This year don’t regret those Valentine’s Day chocolates, your skin needs ’em. Ruth Swissa is gonna let you in on a little beauty secret: beauty doesn’t mean a life sentence of leafy greens. Indulge in some sultry dark chocolate chunks and reap the benefits.

Chocolate Reduces Blood Pressure
Dark Chocolate relaxes blood vessels. This in turn will reduce blood pressure. Chocolate is perhaps the natural-born chiller; a ‘feel-good inc’ opiate.

Wrinkle Reducer
Chocolate is an organic stress reliever –  it reduces the formation of stress hormones. Consequently, this will promote less collagen breakdown in your skin and ultimately leave you with fewer wrinkles in the long run.

Flavonols
Chocolate contains Flavonols, antioxidants that help your skin combat UV damage, fight free radicals, and increase  blood flow. So in other words, fewer wrinkles, fewer sunspots, and an irresistible dewy glow.

~*Keep Label in Mind*~
Even though the chocolate seal may read “70% Dark Chocolate”, if the first ingredient reads “Milk” or “Sugar”, you know your bar does not contain 70% or more cocoa content. Also, to achieve these beauty benefits, make sure you’re indulging in a chocolate bar that contains 70% or more cocoa content. No glacé milk/white chocolate allowed. Portions do come into play as well; make sure you’re not eating more than one ounce of this gushy-good stuff.