This entry was posted on Sunday, April 29th, 2007 at 11:54 am and is filed under Skin care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Drinking a cup of hot cocoa provides protection from the sun and natural elements, and helps to looking younger.
Researchers from the Heinrich Heine University in Dusseldorf, Germany, found that women who drank an antioxidant-rich brand of hot cocoa for three months developed smoother, better-hydrated skin that was less vulnerable to sunburn. The improvements may stem from the cocoa's high levels of antioxidants called flavonols.
Flavonols are a group of plant compounds found in tea, wine and a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as cocoa beans. Previous research has suggested that these nutrients can improve blood flow and blood vessel function.
The researchers randomly assigned 24 women to have a daily cup of the high-flavonol cocoa or a low-flavonol cocoa. At the start of the study, the researchers used sensitive imaging tests to measure the women's skin structure, hydration, blood flow and sensitivity to UV radiation.
After three months of hot cocoa, women in the high-flavonol group showed improvements in their skin's texture and thickness, as well as blood circulation and hydration. Their skin was also less prone to burning from UV exposure.
The findings suggest that dietary flavonols from cocoa contribute to endogenous photoprotection, improve dermal blood circulation, and affect cosmetically relevant skin surface and hydration variables.
This article was composed by Luke Needham. Luke is the main contributor on Rafaelmeavitali and has started to become a authority concerning mole removal.