We’re well into the new year and traditionally now is the time we all start to think about our summer breaks.

Well now you can look forward to plenty of sunshine without worrying too much about the effects it may have on your skin.

A recent study in Germany found that eating chocolate rich in cocoa solids and therefore rich in flavonoids can help fight sun damage and skin cancer.

The results of this small study found that the skin of people who had eaten cocoa did not redden as much when exposed to UV in sunlight as those who had not eaten cocoa over the 3 month period of the trial. In fact at the end of the trial they had 25% less reddening of the skin.

This is because the flavonoids in chocolate are powerful antioxidants which combat the ageing free-radicals in UV light.

In fact at the end of the trial the overall condition of the participants' skin was much improved - 13% moister, 30% less rough and 42% less scaly.

So, what better reason to eat more chocolate. Start now and your skin could be ready for summer!

All our chocolates are made using quality single origin or organic cocoa. Our dark chocolate contains 61% cocoa.

Bite size eggs           Break-apart bars         Medium hearts

See the full range at www.angelbake.co.uk/handmade-chocolate.

Don't forget the cocoa used in baking either - another good source of those anti-ageing flavonoids. We use high quality organic cocoa powder or organic chocolate in all our baking kits.

See the full range of baking kits at www.angelbake.co.uk/baking-kits.