The Power of Chocolate

What Chocoholics Can Do With Leftover Valentine Goodies
Jan Faris

Hershey’s KissesI’m known to have a sweet tooth because of my frequent chocolate fixes. Those of us who suffer from this are referred to as Chocoholics. For years I’ve been told that I shouldn’t eat so much as I’d either break out or gain too much weight. I’ve done neither, and still enjoy my dark chocolate bars. The benefits of eating chocolate far outweigh the dangers.

Now, I’ve learned that not only should I have been eating it as if it were going out of style, but also slathering it all over my body to rejuvenate it from the inside out.  I’d like to know who hid the memo from me on this one.

In recent years, it has become known within the beauty industry that chocolate is a great natural anti-aging property; helping to reduce wrinkles and age spots. Who would have thunk?

According to Hershey’s.com, chocolate has a high measure of antioxidant power (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity—ORAC).  Dark chocolate has the highest level with 9080 units per serving which is more than blueberries, almonds, and grapes.

Chocolate also moisturizes dry skin because its main ingredient is cocoa butter. Properly moisturized skin is more elastic, which means fewer wrinkles. Cocoa butter has been used for years by women to help reduce stretch marks. Hmmm…I should have melted a few Hershey chocolate bars and slathered that on during my pregnancy with my son. It would have been a more enjoyable alternative than boring lotions.

Chocolate rejuvenates and refreshes the skin and is a natural moisturizer that makes skin soft and supple. In addition, chocolate exfoliates and nourishes. It will nourish skin while sloughing off dead cells.

Spas and beauty salons have used chocolate for years to give facial masks. It helps prevent free radicals from damaging elastin, collagen, and various other proteins found in skin. Now this would have put me in hog heaven if I’d known.

Chocolate Mask Recipe from Spa Index:

• Mix 1/3 Cup Cocoa Powder
• 3 Tbsp. Heavy Cream
• 2 tsp. Cottage Cheese
• 1/4 Cup Honey
• 3 tsp. Oatmeal

Apply the mixture to the face for ten minutes and then rinse it off with warm water. This creamy mask, according to Spa Index, is an excellent moisturizer that leaves skin baby soft. This mask is recommended for normal skin (neither too dry nor too oily) without major conditions such as severe acne.

For people with dry skin Ruby Samy gives details for a

Chocolate Honey Scrub:

• 10 grams of Pure Cocoa Powder
• 1 Tbsp. Honey
• 5 grams of Sugar
• 2 Tbsp. Almond Oil

Mix thoroughly into a smooth paste.

Apply this mixture to your face and neck and lightly massage with your fingertips for one to two minutes. Rinse with warm water. The result is soft, smooth, and supple skin in just one application.

Ladies, with Valentine’s Day approaching, you may have some leftover chocolate from your many admirers. I think you know what to do with it now. This gives the phrase Death by Chocolate a whole new meaning.

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