Dark chocolate and the rays of the sun are two pleasures that could complement each other to reduce the harmful effects on health. Scientists from the Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (Inaf) at Laval University in Quebec are seeking to demonstrate that the consumption of dark chocolate allows one to withstand much higher doses of radiation on the skin.

According to information obtained by the EFE agency, Canadians are looking for female volunteers who eat dark chocolate daily for twelve weeks to verify if it can act as a sunscreen. The study coordinator, Bruno Riverin, explained that "dark chocolate contains natural antioxidants or polyphenols, which could protect the body from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays."

To conduct the study, researchers require 60 healthy women aged between 25 and 65, with fair skin, who are willing to eat dark chocolate rich in polyphenols for three months. These compounds favor blood circulation near the skin, which helps protect it from solar rays.

The polyphenols found in dark chocolate are present in cocoa and in the formation of natural antioxidants, and unlike placebo chocolate (which, although it has a very similar taste), it does not contain them. This aims to demonstrate that those who ate the chocolate with polyphenols will withstand much higher doses of radiation on their skin compared to those who took the placebo.

The researcher assures that if their hypothesis is proven, dark chocolate could contribute to sun protection, although this does not mean it will replace the mechanisms recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), such as sunscreens.

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