dark chocolate has health benefits

Question

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.

Comments

How often should a person consumer dark chocolate?

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I like that you cited the reasons why you agree with this source but also took a nuanced approach and noticed that the source was sponsored by a dark chocolate company and therefore would likely be biased towards dark chocolate with aims to accumulate dark chocolate customers.

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Hi! I found your claim to be very interesting. I think that the article you included defiantly helps your point, but does not really prove it to be true. I think that there are probably more useful articles with more information regarding the health benefits of dark chocolate. Overall, it seems to me that this claim is true.

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I liked that you listed some of the benefits of dark chocolate within your claim, I find it very useful to understand the claim fully. I agree with your claim however I found another article from Cleveland Clinic that provides more in depth information about the benefits which would be a useful read!

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I agree with what you are implying, but just because it is biased doesn't necessarily mean it is false? Though that can be argued , I would look more into that. Chocolate is definitely not equivalent to eating vegetables and should be eaten in moderation regardless.

Answer 1

The claim that dark chocolate has health benefits seems to be true. According to Popcorn for the People, dark chocolate is seen as a superfood and contains flavanols which can protect the heart from cardiovascular diseases, boost Cognitive Function, and even help prevent cancer. It can also help lower blood sugar and provide healthy antioxindants.  As well as supply minerals such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. With that being said, everything should be eaten in moderation and Confident Living advises a daily recommended dose of 1 to 2 ounces. Consuming more than that may be excess calories or sugar.

Sources:

https://www.popcornforthepeople.com/blogs/blog/dark-chocolate-health-benefits?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0MG5BhD1ARIsAEcZtwQY2tKqC0ahqeR805w_3K6LnOOX-4sshoZQ9sxpk8IT4-bgq_qLb18aAi_eEALw_wcB

https://confident-living.org/blog/how-much-dark-chocolate-can-i-eat-everyday/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0MG5BhD1ARIsAEcZtwSg_el9xLPKP6t2u0YQqpUR5NEZ3sHpV9kcjT5JyhWRXdGkSzA-4CsaAo4TEALw_wcB

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dark-chocolate#:~:text=Dark%20chocolate%20is%20rich%20in,levels%20of%20minerals%20and%20antioxidants.

Answer 2

The main claim that dark chocolate has health benefits is true. Even if the article linked to this claim is made by Jason Katz, the operations manager at Popcorn for the People, who has no background of being a doctor or any of that sort. He goes and sites hsph.harvard.edu which is a reliable source for anyone doing research. Even when he is pushing a product he is listing many different ways dark chocolate can benefit you. Some examples are protection against free radicals, aiding your cardiovascular health, and improving cognitive function. 

On WebMD it states how it does have health benefits, but in moderation. It states “Dark chocolate does have some components that offer health benefits. But it's fairly high in calories, fat, and added sugar.” While it has its upsides it also has its downsides which people need the exposure to. WebMD also states how it can protect your heart, reduce the risk of diabetes, and even improve your vision. 

Dark chocolate is far healthier and has many health benefits, but when all is taken in moderation.

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

Answer 3

I think that from my research, like with generally all foods, dark chocolate can have health benefits when consumed in moderation. From one source "dark chocolate is rich in plant chemicals called flavanols. Flavanols are antioxidants linked to a lower risk of heart disease"(Good Food). The source also states that dark chocolate has a lower sugar amount than other types of chocolate making it a good substitution. Another benefit from a different source states, "Dark chocolate is packed full of important minerals, including iron, magnesium, zinc, copper and phosphorus" (Cleveland Clinic). One of the most important things that makes dark chocolate stand out though is its high fiber content. Dark chocolate is a great source, containing "4 grams of fiber in one ounce" (Cleveland Clinic). Overall, dark chocolate definitely has benefits, but too much will be bad for you. 

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

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

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

Answer 4

This claim can be considered true, within the original article they used trustworthy sources such as Harvard.edu, but when seeing other sources such as John Hopkins Medicine, those claims from the original such as dark chocolate having healthy antioxidants are mirrored, as well as dark chocolate improving cognitive function. Healthline has similar claims of dark chocolate containing powerful antioxidants, and improving cognitive function, which is enough to claim that dark chocolate has health benefits. It should be noted however that while the original article contains true information, it also was created for the purpose of selling their own popcorn, which could have impacted the bias in this article.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-benefits-of-having-a-healthy-relationship-with-chocolate

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4