Chocolate-lovers rejoice! As Easter approaches, skincare experts at BEAUTY PIE have revealed eating chocolate could improve the condition of your skin – from brightening your complexion and helping to create a smoother texture to fighting off free radicals that can lead to premature ageing.
“When consumed in moderation, there’s research to suggest that high-quality dark chocolate with a high cocoa content can help to improve your circulation, reduce cellular stress and increase the rate of cell regeneration – all of which can contribute to improving your skin’s overall health,” says Nicola Moulton, beauty director and skincare expert at BEAUTY PIE.
If you’re looking for the perfect excuse to enjoy chocolate even more this Easter, BEAUTY PIE has created a delicious guide on how you can eat your way to better skin. Nicola has also shared her top tips on how to choose the chocolate that’s most likely to benefit your skin.
How Chocolate Can Improve Your Skin
Benefit 1: Chocolate Can Help Cells Regenerate, Giving You A Glowy Complexion
Rich in soluble fibre and essential vitamins like Iron, Magnesium, Copper, and Manganese – dark chocolate has a nutritional profile that can be beneficial for certain skin conditions.
Just 100 grams of chocolate that has a cocoa content of 70% contains 11 grams of Fibre, 66% of your daily requirement of Iron, 57% of your recommended dose of Magnesium and a whopping 196% of your required intake of Copper1. These minerals are key components when it comes to achieving a glowing complexion as they help skin cells to regenerate and support natural functions.
Benefit 2: Chocolate Is Packed Full Of Antioxidants Which Can Fight Fine Lines and Dark Spots
Antioxidants are essential for helping to ward off free radical damage from environmental aggressors like pollution and UV rays, which can lead to early signs of ageing including fine lines, dark spots, and loss of elasticity.
Some studies have shown that chocolate has more antioxidants, Polyphenols and Flavanols than superfoods like blueberries and acai berries2. To bolster the skin’s defences even more, apply topical antioxidants such as Vitamin C.
Benefit 3 – Chocolate can Improve Blood Circulation, Giving Skin A Brighter Appearance
The polyphenols in dark chocolate can help your body to produce more Nitric Oxide – a compound that causes your blood vessels to dilate, which in turn lowers blood pressure. This can help to improve skin health by improving blood circulation3. Good blood circulation also helps to ensure sufficient nutrients are delivered to the skin and enables the skin to ward off breakouts, dryness and premature ageing.
Benefit 4: Chocolate Can Reduce Stress Levels Which Helps to Reduce Skin Damage
Stress can increase the amount of inflammation within your body – it can also reduce the speed at which wounds heal and trigger skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema. Glands in the skin also produce more oil when you experience stress, worsening acne4. Luckily, Magnesium is hailed for its stress-reducing benefits and dark chocolate is packed full of it.
How To Choose The Best Type Of Chocolate That Can Improve Your Skin The Most
“Not all chocolate is going to deliver skin-refining benefits,” explains Nicola. “Chocolate that has a lot of dairy fat and sugar, which could have the opposite effect. Milk chocolate and white chocolate have the highest glycaemic levels so it’s best to avoid them.”
“Processed sugar has been shown to contribute to early ageing as it works against collagen production. Excess sugar can also cause inflammation and increased sebum production, which can cause breakouts and exacerbate other skin conditions like eczema and rosacea.
“Dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa is the most likely to help improve the appearance and condition of skin. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the lower the sugar content. Cocoa helps with skin cell renewal, revealing newer and brighter skin, plus it contains Vitamin C which helps to fade dark spots, reduce hyperpigmentation and reduce blemishes.”5
How Your Diet Can Affect Your Skin
“Our gut is central to supporting good all-round health,” Nicola added. “A happy and flourishing gastrointestinal tract contributes to a strong immune system and optimal digestion, all of which also contribute to our skin health.
“A balanced gut microbiome is a good indicator of a healthy gut and a healthy diet. Efficient digestion of food and absorption of nutrients is essential for overall health. Fibre and nutrient-rich foods (like dark chocolate), are vital in helping to promote the balance of friendly bacteria in the gut and this can lead to optimal nutrient absorption and a stunning complexion.”
Remember to supercharge any delicious chocolate you eat this Easter with hard-working skincare. See BEAUTY PIE’s full range here: https://www.beautypie.com/shop/skincare/
