"Will Clower","date":"January 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"No, no, no, you don't smear it on the outside -- people do the strangest things sometimes -- you eat it!! Research data show that consistent consumption of high cocoa chocolate protects your skin against UV damage from the sun. It's like an internal SPF! Even better, the polyphenols found\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Activity"","block_context":{"text":"Activity","link":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/?cat=528"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/mlcmmqmgggev.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.willclower.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Chocolate-on-the-Face-300x171.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1878"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1878\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3908,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1878\/revisions\/3908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mymedwellness.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}