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ago in General Factchecking by Newbie (220 points)
eating dark chocolate gives you protection against free radicals, cardiovascular disease, may prevent cancer, and also improves cognitive function. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants, increases clotting ability of blood platelets, and it decreases mental impairment.
ago by (140 points)
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I agree with these points and do think it can help with all the things you listed. The only thing I'd have to add is that dark chocolate is incredibly calorie-dense, so in moderation only it is effective, and eating too much could lead to other problems.
ago by (140 points)
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I agree with these points and do think it can help with all the things you listed. The only thing I'd have to add is that dark chocolate is incredibly calorie-dense, so in moderation only it is effective, and eating too much could lead to other problems.
ago by (170 points)
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I also agree with these points, dark chocolate is proven to have lots of health benefits like improving blood flow, lowering blood pressure, and reducing inflammation. After looking it up it says it’s healthy to eat approximately 1 to 2 ounces a day. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dark-chocolate
ago by Newbie (230 points)
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I disagree with chocolate having health benifits because its unhealthy for you because I've never heard of healthy chocolate and it has a lot of sugar and body fat.
ago by Newbie (260 points)
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Are there health disadvantages linked to eating dark chocolate?
ago by Novice (870 points)
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I agree with the points you made, Dark Chocolate has many health benefits as proven by the article you cited, although this article does not show it's sources and is an advertisement for dark chocolate popcorn which makes it a less trustworthy source.
ago by Newbie (220 points)
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I love that you added all the benefits that eating dark chocolate can give you instead of just saying its good for you. I like the source you gave as well i have used them before for a fact check
ago by Newbie (310 points)
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Although you claim that dark chocolate is good for health its not exactly a fruit or vegetable and it still should be eaten in moderation like all other foods.

14 Answers

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ago by Newbie (440 points)
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Best answer

The claim that dark chocolate possesses health benefits appears to be true, however it is important to still eat it in moderation. In an article by Healthline, dark chocolate is mentioned to be a very good source of antioxidants such as polyphenols, flavanols and catechins, along with others. There was also a study done that showed that dark chocolate possesses more polyphenols and flavanols than all the other fruits tested in that particular study. Other benefits of dark chocolate are that it may lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease when consumed 3 times per week, help protect your skin from sun and improve attention and memory.

www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

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ago by Newbie (220 points)
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I like how you expanded on the original claim and added more health benefits that dark chocolate can provide. It gave me more information on the original claim and made the argument stronger. I also like how you pointed out that it is still important to eat dark chocolate in moderation. This is important information to know when discussing this claim, and without it the claim is misleading. For all of the facts listed, you gave a credible source to back them up which also made all of your claims more believable.
ago by (100 points)
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I like how you went more in depth of the health benefits of dark chocolate. This was very throughout reply to the original claim and gave more information.
ago by Newbie (220 points)
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I thought you did a great job fact-checking this. You did a very deep dive into this topic, and I felt like you gave us a lot of great information that is backed. I thought adding this was a really great way to show there are truly huge benefits "There was also a study done that showed that dark chocolate possesses more polyphenols and flavanols than all the other fruits tested in that particular study" I thought you did a great job on this and it makes me wonder if any other forms of chocolates have health benefits as well.
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ago by Newbie (220 points)
After researching and reading several articles on the benefits of Dark Chocolate, I think its safe to claim that it has health benefits. While I wouldn't consider it a "healthy" snack to eat a ton of, it does in fact have several benefits and not many downsides besides being higher in fat, calories and sugar compared to other foods. Some of the benefits include anti inflammatory and antioxidants, lower blood pressure, help vision and packed with minerals. This information can be found on many health websites such as WebMD, Verywell Health, UC Davis health page, and Cleveland Clinic Health!

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dark-chocolate-health-benefits

https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-dark-chocolate

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/dark-chocolate-health-benefits-the-good-and-the-bad-to-this-sweet-treat/2023/02
ago by Newbie (200 points)
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The amount of articles and resources you provided really make for a strong argument and back up your claims nicely. It also makes you significantly more informed and reputable than if you only looked at one article as many do.
ago by Newbie (250 points)
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I like that you included more than just 1 source to support your response, and considering they also all state similar information it makes what you are saying more trustworthy. I also enjoyed how you listed some of the health benefits to support your thoughts.
ago by Newbie (240 points)
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I like your fact-checking that you don't only use one research to support your views. Different kinds of researches allow the fact-checking to be more trustworthy, and it can replenish other information about the topic.
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ago by Newbie (250 points)
I agree with the statement, that dark chocolate has health benefits as the article went over its cardiovascular and cancer-reducing agents. Due to the Flavanols that help reduce blood pressure and clots. While this statement is true, I find the source not to be the best to use as some can find it biased. At the end of the article, they are promoting their dark chocolate popcorn, making it more enticing to buy after the article talks about the dark chocolate benefits. I would want to pull a more creditable source when saying this fact is correct.
ago by Genius (45.8k points)
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Do you have a source? Please cite where you got your information in-text and provide source links. How would you rate the claim? Thanks!
ago by Newbie (240 points)
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I suggest you that you can  add other researches to help to support your opinions, even through your views have some merits about this topic.
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ago by Newbie (320 points)
After reviewing and researching dark chocolate and its health benefits through reliable sources it is clear that dark chocolate is the healthier form of chocolate that provides health benefits. In an article by UC Davis Health, it is reviewed that dark chocolate contains soluble fibers, vitamins, and minerals (like iron, zinc, and magnesium). Dark chocolate also has less sugar and a higher flavanol content (greater health benefit) compared to other chocolates.While it is true that it is healthy, it is healthy when eaten within moderation.
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ago by Novice (600 points)

