Who said chocolates are bad for diabetics?
If there’s one thing that you’d probably think would never ever mix well with diabetes, it’s undoubtedly chocolate. This ancient Aztec invention is the first thing that comes to people’s minds whenever the subject of sweets comes up. It’s not hard to see why. Each year, the world consumes close to 7.2 million metric tons of chocolate, the Europeans taking the lion share (around 50%) of all the total sales of this sweet confectionary. On the other hand, the United States accounts for 20% of the world’s total consumption of this earthly delight.
Suffice to say, the term sweet is almost synonymous with chocolate. Which is sad if you’re diabetic and happen to love chocolates. Well, for milk chocolate, that is. If you’re partial to dark chocolate, then you’re in luck. We’ve found five chocolate variants that you can enjoy even if you’re diabetic.
- Lindt EXCELLENCE Cocoa 90%
One of the favorites of not just the diabetic crowd but the health buffs as well because of the high antioxidant count of dark chocolate, Lindt Excellence Cocoa 90% has Bourbon vanilla beans that temper the bitterness of the high percentage cacao. The same high cocoa content is also responsible for the clarity of some of the subtler flavors of this chocolate: red fruit, nutty notes, and hints of cinnamon. It doesn’t disappoint on the health side, either. This chocolate bar only has 3g of sugar for every 40g serving.
- Hotel Chocolat Ghana 85% Dark Chocolate
Hotel Chocolat is probably most famous for its irregularly shaped chocolate bars, ditching the regular rectangle for uneven slabs of dark chocolate goodness. This dark chocolate bar is made from Ghanaian cocoa beans, one of the most high-quality ones available. Hotel Chocolat’s 85% Dark Chocolate is no exception to this since it packs a sophisticated flavor profile with notes of vanilla that goes well with the high cocoa content.
- Montezuma’s 100% Cocoa Chocolate Bar
With just the barest hind of sweetness, Montezuma’s 100% Cocoa Chocolate Bar is dairy-free, soya-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly. This dark chocolate bar will also appeal to diabetics and the health buff crowd by just having half a gram of sugar per 100 grams coupled with the high protein content (12g per 100g serving). If you’re unused to dark chocolate, then you’ll find Montezuma’s 100% Cocoa Chocolate Bar to be incredibly bitter at best to inedible at worst.
- Askinosie 77% Davao, Philippines Dark Chocolate Bar
The only dark chocolate bar in this batch with cocoa content below 80%, Askinosie 77% Davao, Philippines Dark Chocolate Bar is a welcome reprieve to diabetics who are not keen into eating bitter chocolate bars. The cocoa beans used for this chocolate are sourced directly from farmers from Davao in the Philippines. The 77% dark chocolate (76% cocoa liquor and 1% cocoa butter) is supplemented by 23% cane sugar, making it all-natural and organic.
- Dante Confections 98% Organic Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar
Same as Montezuma’s Dante Confections 98% Organic Cocoa Dark Chocolate Bar is gluten-free and contains no dairy. It, however, contains a sweetener in the form of Stevia. This sweetener has become immensely popular in recent years because it is 100% natural and has zero calories. This dark chocolate comes in packs of eight bars and touts itself as “as pure as it gets” when it comes to cocoa content. Other than the rich dark chocolate flavor, it also has a fruity after-tone.
Moderation Is the Name of the Game
You might be already tired of hearing us say this, but we’re repeating this again for clarity, “There is life after diabetes.” Being diagnosed doesn’t mean that you must stop doing what you loved or completely cut-off flavorful and tasty food from your life. Far from it. You just need several adjustments to your lifestyle, do more physical activities that will make you healthier, and of course, experience cuisines and food outside your comfort zone. The same goes to chocolates.
Be sure to keep in mind that a dark chocolate bar can have as much as 200 calories, to eat that much, you need to subtract the same number of calories from your daily diet. Try enjoying chocolate with fruits so that you may not eat as much, or eat frozen chocolate more because it takes more time for it to melt in your mouth. These little things will help you sate your chocolate cravings and at the same time, prevent you from consuming too much to the detriment of your health.
