Organic Dark Chocolate & Its Nutrition

Certified organic chocolate comes from cacao beans that have been farmed without the use of pesticides, fertilizers and other harmful toxins. Dark chocolate is produced by adding sugars and fat to cacao beans, but contains little or no milk, as with milk chocolate. Organic dark chocolate has similar nutrient content and non-organic chocolate, but often comes with the assurance that the beans have been farmed with environmentally- and health-conscious methods, and have been produced under reputable working conditions.

Calories

A serving size for a leading brand of organic dark chocolate is 1/2 a bar, weighing 40 g. Each serving of organic dark chocolate contains 200 calories, 140 of which are from fat. A serving of a leading brand of organic dark chocolate represents 10 percent of the total daily calories, based on a typical 2,000-calorie diet.

Fats

A typical organic dark chocolate is fairly high in fat, with about 17 g of this nutrient per serving. Organic dark chocolate also contains an exorbitant amount of saturated fat, with 11 g per serving. Most adults need about 65 g of fat each day, although less than 15 g of this fat should be saturated. Organic dark chocolate is free of trans fat and cholesterol.

Carbohydrates, Sugar and Fiber

Organic dark chocolate contains about 17 g of carbohydrate per serving with about 10 g of sugar and 5 g of dietary fiber. Men and women should generally aim to limit their sugar intakes to 37.5 and 25 g, respectively, and strive to consume 30 and 20 g of fiber each day.

Protein

Cacao beans are a natural source of protein and organic dark chocolate contains about 4 g of this nutrient per serving. Protein should comprise anywhere from 10 to 35 percent of your total calories. If you consume a typical 2,000-calorie diet, you would need about 50 to 175 g of protein a day, and a serving of organic dark chocolate would represent about 2 to 8 percent of your daily protein needs.

Micronutrients and Antioxidants

Organic dark chocolate contains 10 percent of the daily value for iron and 2 percent that of calcium per serving. Iron is a mineral that helps produce red blood cells and maintains blood health, while calcium helps strengthen bones and teeth. Organic dark chocolate also contains an abundance of flavanol antioxidants, which help fight cell- and DNA-damaging free-radicals.