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

Dark chocolate has potential benefits, but claims are often exaggerated. Enjoy in moderation as part of a balanced diet.

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This claim is true! The article starts out by citing Harvard which says that dark chocolate contains high amounts of flavanols, which helps your heart in protecting it from cardiovascular diseases. The article makes more claims about dark chocolate like that is prevents cancer, improves cognitive function, and protects against free radicals. Harvard was the only thing they used to back up their claims, so I found another article about this topic. I found an article by Cleveland Clinic that gave even more information about the benefits of consuming dark chocolate. Three doctors have said that Cleveland clinic is a reliable source, therefore I would say this claim is true; dark chocolate does have health benefits.
Source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dark-chocolate-health-benefits

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The claim “Dark chocolate is found to have health benefits” is proven correct through the research and support from numerous validated sources. Research covered states dark chocolate is high in antioxidants, improves heart health and can even support brain function. The internal article refers to the chocolate as “superfood” (Katz, 2019), while an external article from Healthline supports this claim by providing seven proven benefits based on the consumption of this food (Gunnars, 2021). That said, it is essential to be able to understand the credibility of sources, specifically in this case, where the information is coming from. When analyzing more sources, credibility can be found in the sources with actual statistics or proven data coming from the benefits of dark chocolate. Such as scientific data, referring to how dark chocolate contributes to cardiovascular health. Through analyzing some articles with scientific data as well as the internal article, I was able to fact check the information I was receiving. This allowed for an accurate depiction of the information being shared in the original article.
Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6
https://www.popcornforthepeople.com/blogs/blog/dark-chocolate-health-benefits?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyfe4BhAWEiwAkIL8sARX5ELuJqPL1WAgB2Nqjli3baBFzYsFJGvYyjy1FH0KdRAbP9jkTBoCYZoQAvD_BwE

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Upon reading this article, I was skeptical on exactly how dark chocolate could have health benefits because I have always personally tied anything chocolate to being unhealthy. After reading the article and doing some outside research, I do see that it is actually beneficial and can be preventative to certain illnesses. This article also uses hsph.harvard.edu as a source which is very reliable. Overall this article is very spot on and accurate.

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This claim is accurate! The article begins by referencing Harvard, which states that dark chocolate is rich in flavanols that help protect the heart from cardiovascular diseases. It goes on to make additional claims about dark chocolate, such as its ability to prevent cancer, improve cognitive function, and protect against free radicals. Harvard is the sole source backing these claims, so I found another article on the topic. I came across a piece from the Cleveland Clinic that provides even more details about the health benefits of dark chocolate. Three doctors have confirmed that Cleveland Clinic is a reliable source, so I would affirm that the claim is true, dark chocolate does offer health benefits.

Answer 1

The claim that dark chocolate has numerous health benefits proves to be true. The claim used a Harvard study as their evidence, which showed the numerous different ways in which dark chocolate can be beneficial for health. It talks about the flavanols in specific, and the ways in which they do offer health benefits. It is important to note that the source sited as evidence is a popcorn blog that sells a popcorn with dark chocolate, so that could be some added incentive for them to advertise dark chocolate as healthy.

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

This blog provided is a blog written by a UC Davis professor, and backed up by research done in a center at UC Davis. This article accords with the benefits stated in the claim, but also highlights the negatives that the claim fails to mention. The claim directly states that dark chocolate itself is healthy, but really specific to what degree. It talks about how lots of dark chocolates are filled with added sugars, which can cause numerous health. It also talks about the heavy metals that can be found in dark chocolate, such as lead and cadmium, which can be harmful. To conclude, dark chocolate does offer some health benefits, but calling it healthy can be misleading without giving more context.

