What is Dark Chocolate?

Dark chocolate is chocolate without milk solids added to it. Milk chocolate has a sweeter taste, while the dark version has a slightly bitter aftertaste. It is often referred to as semisweet chocolate or bittersweet chocolate and is commonly used for baking.

Semisweet chocolate is associated with chocolate chip cookies and other cooked confections, but it has also become popular as a snack. Bittersweet chocolate varies by brand as some use more sugar than others. According to the FDA, the bittersweet variety must contain at least 35% cacao or cocoa solids. Semisweet also averages about 35% cacao solids, but is usually much sweeter than bittersweet.

Health Benefits

Surprisingly to some are the health benefits of dark chocolate. To better understand the health benefits, it helps to know a little about the Cacao Bean itself. Cacao Beans come from the Cacao tree, which grows in the tropical area known as the “Cocoa Belt.” There are four well known types of cacao beans: Criollo, Forastero, Trinitario and Nacional. The flavor of the beans depends on the variety, the temperature, the soil, and the amounts of sun and rain.

Cacao beans are very high in antioxidants, which has given many people a healthy reason to eat chocolate. These beans are fermented, dried, roasted, and grounded, and then made into cocoa butter. Cacao beans contain a very small amount of simple sugars, but contain a high amount of carbohydrates. The carbohydrates are comprised of starches, soluble dietary fibers and insoluble dietary fibers.

When the beans are manufactured, sugar is added to give chocolate the familiar sweet taste so many love. Antioxidants, vitamins, and essential minerals are healthy, but because of the high fat and sugar content, dark chocolate must be consumed in moderation.

So why is dark chocolate better for you than milk chocolate? If chocolate has antioxidants, what does it matter if you eat dark or milk?

Milk may help bones grow stronger, and provide the body with calcium and other vitamins and minerals, but milk and antioxidants don’t mix well together. In chocolate, the milk content can actually interfere with the way our bodies absorb antioxidants.

Antioxidants are nutrients in our foods that prevent or slow down the oxidative damage done to our body. Oxidation is a process in which our body cells use oxygen and produce free radicals. These free radical cause the damage. Antioxidants prevent and repair the damage done by these free radicals. The damage these free radicals do to the body include hardening of the arteries, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, and other health issues. Free radicals affect the immune system, but antioxidants enhance the immune system. For these reasons, chocolate lovers have a good reason to spoil themselves moderately.

Eating dark chocolate does not excuse us from the need to visit the local grocery store’s produce section, where we can find a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables; all full of antioxidants. It is not a meal in itself, nor does it provide a healthy diet when eaten often. As explained above, it is full of fats, carbohydrates, and sugar. Some believe a small amount every day is acceptable and good for you. A couple squares may improve your brain function, help you to remember details, brighten your mood, reduce your blood pressure, release endorphins, and help your heart.