11 like 0 dislike
in General Factchecking by Newbie (440 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.
by (140 points)
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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.
by Newbie (220 points)
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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!
by Newbie (220 points)
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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.
by Newbie (410 points)
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While I have heard this claim to be true, and believe it myself somewhat, this article doesn't fully prove or fact-check any of its claims. Since these claims seem to be biased, I can't confirm them to be true.
ago by Newbie (420 points)
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Dark chocolate's health benefits make it more than just a sweet indulgence. Its rich antioxidant content helps combat free radicals, potentially reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. Additionally, dark chocolate supports brain health by improving cognitive function and reducing mental impairment, thanks to its positive effects on blood flow and flavonoids. While it also aids in platelet activity and heart health, moderation is key to enjoying its benefits without overconsuming sugar or calories. Choosing high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa content ensures you get the most out of its nutritional advantages.

35 Answers

3 like 0 dislike
by Novice (980 points)
selected by
 
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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by Newbie (340 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.
by (190 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.
by Newbie (340 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.
by Newbie (340 points)
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I appreciate how you expanded on the original claim by adding more health benefits of dark chocolate. It gave me a deeper understanding and made the argument much more compelling. Pointing out the importance of moderation was crucial too; it adds necessary context that ensures the claim isn't misleading. Credible sources backing up each fact also made your argument stronger. Great job!
by Novice (660 points)
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I thought that you did well on your fact-check by expanding more on the original claim and explaining the limitations to claim.
by Novice (830 points)
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I like this response because you emphasized the importance of moderation, even when the claim about chocolate's health benefits were technically true.

