These chocolate bars will not only make you happy, but also younger by up to 30 years.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge developed an anti-aging chocolate dubbed "Esthechoc" by combining two of the most powerful antioxidants with anti-aging properties-cocoa flavanols and marine carotenoid astaxanthin. They claim that the chocolate can make one's skin look up to 30 years younger, according to the news release.
The anti-aging chocolate was tested by 3,000 volunteers from ages 50 to 60 who ate 7.5 grams of the chocolate per day for four weeks; each bar has 38kcal. After the study period, the researchers saw improvements in the blood circulation of the skin tissue of the participants. Their wrinkles also became less prominent.
"We used people in their 50s and 60s and in terms of skin biomarkers we found it had brought skin back to the levels of a 20 or 30 year old. So we've improved the skin's physiology," Dr. Ivan Petyaev, the inventor of the technologies and the director of Lycotec, told The Telegraph.
"People using it claimed that their skin was better and we can see that the product is working to slow down ageing."
The anti-aging chocolate will be available in dark chocolate variant so that diabetes patients can also take it. It will be initially released in the U.K. market and some countries in Europe by next month, but the developers plan to sell it on 35 countries. Pricing is not yet revealed, but it is expected to come with a hefty price tag.
However, health experts are not convinced of the anti-aging claims of Esthechoc.
"Using dark chocolate is quite clever. As a nutritionist, I am generally in favour of dark chocolate," UCL nutritionist Dr. George Grimble told The Telegraph.
"So it's got a good track record in terms of the science but it is too early to say what the long-term benefits might be."
