Five ways dark chocolate makes your skin look younger, smoother

New Delhi: Over the years, dark chocolate has gained popularity among researchers and dieticians, mainly, for its high content of flavanoids, an antioxidant compound that provides important health benefits.

Besides, dark chocolate is also known to be a mood enhancer, brain booster, cancer-fighting dessert.

Potent antioxidants like flavanoids in dark chocolate can help prevent cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and reduce your risk of strokes.

Here are five ways how eating dark chocolate can help keep your skin smooth, healthy and radiant:

Rich in antioxidants, dark chocolate can help fight free radials that cause oxidative damage to skin cells. Free radicals can also break down the skin’s collagen and create wrinkles.

Dark chocolate contains sun protection properties that can help shield your skin against harmful UV rays, thereby preventing conditions sunburns and skin cancer.

Because dark chocolate has skin-friendly ingredients in it, eating regularly helps keep your skin smooth, moist and well-nourished.

Dark chocolate also contains minerals like copper, iron and zinc, all of which promote new cell growth. Thus it casts off dead cells and allows the newly exposed, fresh skin to breathe freely.

Eating dark chocolate is associated with lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can negatively affect the skin in various ways. Studies have shown that pregnant women who eat more chocolate during pregnancy give birth to more stress-free babies.

Apart from being a great food for skin, dark chocolate also provides many hair care benefits such as reducing hair loss and improovng overall health of your tresses.