There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the role of chocolate in the health of your skin. From Valentine’s Day to Easter, Mother’s Day to Christmas, it’s hard to resist the temptation. And as we head into chocolate bunny and chick season, I thought this would be a good time to examine if chocolate really is bad for your skin.
Research on Chocolate
You might be interested to know that researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia recently reviewed studies on chocolate’s effects on the skin. In a report published in the Journal of Family Practice in 2005, the researchers concluded that there is no evidence that it triggers blemishes. And while we now know that there is a connection between your diet and your complexion, it turns out that it isn’t cocoa that’s the problem. The real culprit is sugar and other high-glycemic foods.
Dermatologists have been advising acne patients to avoid sugar since the 1950s, but evidence for their warnings was only anecdotal and in recent years the medical community has largely dismissed the idea that any particular food causes skin blemishes. However, we’re starting to see a link between breakouts and diets heavy in high-glycemic foods such as highly refined carbs like white bread, pasta and potatoes, as well as sweets like doughnuts and jelly beans. “It does appear from these initial studies that there may be a role for reducing refined carbohydrates in both treating and avoiding acne,” says Neil Sadick, professor of dermatology at Cornell University.
The Good News
You’ll be happy to know that dark chocolate is actually a low-glycemic food. Plus it contains antioxidants, which can fight free radicals and deliver other health benefits. Even milk chocolate isn’t all that bad, as long as you don’t eat the whole box. This is where showing restraint comes in handy.
So what am I hoping for this Easter? One of those big eggs from Green and Blacks Organic Chocolate. My fix is only as far away as the drugstore now. And if you live in the UK, where Green and Blacks hails from, you can even order it online!
Read the full article here.
