Chocolate for Your Heart, Skin and… Teeth!

The cardiovascular health benefits of chocolate has already been much documented. Its positive effect on skin health, a bit less so. That is actually good for the teeth? Unheard of… til now.

Think chocolate is bad for your teeth? Think again—it may actually be beneficial. A study out of the University of Osaka Graduate School of Dentistry in Osaka, Japan found that after four days of rinsing with a cocoa flavanol extract without other oral hygiene methods (such as brushing or flossing) participants had decreased bacteria and plaque on their teeth.

Can you believe that? In the book Chocolate – A Healthy Passion, dietician authors Shara Aaron and Monica Bearden explores the many health benefits of cocoa, but also recipes for using chocolate in foods but also in bath gels, lip balms, facial masks and soaps.

Definitely something for the true chocoholic!