Sometimes titles like this are slightly misleading, and make us forget that while there may be health benefits, the benefits are only shown when the right amount is consumed (usually not a large amount at all).
by Newbie (340 points)
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I like that your response is insightful and well-balanced. Highlighting the importance of moderation is crucial, as even beneficial foods can have drawbacks if overconsumed. Your additional article and reference to the study relating to the same idea really adds credibility to your answer.
by Novice (830 points)
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I appreciate how you expanded on the original claim by detailing the various health benefits of dark chocolate. This added depth to the argument and made it much more compelling. It’s also important that you pointed out the necessity of moderation; this context ensures the claim isn't misleading. I found it particularly strong that you provided credible sources to back up each fact, which enhances the overall believability of your claims. Great job!
by Novice (690 points)
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I liked that you touched on the original claim and brought out other sources to back up your fact checking. I also like that you pointed out the fact that is still important to eat chocolate in moderation, regardless of the health benefits listed. Good job!
by Novice (650 points)
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I think this is a great response. Using healthline.com was a great and trustworthy resource to fact-check this claim. You also summarized your source in a detailed response to make it clearer for the reader to understand. Great job!
by Novice (560 points)
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The non biased information is fantastic on this claim. Thanks for looking into it without taking a side. As someone who likes dark chocolate, I know that I could not do the same but here you have done a great job.
by Novice (950 points)
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I appreciate how insightful and well-rounded your response is. Emphasizing the importance of moderation is key, as even healthy foods can pose issues if consumed in excess. Including the extra article and referencing the study on this concept also enhances the credibility of your answer.
by (150 points)
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This is a great fact check for multiple reasons. I especially appreciate the addition information from the source that the original claim did not state during its article. You point out all the good benefits of dark chocolate while still noticing the needed moderation associated with eating dark chocolate.
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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I really appreciate how non-biased and thorough your response is to this claim. It's not easy to look into something without taking sides, but you did a fantastic job here. As someone who enjoys dark chocolate myself, I know I might not have been able to keep that level of objectivity, but you handled it perfectly. Your use of Healthline.com as a reliable source for fact-checking really strengthened the credibility of your response, and I also liked how you summarized the information from that source so clearly. It made the facts easier to understand and digest. Great work all around!
by Novice (880 points)
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This fact-check was so good. I appreciated that this was non-biased and built straight upon facts. The sources you used were reliable and strengthened your response.
ago by Newbie (330 points)
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This answer brings about a good point that the original claim isn't exactly true. Dark chocolate has health benefits but if eaten in large quantities, it can be unhealthy. This goes to show how any food or "healthy" snack has to be eaten in moderation. This comment also brings to light all the health benefits dark chocolate does have when eaten in a healthy amount. There is a credible source as well from a health website. This comment does well to show where the original claim went wrong and goes into more specific detail.
ago by Novice (690 points)
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Hey there! I appreciate how staright forward your answere was. Although next time I would work on adding more depth into your response by using more reaserch and adding informaiton from the article a little bit more that will help give you more cedibility!
2 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (410 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
by Newbie (350 points)
1 0
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.
by Newbie (420 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.
by Newbie (360 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.
by Newbie (330 points)
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I like that you validated their claim with many new-found sources and that you also mentioned to still take it easy on the chocolate because while it does have health benefits it's still a sweet treat with sugars and fats. I think that claims like this one are hard to argue against because just "health benefits" leaves it up to a wide variety, but you did a good job.
by Novice (650 points)
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This response is great! You added a plethora of reliable sources that were explanatory and helpful! When talking about something that is health-related, specifically in the diet sphere, it is helpful to have multiple opinions on the topic.
by Novice (670 points)
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Great response! I like how you talked about both the truth of the article as well as a possible minor counterargument(that it isn't necessarily a healthy snack). Additionally, using several sources to back up this claim makes it much more reliable. These sources are great, as you referenced both a legitimate clinic and a well-regarded institution.
by Newbie (490 points)
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The sources you provided and your reasoning gave this claim a more solid validity and the emphasis on it having downsides to it as well, but a healthier option as compared to many other snacks someone could potentially eat.
by Novice (770 points)
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Your use of reputable and objective scientific sources really strengthens your fact-check. Additionally, your examination of the specific benefits of dark chocolate, along with its less healthy aspects which suggest moderation, provides a nuanced view of the article’s claim. I think that you could go further by examining the original source, published by Popcorn for the People and written by Jason Katz. When looking up Jason Katz, I couldn’t find his other writings, and the website of the article appeared to be a popcorn company. Given the product advertisement at the end of the article, it seems that there was profit motivations behind the article, which would have been important to analyze and really would have added to your thorough fact-check!
by Newbie (340 points)
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I appreciate how you backed up their claim with several new sources and also noted the importance of moderation. Chocolate may have health benefits, but it’s still high in sugar and fat. Claims like these can be tricky to evaluate since “health benefits” is such a broad term, but you handled it well.
by Novice (880 points)
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The sources that you used, and your reasoning that you gave, made this claim more believable. I appreciated how you recognized this claim having downsides to it as well, but it still being a healthier option as compared to many other snacks someone could eat.
0 like 0 dislike
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.
by Genius (47.9k 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!
by Newbie (360 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.
by Newbie (490 points)
0 0
Providing more context and evidence behind what you have already said would make you have a stronger argument. You did well in describing what it can do, but it lacks more context.
ago by Newbie (250 points)
0 0
I think this analysis is critical to recognize that the source the original post is using is an advertisement, trying to sell a product and promoting the "health benefits" of it which might make it a bad source. However, your response does not provide any counter, this could be strengthened with a counter argument or agreement to the claim, and a reliable source with it to provide more intel.
0 like 0 dislike
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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by Novice (660 points)
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While you provided a credible source and explained why you think it is true, you didn't provide the link for the source. To factcheck your answer, I would need to google search for the article you sited. You provided good evidence that proves your belief that dark chocolate is better and has better health benefits.
0 like 0 dislike
by Novice (750 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
by Novice (660 points)
0 0
You factchecked the original claim well. You showed where they were correct and where they exaggerated or mislead. You also provided a second credible source that backs up what you said and provided a link for the website so others can factcheck you.
ago by Novice (560 points)
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Hey I really liked your answer and thought that you answered the claim very well. You made it easy for me to understand why the claim was exaggerated. I like the part where you said it was easy to see where the conclusions could be made but the company had biases.
1 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (400 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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by Novice (980 points)
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These are great sources that are provided, and it is good to note that they had parallel claims that matched with the benefits of dark chocolate.
ago by Novice (710 points)
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I appreciate your efforts to analyze multiple different sources in order to validate this claim. It shows a great sense of thoroughness when factchecking and makes the fact check seem more valid.
0 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (220 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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by Apprentice (1.4k points)
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Your fact-check is concise, straightforward, and very easy to understand—well done! However, you could make your fact-check even stronger by considering sources that don't agree that dark chocolate has health benefits. Even if you only included one source that disagrees with this claim, it would enhance the strength of your fact-check by answering objections to the claim. By providing explanations to disprove the validity of any objections, your fact-check could be relatively seamless.
0 like 1 dislike
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
by Newbie (360 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

1 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (320 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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