Answer 2

The claim that dark chocolate has health benefits is true. The article takes the point of view that while chocolate is known for being a dessert, it actually has healthy properties. Its main points of evidence are cited from a Harvard study, which is very trustworthy. When looking for other support from this claim, I found an article from hopkinsmedicine.org which shares the same findings. The number one benefit of dark chocolate's properties seems to be increased heart health, as well as an improved immune system.

https://www.popcornforthepeople.com/blogs/blog/dark-chocolate-health-benefits?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwyfe4BhAWEiwAkIL8sARX5ELuJqPL1WAgB2Nqjli3baBFzYsFJGvYyjy1FH0KdRAbP9jkTBoCYZoQAvD_BwE

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

Answer 3

The claim is true, dark chocolate is known to have several health benefits when eaten in moderation. It has many antioxidants, particularly flavanols, which have been linked to better heart health. Research shows that dark chocolate contains more polyphenols and flavanols than many fruits. Eating dark chocolate may help reduce blood pressure, lower the risk of heart disease (when consumed around three times a week), protect skin from the sun, and improve memory and focus. However, choosing dark chocolate with a higher cocoa content and minimal added sugar is important for the best health benefits. Despite these benefits, it's essential to be aware that some dark chocolates contain harmful heavy metals like lead and cadmium, so moderation is key.

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

Answer 4

Because of its antioxidant and flavonoid content, dark chocolate does have certain health benefits, especially for heart and brain health. Some promises, meanwhile, such the prevention of cancer and improved clotting capacity, are either unsubstantiated or inaccurate. Because chocolate contains calories and added sugar, eating too much of it might have detrimental health impacts.

Answer 5

Upon further research, I would have to agree with the statement that eating dark chocolate is good for you. That being said, it should still be eaten in moderation. According to John Hopkins Medicine, dark chocolate can increase heart health, balance the immune system, improve brain function, and reduce stress. But, it can also cause weight gain if you eat too much of it. So, eating dark chocolate in moderation can be very good for you.

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

Answer 6

I think dark chocolate has some health benefits because it has antioxidant and flavonoid content. Which could help lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and help cognitive function. Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that flavanols improve blood vessel function which could reduce cardiovascular disease risk, while a study in Frontiers in Nutrition found that cocoa flavanols could help short-term memory and attention. But since dark chocolate has antioxidants that help protect cells from damage, there isn’t significant evidence that it directly stops cancer or significantly slows aging. Too much consumption of dark chocolate could lead to weight gain and other health risks because of its sugar and fat content. Overall, the claim that dark chocolate significantly helps your cells from damage, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline could be true, but it shouldn’t be consumed a lot in one sitting.

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

Answer 7

I think dark chocolate has some health benefits because it has antioxidant and flavonoid content. Which could help lower blood pressure, improve heart health, and help cognitive function. Research published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says that flavanols improve blood vessel function which could reduce cardiovascular disease risk, while a study in Frontiers in Nutrition found that cocoa flavanols could help short-term memory and attention. But since dark chocolate has antioxidants that help protect cells from damage, there isn’t significant evidence that it directly stops cancer or significantly slows aging. Too much consumption of dark chocolate could lead to weight gain and other health risks because of its sugar and fat content. Overall, the claim that dark chocolate significantly helps your cells from damage, cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline could be true, but it shouldn’t be consumed a lot in one sitting.

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

Answer 8

The claim appears to be true that dark chocolate does offer health benefits, but it should still be consumed in moderation. According to an article by Healthline, dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, including polyphenols, flavanols, and catechins. One study even found that dark chocolate contains more polyphenols and flavanols than any of the other fruits tested. Additionally, dark chocolate may help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease when eaten three times per week, protect the skin from sun damage, and enhance attention and memory.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_7

Answer 9

The statement made though overall true could use some clarification. Though the article talk about dark chocolate being healthy, i think it is a little misleading. Not all chocolate is created equal and only the ones that are pure cocoa maintain the health benefits described. Though largely true, providing supplemental information about the standards the chocolate has to meet to contain the benefits would be helpful.

Answer 10

From what I have seen from several different sources dark chocolate does produce some health benefits. Number one, it is healthier than other chocolates like milk and white chocolate because it has less sugar. Also, dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cocoa solids which are rich in a beneficial antioxidants called flavonoids. According to the Cleveland Clinic flavonoids help with nitric oxide production which improves blood flow in the body. It also is high in fiber and can help enhance mood. Even with all of these benefits dark chocolate should still be consumed on moderation as it does have caffeine which while not unhealthy or bad should be consumed in moderation on its own. Also, many dark chocolate, while far less than milk chocolate, contains some sugar.

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

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

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