Cocoa mix was originally used strictly to make hot cocoa, but today it is more commonly used in cooking and baking because it can add a rich, chocolatey taste. Hershey's is the most well-known maker of cocoa mix. In 2005, Hershey's introduced dark chocolate cocoa called Hershey's Special Dark. Whether you use it in cakes and cookies or for a cup of hot cocoa, you should understand the nutritional impact it has on your diet.
Serving Size
The stated serving size for Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa is 1 tbsp., which is equal to 1 g, according to the nutrition label. When considering the nutritional value of cocoa, remember you must also consider how you make hot cocoa or the recipe you are using it in. Cocoa mix is often just a small part of the overall nutrition of a food.
Calories
A serving of dark cocoa mix contains 10 calories, half of which are from fat. The calories in a food are representative of how much energy it contains -- more calories means more energy, the Food and Drug Administration reports. If you eat a 2,000-calorie diet, a serving of Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa mix represents less than 1 percent of your total caloric intake.
Fat
A serving of dark cocoa mix 0.5 g of total fat, which equals 1 percent of the recommended daily intake for fat if you eat a 2,000-calorie diet. In general, you should limit total fat intake to 65 g or less if you eat 2,000 calories a day, according to the USDA's Food Guide Pyramid. Of your total fat intake, no more than one third should come from saturated fat.
Sodium
Although cocoa is sweet, it does also contain some sodium. Each 1-tbsp. serving of dark chocolate cocoa mix has 65 mg of sodium -- equivalent to 3 percent of the maximum recommended daily intake. Sodium intake should not exceed 2,400 mg a day regardless of your caloric intake, the USDA reports. Consuming too much sodium puts you at risk for high blood pressure.
Carbohydrates
A serving of dark cocoa mix contains 3 g of total carbohydrates, which is equal to 1 percent of the daily intake recommendation. Two thirds of the carbs in the cocoa is in the form of dietary fiber, meaning it amounts to 8 percent of the recommended intake value.
Protein
Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa mix contains just 1 g of protein per serving. The majority of foods you eat contain at least a small amount of protein, and the foods you eat with the cocoa can help boost your intake. For example, 1 cup of skim milk contains 8 g of protein. The USDA Dietary Guidelines do not include a set intake recommendation for protein because deficiencies are rare in the typical American diet, the FDA reports.
Vitamins and Minerals
Dark cocoa mix contains only one of the many vitamins and minerals your body needs for good health. Each 1-tbsp. serving contains 10 percent of the recommended daily intake for iron.
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