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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.
ago by (140 points)
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Great comment. You used a great source to support your claim, and I like how you traced the claim back to your original source.
ago by Newbie (420 points)
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The article provided great information of the benefits for dark chocolate however I feel like more information could have been provided such as adding another article going more in depth about the benefits for what it provides and how it helps are body in detail, looking at the science behind it. Another thing is to compare other chocolates or even other sweet treats people might claim is beneficial to us. This would help give us an idea what we should look when taking care of our health.
ago by Newbie (360 points)
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The source provided had great information and helped support your claim. Additionally, you cited specific parts of dark chocolate that have health benefits. Good Work!
ago by Novice (510 points)
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your claim is true! through some research, I found dark chocolate can help improve heart health, brain function, and the immune system, according to John Hobbkins. I would appreciate it if you used a more credible source, but outside of that, great fact check.
ago by Newbie (330 points)
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The article offered great insight into the benefits of dark chocolate, but I think it could have gone even further. It would have been helpful to include another source that dives deeper into the specific ways dark chocolate supports the body, breaking down the science behind its benefits. Additionally, a comparison to other types of chocolate or even other sweet treats that are often considered “healthy” could have provided a clearer perspective. This kind of analysis would make it easier to understand what to look for when making choices that support overall health.

124 Answers

36 like 0 dislike
by Apprentice (1.1k 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 (300 points)
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Thanks for the clarification, i think the interval of which you consume is very important to the claim. The article you provided also states that only chocolate with a cocoa value of at least 70% should be eaten 3 times weekly to acquire the benefits.
ago by Novice (640 points)
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Why do we need those types of antioxidants in our body? Why does it benefit us? I love that you tied in that research, although I would love to learn further about why we need those types of antioxidants for our overall health. Also, looking at the source, I would have to find evidence to see if HealthLine.com is credible to be saying all of this information. Great job!
ago by Newbie (420 points)
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this gives good clarity and factchecking and state that even if it is somehwat better for you still consider how much you eat.
ago by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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Thank you for such a concise and straight-forward fact check, as well as identifying all of the positive elements of the claim! Thank you for also pointing out the limit to which this claim is true, as reminding those that good things come in moderation is extremely important.
ago by Newbie (420 points)
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I appreciate your response and agree!
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by Novice (590 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 (400 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.
by Novice (510 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 (460 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 (340 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 (690 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 (780 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 Novice (630 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 (860 points)
1 0
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 (380 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 (990 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.
by Newbie (220 points)
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Your use of reputable and reliable sources provides strong context for your fact-check, which is noteworthy. Additionally, I think your evaluation of the various benefits of dark chocolate combined with the unhealthier aspects is a great way to compare and contrast the audience and the author's claim. One area of improvement I see would be just to verify the original source, as I couldn’t find much about him or his writing reputation online. his other writings and the website of the article appeared to be a popcorn company. That said, great job fact-checking, and thank you for the clarification.
by Apprentice (1.1k points)
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I appreciate how you use reliable sources to provide context for the fact-check. You effectively highlight the benefits of dark chocolate while acknowledging the importance of consuming it in moderation for it to be a healthy choice.
by Newbie (420 points)
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This is a great post not only because of its contents, but also because of its reputable sources. Having multiple sources to back up your claim is always good because it shows that research has been done on the topic. In this case, you mention that it can be a healthy snack to eat in moderation. This is true since dark chocolate can be high in sugar, fats, and calories. This post could be very helpful for someone who is trying to learn more about the health benefits of dark chocolate.
by Newbie (310 points)
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This is a great factcheck, I think that you did a very good job explaining the benefits as well as the negative aspects of consuming dark chocolate. You also did a really good job using multiple sources to back your claim. These sources are very reliable as well.
by Newbie (310 points)
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I believe that the sources you have used are very credible and overall, this fact check makes me believe that dark chocolate has health benefits, but it isn't necessarily a healthy snack. Your usage of several reliable sources that all support the claim made this much easier to believe because each source has similar information that supports your reasoning. This is a very reliable fact check.
by Newbie (290 points)
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I like how you listed credible sources like WebMD, Verywell Health, and Cleveland Clinic. I like how you explained the health benefits but also how this shouldnt be considered a healthy snack
by Newbie (390 points)
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I agree with your claim that dark chocolate does have health benefits but it isn't the best for you and I like how you listed sources that helped you state that claim. Good work!
by (180 points)
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You provided a lot of pieces of evidence that made your argument very strong. And you used a credible source to get all that information. This response definitely helped me understand this topic much better.
by Newbie (390 points)
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I think your response was made very well, but there is not a lot of strong evidence directly linking it to significant vision improvements. It would be helpful to reference specific studies or research if available to back up that claim.
ago by (180 points)
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I think your response to the claim is very good. Your evidence shows that dark chocolate will not be the solution to a healthier diet, but rather a heathier choice compared to other foods like milk chocolate.
ago by Newbie (420 points)
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this is good fact check because you listed credible sources like WebMD and Verywell Health. and I like how you explained the health benefits but also how this shouldnt be considered a healthy snack
7 like 2 dislike
by Newbie (350 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 Newbie (290 points)
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I like how you stated that the website they used could be biased since they sell popcorn with dark chocolate in it. I think this fact check wouldve been more credible if you cited your sources.
by Newbie (300 points)
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This is a great claim, and I like how you said the website could be biased, but I recommend adding a source to back up your claim next time!
by Newbie (270 points)
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I think it is important to add a source to make your fact check more reliable and credible! Providing more context and evidence behind what you already described would help you create a stronger argument as it is lacking some context.
ago by Newbie (260 points)
0 0
Your claim is good and provides some necessary information to support. Although I would recommend putting in your source so the information that you are giving is traceable. Also, it would be great if there was a bit more detail and explanation on the benefits of dark chocolate. The source of the benefits is not very clear.
ago by Newbie (200 points)
0 0
I really like how you addressed the claim and its validity, but also noted that there might be bias coming from the claim's original source. The only thing I would recommend is attaching the sources you used and fact-checking with other medical websites to further investigate the main claim.
7 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (460 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 (670 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.
by Newbie (380 points)
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I think this is the start to a great fact check. It would be beneficial, like mentioned by adeach, for their to be a link to the source that you're referencing. Otherwise, your information is well organized and straight to the point. I agree with you that from the information I have gathered that it has health benefits but its only healthy in moderation.
by Novice (710 points)
0 0
While it is good to research and gather information from reliable resources, it is also important to share those sources. It is a good start to cite UC Davis Health as a way to show reliability in the fact check, but it would be helpful to link to the actual article or articles that provide the information you are using. Other than linking your specific sources, I think your factcheck is written well and gives an understanding of the correlation between dark chocolate and health benefits.
ago by Newbie (200 points)
0 0
I thought your response was very well-written and clear, providing examples of some of the benefits of dark chocolate. I also like how you noted it should still be eaten in moderation because it's important to show both sides. My only recommendation would be citing another source, because in your answer you said "reliable sources" but only mentioned the article by UC Davis Health.
ago by Novice (670 points)
0 0
Although you answered the claim, using evidence, your evidence is not on your response. Having a direct link to the article or study can create a more credible response to this claim.
6 like 0 dislike
by Novice (930 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 (670 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.
by Apprentice (1.0k points)
0 0
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.
by Newbie (310 points)
0 0
I agree that this claim is exaggerated and makes it seem like dark chocolate is a healthy food. I love that you pointed out that the source links a sponsored article for dark chocolate which lowers the credibility of the source significantly. I appreciate that you added another article that still backs up the claim but gives us additional information.
by Novice (710 points)
0 0
I think your factcheck does a really good job of explaining how there is truth in the original claim, but it is exaggerated. You did a good job of explaining the original claim and how the original article has a bias leading to the exaggeration. You also did a good job, by linking your source, but think you could increase your reliability by finding more than one source to prove your factcheck. It might also be helpful to name the company trying to sell dark chocolate and sponsoring the article.
7 like 0 dislike
by Novice (630 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.
by Apprentice (1.0k 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.
by Newbie (300 points)
0 0
The sources you provided are very informational, and I like how there is more than just one source! I also like how you gave direct quotes to back up your claim.
ago by Newbie (450 points)
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I applaud your use of sources, however I think it would add more depth in your response if you acknowledged how the UC Davis source makes a concession about how eating dark chocolate daily is not necessarily recommended but instead indulgences every so often is. The article states that, "Heavy metals, such as cadmium and lead, were found in some dark chocolates... [and] can interrupt metabolic functions and the way our organs perform" regarding a Dec. 2022 Consumer Report which I attached below.

