— No.2 Anti-Aging Foods to Make Your Skin Look Years Younger: Dark Chocolate

Dark Chocolate

Great news, chocolate lovers—dark chocolate offers some serious anti-aging benefits. Cocoa beans, the main ingredient in dark chocolate, is packed with antioxidants that can reduce inflammation from UV exposure, increase circulation and help your skin better retain moisture. This is a winning formula for glowing, healthy skin.

Dark chocolate is also rich in magnesium, another inflammation-fighting nutrient. Magnesium reduces stress and improves sleep duration and quality, which plays a role in skin aging. Just be sure to check the added sugars content of your favorite dark chocolate bar—too much sugar could wreak havoc on your skin. Research from Baylor University College of Medicine shows sugar has a negative affect on collagen fibers and can cause skin to appear more stiff and less elastic.

Use your favorite combination of nuts to make this quick and easy chocolate nut bark. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2010

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

• 2 cups semisweet, bittersweet or milk chocolate chips, melted (see Tip)
• 1 ½ cups assorted nuts, such as hazelnuts, almonds and cashews, plus more for garnish

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Directions

Instructions Checklist

• Step 1Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. (Take care to avoid wrinkles.) Combine melted chocolate and nuts in a medium bowl. Scrape the mixture onto the foil and spread it into an approximate 12-by-9-inch rectangle. Sprinkle with additional finely chopped nuts, if desired. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.
• Step 2Transfer the bark and foil to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces.

Tips

Make Ahead Tip: Store airtight in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Tip: To melt chocolate, microwave on Medium for 1 minute. Stir, then continue microwaving on Medium, stirring every 20 seconds, until melted. Or place chocolate in the top of a double boiler over hot, but not boiling, water. Stir until melted.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Piece (1 1/2-Inches)Per Serving:74 calories; 5.4 g total fat; 2 g saturated fat; 1 mg sodium. 67 mg potassium; 7.2 g carbohydrates; 0.9 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 1.2 g protein; 5 mcg folate; 10 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 22 mg magnesium; 5 g added sugar;Exchanges: 1/2 Other Carbohydrate, 1 Fat