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.

---

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

---

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

---

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.

---

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

Jason Katz "Popcorn for the People" (website with a background in food employment and employment opportunities) article, claims dark chocolate reduces a multitude of health issues due to its properties such as flavanols, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc reflecting the original posters claim as well. Katz references a Harvard  study and in addition I found an article posted by the UC Davis Health website underlining the same claim. To concede however, the article does acknowledge some bodies process food different and that too much of most things, even dark chocolate, can be too much due to the amount of metals in some chocolate bars Overall, this claim is true as supported by other articles and dietary consultants whilst emphasizing indulging rather than binging.

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

Answer 2

I agree with the claim that dark chocolate has various health benefits. There are many trustworthy and reliable medical based websites that support the claim, explaining the different health benefits that may come with consuming dark chocolate. From the Cleveland Clinic website, it says that dark chocolate is high in fiber, lowers blood pressure, and contains antioxidants. All these qualities are beneficial to one's health, and overall increase someone's well-being. According to WebMD, dark chocolate has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces the risk of diabetes. Lastly, from the National Library of Medicine, a government-ran site, consuming this food "delays the occurrence of Cardio Vascular Diseases as well as allows some protection from oxidative stress. Therefore, avoiding overconsumption, I agree that dark chocolate has health benefits. 

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

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

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9589144/#sec4

Answer 3

The claim that dark chocolate provides health benefit is true. Based on this information provided by dietician Devon Peart, 7 Dark Chocolate Benefits, and How Much You Should Eat that dark chocolate has a lower sugar content in comparison to milk chocolate. It also provides benefits to your heart, blood flow, and enhances mood to say the least. 

Answer 4

"While dark chocolate may have health benefits, medical professionals would still emphasize moderation, as it is not inherently considered 'healthy.' The original source of this claim may not be the most reputable, as its primary focus is not medical advice but career support for neurodivergent individuals. However, many other articles from different sources, some from medical websites such as The Cleveland Clinic all echo similar sentiments (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dark-chocolate-health-benefits). The earliest (recent) article that I could find, from early October of last year was also from a health website and reviewed by medical professionals, indicating, once again, there is truth to this claim. (https://www.health.com/dark-chocolate-health-benefits-8733315). Overall, I believe this claim, and based on the wording that it CAN have benefits, is completely true.

Answer 5

i would say eating dark chocolate does have benefits because it is proven too improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and lower the risk of heart disease because one of the funtions of NO (nitric oxide) is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers the resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood prssure. dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positvely affect your health, because seed from the cacao tree is one of the best sourves antioxidants you can find. even though the dark chocolate can be filled with nutrients doesnt mean you should over consume it because chocolate on the market is still not nutritious 

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9

Answer 6

The claim above is true! Dark chocolate does have health benefits. Of course, too much of one thing is bad for you so the benefits of dark chocolate are best in moderation. Medical News Today says “Chocolate comes from cacao, a plant with high levels of minerals and antioxidants”, though it’s a smart idea to keep in mind what other ingredients were used to make the chocolate. Things like milk, eggs, sugars, additional flavors, proteins, and butters are commonly used in the production of chocolates. Finding organic bars with a few simple ingredients is best. Simple dark chocolate has been found to help reduce inflammation, reduce insulin resistance, lower blood pressure, lower “bad cholesterol”, improve blood flow, and even improve the brain’s neuron connectability. In conclusion, when eaten in moderation there can be health benefits to the consumption of simple, organic dark chocolate!

Source: MediLexicon International. (n.d.). Dark chocolate: Health benefits, nutrition, and how much to eat. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dark-chocolate#:~:text=Dark%20chocolate%20is%20rich%20in,levels%20of%20minerals%20and%20antioxidants

Answer 7

Dark chocolate is pact with nutrients and has many healthier benefits rather than eating regular milk chocolate. Dark chocolate comes from cocoa beans that are naturally grown on trees usually in tropical regions including Latin America and West Africa. Cocoa is loaded with fiber and many healthy minerals such as, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. It also consist healthy fats that we can find in olive oil as well. These include oleic, stearic, and palmitic acid. Dark chocolate is also knows for carrying more antioxidants that other foods such as fruits. Lastly, cocoa can improve brain function in different ways. Short-term, it contains small amount of caffeine which stimulates the brain. Long-term, it improves blood flow to the brain with the flavonoid it contains. But it is also important to realize that only a healthy amount of the chocolate will benefit you. It's unhealthy to consume irregular and excessive amounts of the chocolate. There are also some chocolates in the market that have added sugar so be careful when purchasing.

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate#TOC_TITLE_HDR_8

Answer 8

while is claim is some what true and dark chocolate does contain antioxidants that may support cardiovascular health and cognitive function, the claim that it prevents cancer or significantly protects against free radicals should be approached with caution. Scientific evidence supports some benefits, such as improved blood flow and potential cognitive enhancement, but these effects depend on the quality and quantity of chocolate consumed. Moderation is key, as excessive intake can lead to negative health effects due to added sugars and fats in certain chocolate products. i feel like just make sure you fully are clear with your claim.

Answer 9

Dark chocolate is healthy for you! Through some light research you can find through some health websites such as, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/dark-chocolate-health-benefits that dark chocolate can aide in mood enhancing and protecting skin form damage.

Answer 10

Chocolate as a whole is known to be very healthy for most people having many anti-oxidants tho help lower the risk of heart diseases. Which obviously means it has a high flavanol content along with fibers, vitamins, and minerals all good for your health as well as having less sugar. However in some studies it was found to have a higher count of cadmium and lead which mess with metabolic functions and our organs. Overall I agree however it is most likely best to watch how much you eat but on a limited amount it can be good for you.

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