https://www.consumerreports.org/health/food-safety/lead-and-cadmium-in-dark-chocolate-a8480295550/
ago by (180 points)
0 0
your sources are amazing for supporting this claim. dark chocolate is indeed heathy.
ago by Newbie (280 points)
0 0
This is a great fact check, and the source is incredibly refutable. I also think your direct quotes really drive your point.
2 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (260 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 (1.5k 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.
by Newbie (360 points)
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This fact check was concise and written well! However, a suggestion I have is that you could provide a counter-source to your claim. This could help disprove counter-arguments that may be made. Though, this is still a great fact check!
by Novice (770 points)
1 0
I really love the concise structure of your answer. You outline what the sources say and how they interact with each other which is very helpful. I also really appreciate the diverse sources that you used. However, I think including more nuance in your answer would strengthen it immensely, such as describing the misconceptions about the health benefits or even the health risks that it could have as well. Overall great job!
ago by Apprentice (1.5k points)
0 0
I like this fact-check, but I think it could be improved, by showing how you came to the conclusion that your sources support that the claim is true.
1 like 1 dislike
by Newbie (400 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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by Apprentice (1.4k points)
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I appreciate that you cited an academic source in your fact check, it's more trustworthy that the information you're giving is correct. In addition, pointing out why the linked article in the original claim might have a bias is crucial when fact-checking.
ago by Newbie (450 points)
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I agree with your factcheck and your analysis of the UC Davis source but I would expound upon why the "snack should be consumed in moderation" because you state it is dependent on what an individual deems "healthy" however that is not what the article claims. The article cites chocolate brands having too much metals and the metal level daily may lead to health issues elsewhere in correlation to high metal in the body.
3 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (460 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

2 like 0 dislike
by Newbie (340 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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