Chocoholic dream: bar said to fight wrinkles
Source: Agencies |
May 21, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE world's largest chocolate maker says it may have come up with a chocolate bar that can fight wrinkles and slow the aging process, making it the latest food group to tap the appetite for healthier living.
Eating 20 grams of specially developed chocolate packed with antioxidants, or flavanols, each day may help prevent wrinkles and make skin more radiant by boosting elasticity and improving hydration, according to chocolate maker Barry Callebaut.
Dark chocolate has already been linked with certain health benefits, such as helping to lower blood pressure and reducing the risk of strokes thanks to its high content of antioxidants.
The Swiss group has developed a way of preserving the flavanols found in cocoa beans during the chocolate-making process, resulting in a bar richer in flavanols, said Barry Callebaut Chief Innovation Officer Hans Vriens.
"Chocolate and health do not seem to fit together but it is a very interesting proposition: if I can eat something I like and it is good for me, that is great," Vriens said.
Smoking, pollution, caffeine and a lack of sleep contribute to the creation of free radicals that can damage healthy cells in the body. "There is a huge body of evidence that shows flavanols slow down damage caused by free radicals," said Kepler Capital Markets analyst Jon Cox.
But some experts are doubtful about the positive effects flavanols have on skin.
"There is quite a lot of evidence that cocoa flavanols have a positive effect on the blood flow ... The possible effects on skin and cognitive performance are less well established," said Richard Hurrell, a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
The functional chocolate market, which includes organic and diet chocolate, is seeing double-digit growth.
Eating 20 grams of specially developed chocolate packed with antioxidants, or flavanols, each day may help prevent wrinkles and make skin more radiant by boosting elasticity and improving hydration, according to chocolate maker Barry Callebaut.
Dark chocolate has already been linked with certain health benefits, such as helping to lower blood pressure and reducing the risk of strokes thanks to its high content of antioxidants.
The Swiss group has developed a way of preserving the flavanols found in cocoa beans during the chocolate-making process, resulting in a bar richer in flavanols, said Barry Callebaut Chief Innovation Officer Hans Vriens.
"Chocolate and health do not seem to fit together but it is a very interesting proposition: if I can eat something I like and it is good for me, that is great," Vriens said.
Smoking, pollution, caffeine and a lack of sleep contribute to the creation of free radicals that can damage healthy cells in the body. "There is a huge body of evidence that shows flavanols slow down damage caused by free radicals," said Kepler Capital Markets analyst Jon Cox.
But some experts are doubtful about the positive effects flavanols have on skin.
"There is quite a lot of evidence that cocoa flavanols have a positive effect on the blood flow ... The possible effects on skin and cognitive performance are less well established," said Richard Hurrell, a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology.
The functional chocolate market, which includes organic and diet chocolate, is seeing double-digit growth.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
