Chocolate protects skin from sunburn and skin cancer? |
| 6/26/2009 10:17:06 AM |
 This Summer as you're headed out to the beach bring along the suntan lotion AND the healthy dark chocolate!
Here's an interesting article from Kathleen Blanchard RN on www.emaxhealth.com which tells about another one of the health benefits of dark chocolate. Turns out, dark chocolate, the kind that comes from genuine cocoa, not milk chocolate, protects us from sunburn and is a powerful antioxidant.
Skin cancer and premature skin aging from the sun are preventable with sunscreen and by eating the right foods. A focus on the right food soffers protection from sunburn and skin cancer, from the inside out.Foods that attack free radicals in the body and reduce inflammation can keep us looking younger and protect from sunburn that leads to skin cancer, pre-cancerous skin changes.
Dark chocolate, specifically cold-pressed chocolate, is high in antioxidants. So they suggest to start your day in the sun with a cup of cocoa. Two ounces of darkchocolate a day is a healthy way to gain health benefits that include protection from sunburn and skin cancer.
Remember, cold-pressed equals high ORAC (which, no matter who tells you otherwise, does not mean Orgasmic Reactions Around Chocolate, but really stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) the measure to see how many free radicals are in a food. Be sure that whatever chocolates or other foods you eat, has certified levels of ORAC printed on their products. And, be careful, I've found that there are companies that talk about generic levels of ORAC for a kind of food, but never actually regularly test their own products. There should be a certification on the packaging.
Omega 3 fatty acids also reduce inflammation and can reduce your risk of melanoma, a deadly type of skin cancer. So if you ate chocolate with Omega 3's that would be the bomb. Luckily, there is a dark cold pressed chocolate with Oemga 3's available.
Use fresh sunscreen. Sunscreen loses potency, purchase a fresh bottle every year. Remember to get at least twenty minutes of UV rays without sunscreen daily to get the benefits of vitamin D. Too much sun can expose us to dangers from skin cancer. Eating the right foods benefits overall health, and can keep sunburn away by reducing inflammation and protecting from damage associated with harmful free radicals from too much sun exposure.
A combination skin cream containing vitamin E and Vitamin C can also protect from sunburn and aging. Skin lotions containing green tea extracts can also protect from sunburn that can lead to skin cancer and premature aging. Combining the right skin care and eating foods that protect the skin from damage can prevent sunburn and skin changes that lead to skin cancer, premature aging, and pre-cancerous skin lesions.
Just one more reason to eat healthy chocolate.
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