Can Eating Chocolate Protect You From Sunburn?

Antioxidants can help protect the skin from sun damage, minimize wrinkles, reduce the incidence of sunburn, and protect the texture of the skin to name just a few benefits. The most beneficial way to add antioxidants to your skin is from the inside out. Researchers have shown that eating cocoa beans increases the health of your skin and diminish the signs of aging.

Dermatologists and other health professionals have spoken out about the benefits of consuming certain fruits and vegetables as the source of antioxidants. The scientific community is working to fully understand the power of antioxidants.

According to Dr. Ellen Marmur, "Antioxidants may turn out to be even more powerful defenders than we thought, and researchers are studying their potential as cancer fighters and UV protectors. Scientific studies seem to come out every day, touting the near-miraculous sun-protective and cancer- preventive benefits of antioxidant compounds."

The health benefits of specific antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables are staggering. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can decrease the risk of developing many diseases. From various types of skin cancer to heart disease to stroke to diabetes to name just a few conditions antioxidants provide a protective boost. Antioxidants work by stopping the dangerous chain reaction of free radicals in the cells.

The bad news about the damaging effects of the sun and free radicals on the skin as summarized by Dr. Nicholas Perricone: "The sun creates free radicals, which wreak havoc on your cells and set you up for diseases like skin cancer. In just 30 to 45 minutes the sun depletes 80% of our vitamin stores."

One of the most potent antioxidants is Epicatechin of the families of flavanols. Numerous studies have demonstrated that its long term ingestion gives significant photoprotection which leads to an increased resistance against UV-induced erythema (sunburn).

In 2009 the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology a research group from London University of the Arts in London "demonstrated that regular consumption of a cocoa beans rich in these flavanols confers significant photoprotection and can thus be effective at protecting human skin from harmful UV effects." In fact, many recent studies are focusing on the beneficial effects of epicatechin which are found in strongest concentrations in cocoa beans fresh from the tree.

Does that mean, I can eat chocolate to significantly protect my skin from UV light?

Unfortunately not. Even though cocoa beans fresh from the tree are exceptionally rich in flavanols, much of this high antioxidant capacity is greatly reduced during conventional chocolate making due to manufacturing processes. Only carefully processed cocoa will hold the flavanols with beneficial effects of UV protection. Which means eating chocolate won't protect you. But if you know how to extract and process cocoa beans (learn more in this story) you can give your skin an extra layer of protection against sunburn, premature aging and potential skin cancer.