Is Chocolate Bad for Skin?
Health Benefits of Chocolate
Does Chocolate Cause Acne?
The theories on what causes acne differ greatly. Whether you suffered with the malady during junior high, or bemoan those zits that you see in the mirror now that you are an adult, often the culprit for bad skin woes is blamed on chocolate. Should you really be making that association, i.e. “I ate that chocolate bar and now have a blemish?”
While a gooey chocolate caramel bar, or peanut butter cup, won’t do much for your teeth or waistline, eating dark chocolate is actually very beneficial to your overall health. Just having a small serving high-cacao content (70-85% cacao) chocolate bar daily is very nutritious for you.
Chocolate Does Not Cause Pimples!
Dark Chocolate is Healthy
Benefits of Dark Chocolate
· Provides one of the best sources of antioxidants.
· Improve overall health with its excellent mineral content.
· Lowers the risk of heart disease.
· Ease any digestion woes as it is loaded with natural soluble fiber.
A 100-gram bar of dark chocolate with 70-85% cacao contains:
· 11 grams of fiber.
· 67% of the RDA for Iron.
· 58% of the RDA for Magnesium.
· 89% of the RDA for Copper.
· 98% of the RDA for Manganese.
· It is filled with potassium, phosphorus, zinc and selenium as well.
Chocolate and Skin
For years, you have heard that chocolate is bad for your skin. But now dermatologists tell you that theory is partially wrong, so, what school of thought are you to believe?
How Chocolate Affects Skin
Greasy Fries, Candy Bars or Chocolate Milk
If you compared notes with other adolescents who suffered through junior high school with acne problems, each of those kids probably sought a remedy for their blemish-ridden face by going to a dermatologist. There they received light treatments and topical preparations to help dry up the oily skin, as well as tetracycline, an antibiotic which cleared up the breakouts. The good doc gave them a suggested diet. this was promptly turned over to mom. The first thing to go was candy bars, and the chocolate milk that you enjoyed at the school cafeteria. No more greasy French fries either. But, you did it “for the cause” (and also because Mom or Dad’s insurance paid for the dermatologist bills).
In most cases, adolescents finally outgrew the blemishes, and, believing chocolate might have been one of the culprits, going forward. They treated any kind of chocolate as an occasional luxury.
Chocolate Does Not Cause Acne
According to a top dermatologist, Dr. Ava Shamban, chocolate as a contributor to acne was not entirely true. So, all these years it was a myth? Dr. Shamban states that “chocolate per se will not make you break out“ in fact, there is little evidence that chocolate or any specific fatty foods will cause acne, but, we do know that a high-sugar/high-fat diet can increase sebum production and promote inflammatory responses in the body — which can lead to acne.” She goes on to say that while overindulgence in fatty or sugary foods is not the sole reason for acne, but what happens is that loading up on these foods leads to less consumption of essential nutrients, which are beneficial to healthy skin, the likes of which are found in food like fruits and vegetables.
Although it is important to note that acne has multiple causes that may relate to your lifestyle, diet and geneticsand if you have a severe skin problem you should always consult with a licensed dermatologist for help treating the condition. A cosmetic skin doctor can help by diagnosing the problem and suggesting treatment options to treat your skin and prevent future flare-ups.
Do Not Overindulge in Chocolate
You choose dark chocolate and eat it in moderation. The important distinction must be made for dark chocolate versus milk chocolate and white chocolate. As detailed in the beginning of this post, the nutritious value of dark chocolate cannot be beat. But, milk chocolate or white chocolate fall into the high-sugar/high-fat category. Their components are principally dairy, sugar and sugary additives. Dr. Shamban advises that “for some people, dairy and sugary substances can trigger hormonal changes, which in turn may cause inflammation, especially for acne-prone people.”
Go ahead and indulge in dark chocolate, because it has been well-documented that, among its many components, are antioxidants which benefit the skin and protect the body’s cells against free radicals. Dark chocolate’s high cacao content means it is full of flavonoids, called catechin and procyanidin, which are chemicals that act as antioxidants within the body. These flavonoids are not found in either milk chocolate or white chocolate.
Chocolate’s Bum Rap
There are several reasons that account for chocolate being maligned through the years. It is often considered a crutch used by premenstrual women who crave sweets and indulge in them, thus resulting in breakouts during their menstrual cycle. But don’t blame the chocolate! Simultaneously, women experience a drop in their estrogen levels, triggering hormones to stimulate the sebaceous glands, which in turn amps up the oil production, so oilier skin = more breakouts, that simply coincides with the consumption of chocolate.
Women and men often eat chocolate or candy in periods of stressful times. That sweet treat seems to ease their stress. But consumption of baked goods containing hydrogenated oils, corn syrup, enriched white flour and sugar or sweeteners, or candy such as milk chocolate or white chocolate, all contribute to the creation of inflammatory responses in the body. So stave off those inflammatory responses with dark chocolate, a natural anti-oxidant and load up on produce which will be kind to your face and your waistline, as well as your total overall being.