巧克力可謂人間美味。在近500年的歷史中，還沒有哪種食物能像巧克力這樣迅速而徹底地征服了世界上的各類人群。除了作為美食，巧克力還有很多藥用功效。事實上，在成為甜點之前，在美洲，巧克力有幾千年的藥用歷史。現在，人們又給巧克力開發了新功能：SPA。想要改善膚質的女性不妨一試。

It is said chocolate was used for thousands of years as medicine by tribes in Central and South America, before becoming more commonly known as a sweet snack. Cocoa, from which chocolate is made, actually contains more than 300 chemicals. Some scientists say that cocoa contains molecules that can stimulate the release of endorphins and stimulate the brain.

Research from Germany claims that flavor-rich cocoa improves the skin. It can help improve skin structure, wrote the researchers in a recent issue the Journal of Nutrition.

The mechanisms by which flavor-rich cocoa improves skin texture are unknown, but experts suggest that the flavor-mediated rise in the blood flow of the skin is likely to improve its appearance.

Chocolate SPA is most beneficial to skin that is sun burnt, and also helps treat spotty backs and make skin generally smoother.

One can also make the lotion at home. The ingredients include: cocoa powder, ossein powder, milk, honey, peppermint or other essence oil together, mixed together and stirred into a lotion. Such a SPA treatment was suggested to be had every two weeks.

ossein powder：骨膠原粉，可增強皮膚彈性，促使粗糙皮膚柔嫩光滑，保持肌膚年輕狀態

essence oil：精油，精油又稱為液體黃金。比如植物精油是由一百多種以上的成分所構成，當然有些更高達數百種至上千種成分構成。不同精油對抵抗憂郁、平撫情緒、舒緩壓力或者促進皮膚新陳代謝、改善皮炎等有天然效果。

（上海交通大學通訊員李文慶供稿 英語點津 Annabel 編輯）