Hershey’s Unsweetened Cocoa
Did you know that in addition to that bottle of sunscreen, eating some raw cocoa can boost your skin’s ability to fight UV radiation?
A German study published in the American Society for Nutrition Journal showed that ingesting high flavanol-rich cocoa (326 mg/day) for about three months protected against UV radiation and improved skin condition by reducing roughness, increasing skin thickness, improving moisture retention, and enhancing dermal circulation. That’s enough reason to start eating more chocolate!
With summer offering bumper crops of strawberries, one of my favorite ways to add cocoa to my diet is by using it to smoothies. Try this easy recipe:
Strawberry Banana Chocolate Smoothie
1 handful organic strawberries
1/2 banana
1/2 cup rice or almond milk
1 tbsp raw organic cocoa powder
1-2 scoops protein powder (add according to manufacturer’s directions)
1 tsp. flaxseed oil
1 tsp. greens powder
Makes one 8 oz. smoothie
© Karen Peltier and Well Gal, 2012
Photo © Karen Peltier