Dark Chocolate has health benefits

Question

The idea that dark chocolate offers health benefits has been a topic of discussion for a while. The reason for this debate stems from the idea that dark chocolate has flavonoids, particularly epicatechin, which are known antioxidants that increase blood flow and reduce blood pressure. These benefits do depend on the cocoa content however, dark chocolate with 70% cocoa is said to maximize flavonoids. The main issue with the statement that dark chocolate may be good for your health is that major dark chocolate brands, which are known commercial products, contain a lot of sugars and fats that essentially offset the health benefits. So even though dark chocolate has health benefits if not eaten in moderation and if you eat bad dark chocolate, there are no benefits.

Answer 1

Dark chocolate does have health benefits when eaten in moderation. According to the health line, "The flavonoids in dark chocolate can stimulate the endothelium, the lining of arteries, to produce nitric oxide. One of the functions of NO is to send signals to the arteries to relax, which lowers the resistance to blood flow and therefore reduces blood pressure." Many people after consuming dark chocolate have experienced an improvement in blood flow and lower pressure ( the effects have been described as mild). Not only does dark chocolate have benefits in blood flow and pressure but it has antioxidants as well. Antioxidants prevent natural aging, enhance nutrition absorption, and reduce oxidant stress. An article from Medical News Today said "Dark chocolate contains several compounds that possess antioxidant properties, such as flavanols and polyphenols. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent oxidative stress. Oxidative stress refers to the damage that excessive amounts of free radicals can inflict on cells and tissues in the body. Oxidative stress contributes to the natural aging process. Over time, the effects of oxidative stress may also contribute to the development of various diseases". After checking the facts on dark chocolate we can conclude that it indeed does have health benefits.

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

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

Answer 2

Dark chocolate has been found to have several positive health benefits but not just any dark chocolate. Unfortunetely due to the processing done to the chocolate it often is made unhealthy. Healthline.com makes the claim that " Eating dark chocolate with high coco content in moderation can deliver antioxidants and minerals that may protect you from heart disease." cacao seeds have some of the highest levels of antioxidants of any food on the planet. A downside to dark chocolate is the heavy metal content. A video made by Brian Johnson titled How Toxic is Your Favorite Chocolate tested the heavy metal content of the top 10 leading dark chocolate brands and found that just about all of them tested high in heavy metals. These high levels of heavy metals can lead to cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease and reproductive harm. This of course does not mean all dark chocolate is bad. However it Does mean you have to be selective about what brands you choose.

Answer 3

Dark chocolate is widely said to have health benefits, including improving heart health, brain function, and mood. The claim is that eating dark chocolate is good for your health — particularly for your heart, brain, and mood, because it contains antioxidants and other helpful compounds. This idea shows up all over the place from wellness blogs, news articles, and even some medical advice. For example, a 2022 Healthline article states: “Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health.” There is scientific support, but it’s often exaggerated or misunderstood. A 2017 study in BMJ reviewed research on chocolate and heart disease. It found that moderate chocolate intake was linked to lower risk of heart problems  but it didn’t prove that chocolate causes those benefits.
Source: https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5174 

Also a 2020 study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that cocoa flavanols (a plant compound in dark chocolate) improved blood vessel function and reduced blood pressure  but the study used high-dose supplements, not regular chocolate bars.
Source: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/112/2/309/5877933

According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, the benefits mostly come from flavanols, which are lost during most commercial chocolate processing.
Source: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/dark-chocolate/

Most dark chocolate at the store doesn’t have the same level of flavanols used in research. It also includes sugar and fat, which cancel out the benefits if you eat too much. People hear “chocolate is healthy” and forget the fine print.

Yes, some health benefits have been found, mainly from flavanols, but you’d need to eat high-flavanol chocolate (not just any dark chocolate), and only in small amounts. The average chocolate bar has far less of the good stuff than the headlines suggest.

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Sources:

• BMJ, 2017: https://www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5174

• American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2020: https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/112/2/309/5877933

• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/dark-chocolate/

 

Answer 4

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/270272

This claim that dark chocolate had benefits is absolutely true and proven by many reputable sources and studies. The title is not misleading, because it specifically says “dark chocolate has health benefits”, claiming they are not discussing any health benefits associated with milk chocolate. In this supplementary medical article I found, it both discusses the harms and benefits to consuming chocolate. Many people believe chocolates are bad for you because they contain a lot of sugar and are high in fat, however there are also many proven health benefits to eating chocolate, especially dark chocolate. The author says, chocolate with high amounts of cocoa in them, such as dark chocolate, is good for “lowering cholesterol levels, preventing cognitive decline, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular problems” (Butler 2018). In the article I am fact checking,