The claim that dark chocolate has health benefits is true, however this entire claim is exaggerating the extent of said health benefits. According to UC Davis Health dark chocolate's antioxidants are linked to lowering your risk of heart disease. On the other side, the claims that it may prevent cancer and improves mental function are not proven at all. It makes sense how these conclusions were drawn, because the source linked in a sponsored article from a company selling dark chocolate. The bias is easy to spot with a full read of the article. 

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/dark-chocolate-health-benefits-the-good-and-the-bad-to-this-sweet-treat/2023/02

Exaggerated/ Misleading
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ago by Newbie (220 points)

The claim "Dark Chocolate has health benefits" is true. I've reviewed multiple trusted sources such as healthline, and health.uc davis. And both sources have parallel claims to the source provided in the original claim.

Healthline says “Eating dark chocolate with high cocoa content in moderation can deliver antioxidants and minerals and may help protect you from heart disease.”

And Health.ucdavis says “Most dark chocolate is rich in plant chemicals called flavonoids. Flavonoids are antioxidants linked to a lower risk of heart disease.”

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/dark-chocolate-health-benefits-the-good-and-the-bad-to-this-sweet-treat/

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0 like 0 dislike
ago by (180 points)

This article is published on Popcorn For The People, and it makes the claim that dark chocolate has health benefits and is a “superfood”. It says that dark chocolate can help protect from free radicals, cardiovascular disease, and may also help prevent cancer. The two sources cited were Harvard and Dr. Axe and they do confirm everything the article says, although only one of them actually talks about dark chocolate specifically (the other talks about free radicals). After checking two other sources that were not cited on the original article (Cleveland Clinic and National Institute of Health), the claim that dark chocolate has health benefits is true.

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ago by Newbie (300 points)
The main claim, that dark chocolate has health benefits, does check out to be true. The author does seem to have some bias about dark chocolate as they make a sales pitch at the end of the article for dark chocolate popcorn so I would point out that the tone of the article makes it seem like dark chocolate is a healthy snack. I think this claim would depend on what a person considers "healthy". A study done by UC Davis verified that dark chocolate has a chemical called flavanols, which was also mentioned in this article, that are linked to a lower risk of heart disease. I would agree that dark chocolate has health benefits but I think it is a snack that should be consumed in moderation.

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/dark-chocolate-health-benefits-the-good-and-the-bad-to-this-sweet-treat/2023/02
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0 like 0 dislike
ago by Newbie (240 points)

The claim is true that dark chocolate does offer health benefits, primarily due to its high antioxidant content, including polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins, which may help lower blood pressure, reduce heart disease risk, and improve skin protection and cognitive function. However, these benefits are often overstated; while some studies support dark chocolate’s positive effects on heart health, there is little evidence to prove claims about cancer prevention and mental enhancement. Bias may influence some sources, particularly those sponsored by chocolate companies. Moderation remains essential when consuming dark chocolate for health.

www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/dark-chocolate-health-benefits-the-good-and-the-bad-to-this-sweet-treat/2023/02

0 like 0 dislike
ago by Newbie (220 points)

The claim that was made surrounded the topic of whether dark chocolate actually has health benefits. The first thing I did was look at the link that was provided, and it appeared to not be a reliable news source as the page was underdeveloped and wanted me to purchase a product. However, the article did provide some information about the chocolate, as it stated it could "lower blood pressure and increase blood flow"(popcornforthepeople.com). After some more digging, I found numerous articles and news sources that provided a plethora of information surrounding dark chocolate and proved its health benefits. One source that focuses on nutrition made a study in which they examined the dark chocolates aspects and set a bunch of free radicals (bad) against a sample of a food to see how well the antioxidants in the food can disarm the free radicals. Based on the results, they found that dark chocolate is considered rich in antioxidants. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3

Other reliable studies have been made to show dark chocolate benifits on the human body, such as how it can possible protect you from the sun, and how it can lower your chance of heart disease or faliure. Although these claims are quite large and hard to belive, it is infact true, and while the effects might not be too strong, dark chocolate can have great benifits on our bodies.

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/good-food/dark-chocolate-health-benefits-the-good-and-the-bad-to-this-sweet-treat/2023/02 

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