Leo Stefanos created the Dove brand in the 1950s. After the M&M/Mars company acquired Dove in 1986, the product line was expanded to include milk and dark chocolate bars. Although Dove dark chocolate products may produce health benefits, they are also high in calories and shouldn't be consumed too often. If you have specific questions about the nutritional value of Dove's dark chocolate products, talk to your doctor.
Types
Dove offers several types of dark chocolate products. They include a 63 percent Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate bar, a 71 percent Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate bar, Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate, Promises Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate and Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate Singles. Dove also sells a sugar-free version of the dark chocolate. Each one of these products may have slightly different nutrition facts, so it is important that you check the nutrition label for the most accurate information.
Serving Size
The serving sizes of Dove's dark chocolate products varies greatly. Some products, such as the 63 percent Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate bar, contain one serving per package. Other products, such as the sugar-free dark chocolate products, contain multiple servings per package. It is important to check the nutrition label on the package of the product you are interested in to determine the correct serving size. Remember that if you eat more than the stated serving size, you need to multiply the nutrition fact amounts by the number of servings you consume.
Ingredients
The ingredients in Dove's dark chocolate products include chocolate, sugar, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin and natural flavors, according to the official Dove website. The ingredients in Dove's sugar-free dark chocolate products include sugar-free dark chocolate coating, which contains maltitol, chocolate processed with alkali, chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, PGPR and artificial flavors. They also contain coconut oil and natural flavors.
Nutrition Facts
The specific nutrition facts for Dove's dark chocolate products vary. The 63 percent Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate bar and the 71 percent Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate bar contain 2g of protein and 6 percent of the daily value of iron. The 63 percent Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate bar contains 180 calories,13 g of total fat, 17 g of total carbohydrate. The 71 percent version, however, contains 200 calories, 16 g of total fat and 14 g of total carbohydrate. The Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate Singles contain 190 calories, 12 g of total fat, 22 mg of total carbohydrate, 2 g of protein and 6 percent of the daily value of iron. The Promises Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate contains 210 calories, 14 g of total fat, 5 mg of cholesterol, 10 mg of sodium, 21 g of total carbohydrates, 3 g of protein and 4 percent of the daily value of iron and calcium.
Benefits of Dark Chocolate
Chocolate contains flavonols, which offer certain health benefits, such as having a positive influence on vascular health and lowering cholesterol, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Although dark chocolate may have higher levels of flavonols than other types of chocolate, the amoung depends greatly on how the chocolate is processed. Some manufacturers, such as Dove, take care to keep the flavonols in the dark chocolate, while others do not.
Considerations
Although dark chocolate may provide health benefits, eating too much of it can have negative effects. Dark chocolate is a calorically dense food, and consuming too many calories can increase your risk for obesity and other health problems. Like anything else, moderation is key.
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