There are some products that call themselves chocolate but only have the most distant relationship to the cocoa bean. They’re packed full of other unhealthy additives affecting everything from flavor to shelf life. Then there’s dark chocolate. This is the one that might make its way onto the list of recommended foods, in the right quality and amount, but you still need to think carefully about how to incorporate it into a balanced diet (https://longevity.technology/lifestyle/how-much-dark-chocolate-is-too-much-for-your-health/).
Chocolate tends to be divided into dark, milk and white, with dark usually having the highest cocoa content. This means it’s also particularly high in antioxidants, flavonoids and various important minerals. These have good implications for your heart health, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and brain function. It’s possible it can reduce inflammation and the likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Dark chocolate is also generally lower in sugar than the milk or white varieties. Of course, this isn’t the same as having no sugar. Too much dark chocolate can still cause you to put on weight and cause problems with your teeth, among other issues. There’s also some evidence that the soil where cocoa beans grow is at particularly high risk of containing toxic metals such as cadmium and lead. These can be present in particularly high levels in dark chocolate compared to milk and white.
Not all your concerns when it comes to chocolate are going to be nutritional. Some people just don’t like the bitter taste of dark chocolate. Plus, there are ethical considerations. Although there has been an effort to clean up supply chains, cocoa farming still experiences exploitation, child labor and slave labor. You may want to look for labels like Fair Trade to reassure you that the growers are being paid and well-treated.
How dark chocolate is defined can vary between countries, with the minimum cocoa content sometimes set by regulation. That’s before you get to the Fair Trade, organic, single origin and other labels. You really need to do your research to find out exactly what you’re getting when you purchase any chocolate bar.
Overall, the general advice with dark chocolate is the same as with most foods. Consume it in moderation, and ensure it’s balanced with a range of grains, fruits and vegetables to ensure you receive all the nutrients you need. Humanity can’t live on chocolate alone, but it still has value.
