Sinful Shield

New research shows a cup of hot cocoa protects your skin from the summer sun

A cup of creamy, hot cocoa can8217;t be anything but sinful, right? Wrong. New research says that drinking hot cocoa can protect you from harmful ultraviolet rays and make you look younger.

Researchers from the Heinrich Heine University in Germany found women who drank a brand of hot cocoa rich in antioxidants for three months developed smoother, better hydrated skin that was less likely to get a sunburn. Their study suggested that antioxidants called flavonols give cocoa its health edge.

The researchers assigned 24 random women to have a daily cup of high or low-flavonol cocoa. They tested the women8217;s skin texture, hydration, blood flow and sensitivity to UV radiation at the start of the research using sensitive imaging tests.

After three months, they found that those who had high-flavonol cocoa showed significant improvement in their skin texture and thickness as well as blood circulation and hydration. Their skin was also found to be less prone to damage from the harmful ultra-violet rays.

That doesn8217;t mean, however, that you binge on chocolate.

Studies suggest that cocoa is healthiest when you drink it hot 8212; chunks of chocolate and cold cocoa are still in the calorie-risk zone. 8220;A bar of chocolate has a higher number of calories as compared to a cup of hot cocoa. Therefore, it is always advisable to drink a cup once in a while,8221; says Sakshi Chawla, chief dietician, Fortis. 8220;Flavonols can also be found in red wine and green tea and some fruits and vegetables but the quantity found in cocoa beans is the highest,8221; says Chawla.nbsp;

Another study carried out at The Cornell University, South Korea, found hot cocoa to be a healthier drink than green tea. The study found the antioxidant concentration in the drink to be almost two times stronger than in red wine, two-three times stronger than in green tea and four-five times stronger than in black tea.

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Which is why cocoa can be your shield against cancer, heart disease and early ageing.

8220;Not only does cocoa contain more polyphenols than green tea and red wine, but it also has a much higher quantity of these chemicals as compared to foods rich in Vitamin E and C, says Chawla. 8220;These chemicals fight against cancer by getting rid of the harmful free radicals that are produced by the body,8221; she adds.
A chemical called epicatechin found in hot cocoa also helps fight heart disease, says Chawla.

A study at the National Institute of Alternative and Complementary medicine at the National Instances of Health says that cocoa helps improve high blood pressure and blood vessel function because of the presence of this chemical.
So, before you daub yourself with sunblock, stock up on your store of cocoa.