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

believe your claim is accurate based on the source you provided. I also came across research from the National Institute of Health where the author explains that the antioxidants in dark chocolate can help prevent the early onset of cancer. Additionally, dark chocolate may lower the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease due to a compound called Epicatechin-7-O-glucuronide. So, it’s clear that dark chocolate offers some great health benefits!

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While I'm a little skeptical of the lack of sources within your source verifying their information, the claim appears to be accurate according to multiple medical health and government sites: dark chocolate, in moderation, has many health benefits.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9589144/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-benefits-of-having-a-healthy-relationship-with-chocolate

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Interesting fact check, why did you use an article on a popcorn website, rather than an actual health website?

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I think that your claim is 100% accurate and I especially liked the source you provided for the readers. I think that you could have given us more sources than just the one and sources from trusted sites at that. Though I do think that what you claim is correct.

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Your response is well written and persuasive, though I am not sure that the source you used is the most reliable. It is really just a bunch of claims/facts but without evidence or mention of studies.

Answer 1

Yes I do find this claim to be true from my own research. I would like to point out though that using a blog from popcornforthepeople.com makes the claim seem to be a bit biased as blog posts are not often read to be used as scientific claims. I went through a few other reputable resources and found that the Cleveland Health Clinic wrote an article about the benefits of dark chocolate. They discussed the same benefits about the minerals in the chocolate, the flavanols that have been proven to reduce risks of cardiovascular disease, and even mentions other benefits not stated in the blog. The article does point out something that the blog fails to point out and that is that it is important to consume dark chocolate in moderation and that it can become unhealthy if overconsumed. It doesn't seem like this is something that the blog post would want to mention as it is advertising for it's own product at the end. 

Article referenced: Dark Chocolate Health Benefits

Answer 2

I think your claim is accurate. After doing some research I came across a  MedicalNewsToday article that listed all the health benefits you listed like improving blood flow, containing antioxidants, and being able to help resist diseases like cancer and diabetes. The article led me to another article by the National Library of Medicine, which also talked about the same ideas. Specifically you mentioned cardiovascular disease as one thing dark chocolate has a positive effect on. The article by MedicalNewstoday cited a study done where dark chocolate was more effective with older people and those who have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The source they linked was another article by the National Library of Medicine, and after checking it out, it is accurate. At first I was weary because the link you provided with this claim has no other sources linked. A lot of reliable sources will link other pages in their text when citing them, which usually proves if it’s accurate or not, but after doing my research, I believe that this claim is true. Below I have added the sources I looked at. 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dark-chocolate 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6950163/ 

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5465250/ 

Answer 3

After some research I have found that dark chocolate does in fact have health benefits, some of which are due to the fact that dark chocolate contains antioxidants which help to lower your blood pressure and increase your heart rate. It also has the ability to reduce stress and improve brain function as it contains flavonols and is shown to reduce the stress hormone called cortisol.  

Overall i do think that dark chocolate can be considered good for you but in no way should it be eaten in replacement of nutrients your body needs.

Answer 4

Although dark chocolate isn't a fix-all, it's still very healthy and a good alternative to regular desserts. According to MedicalNewsToday, when consumed in moderation "dark chocolate is rich in minerals, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. it can have various health benefits, including reducing inflammation and decreasing the risk of heart disease. Chocolate comes from cacao, a plant with high levels of minerals and antioxidants." The key is choosing dark chocolate that has a high cocoa content (70% or more), as that tends to have the most health benefits and the least sugar. It’s still important to keep an eye on portion size since it’s calorie-dense.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dark-chocolate#Dark-chocolate-health-benefits

Answer 5

I would have to agree with the claim that chocolate holds multiple health benefits. The source provided is clear, organized and up to date. I think it is extremely important to add that dark chocolate is only healthy in moderation- not excessive amounts. Otherwise, it is slightly misleading. 

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

This article provides very similar evidence, dark chocolate can provide antioxidants and minerals and may even help prevent heart disease. Although there are many benefits, it still contains high amounts of sugar and calories...

Chocolate can also improve blood flow and lower blood pressure, may improve skin from the sun as well as improve brain function. 

Answer 6

The claim that dark chocolate has health benefits appears to be true. The article they used is from the Popcorn for the People website, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating jobs for adults with autism and developmental disabilities. Popcorn for the People sells popcorn products, one is a dark chocolate expresso flavor. So, this article could be biased since they're promoting one of their popcorn flavors, but the company is a nonprofit. Jason Katz, the Operations manager for Popcorn for the People, wrote the article. To trace the claim I went to an article from Healthline which is medically reviewed by a nutritionist and written by Kris Gunnars, who has a bachelor's degree in medicine. Both articles state that chocolate has the same nutritional value, such as iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and antioxidants. They both match that dark chocolate has heart health, and cognitive function bonuses. 

Sources:

BSc, Kris Gunnars. “7 Proven Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate.” Healthline, 13 July 2022,

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