巧克力可谓人间美味。在近500年的历史中，还没有哪种食物能像巧克力这样迅速而彻底地征服了世界上的各类人群。除了作为美食，巧克力还有很多药用功效。事实上，在成为甜点之前，在美洲，巧克力有几千年的药用历史。现在，人们又给巧克力开发了新功能：SPA。想要改善肤质的女性不妨一试。

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：骨胶原粉，可增强皮肤弹性，促使粗糙皮肤柔嫩光滑，保持肌肤年轻状态

essence oil：精油，精油又称为液体黄金。比如植物精油是由一百多种以上的成分所构成，当然有些更高达数百种至上千种成分构成。不同精油对抵抗忧郁、平抚情绪、舒缓压力或者促进皮肤新陈代谢、改善皮炎等有天然效果。

（上海交通大学通讯员李文庆供稿 英语点津 Annabel 编辑）