Is Dark Chocolate Healthy?

I’ve been looking for the best healthy dark chocolate bars for a while! Why? Because I love dark chocolate.

But lately, things have gotten a bit complicated as some dark chocolate is contaminated with heavy metals. Read on to learn more.

Healthy Dark Chocolate Bars

Dark chocolate is a rich, tasty snack. It’s low in carbohydrates and high in fat, making dark chocolate a keto win.

Low-Carb Chocolate

For more info on chocolate and keto, check out my in-depth post, Is Chocolate Allowed on the Keto Diet?

And for the perfect milk or milk alternative to enjoy with your dark chocolate bar, take a look at What’s the Best Milk for Keto?

Types of Chocolate

There are a couple of different types of chocolate including milk, semisweet, and dark. I don’t include white chocolate here because it is primarily sugar, with little cacao.

Milk Chocolate

After white chocolate, the next sweetest chocolate is milk chocolate. This chocolate is not dairy-free and contains a high amount of sugar and carbohydrates.

Semisweet Chocolate

Semisweet chocolate is often dairy-free, depending on the brand. Of all the types of chocolate, this one is a compromise, in a good way, for most people.

Semisweet chocolate has a rich chocolate flavor and is quite sweet. This is the type of chocolate I grew up eating and using in chocolate chip cookies of my childhood.

Dark Chocolate

I love dark chocolate, and it’s what I eat now. Healthy dark chocolate is low in carbohydrates and full of magnesium and other incredible nutrients.

Is Dark Chocolate Good for You?

I’m often asked, “Is dark chocolate healthy?” Yes, it’s thought of as a healthy food. But unfortunately, new circumstances have conspired to complicate the matter.

While dark chocolate was mentioned as the perfect Keto Diet treat when I did an Interview with a Top Keto Diet Expert, new insights into heavy metal levels in dark chocolate have led to great new concerns.

Heavy Metals in Dark Chocolate?

I’ve updated this post due to the recent findings on heavy metals in dark chocolate that were released by Consumer Reports in December 2022.

Where applicable, I’ve added data using California’s maximum allowable dose level of lead and cadmium.

Maximum Allowable Dose (MADL):
Lead: 0.5 mcg
Cadmium: 4.1 mcg

Consumer Reports’ results “indicate which products had comparatively higher levels and are not assessments of whether or not a product exceeds a legal standard.”

They go on to state they used those levels because there are no federal limits for the amount of lead and cadmium most foods can contain.

I view California as a country within a country when it comes to leading the US in legislating consumer protection initiatives.

Healthy Low-Carb Chocolate Bars

Below are my favorite low-carb dark chocolate bars. Everything listed here is at least 85% cacao. That’s how I’ve chosen to define dark chocolate in this instance, at least dark chocolate for keto.

Not all of the chocolate bars below are organic. That’s because organic dark chocolate is not as affordable as conventional. I’ve listed the chocolate bars here in order of my favorite products.

Organic Dark Chocolate Bars

Here are the best organic dark chocolate bars. I try to stick to organic chocolate for snacking and baking because conventional cacao is a crop that is sprayed with highly toxic pesticides.

Since I have the MTHFR genetic mutation my detoxification is impaired and it’s not as easy for me to expel harmful substances as it is for others. Because of this, I also stick with clean products for beauty and household as much as possible.

Mast 80%

After the Consumer Reports findings were released I switched over to Mast 80% organic dark chocolate, which appears to be a safer choice.

The texture of this product is incredibly rich, while the flavor is just a bit stronger than I prefer, with strong notes of tobacco.

All in all, though, this is a great chocolate for nibbling or serving alongside berries for a fabulous dessert pairing. Buy on Mast.com.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 11g • Carb 14g • Protein 3g

Consumer Reports Rating:
Lead: 14%
Cadmium: 40%

Theo 85%

Theo 85% is organic and my all-time favorite chocolate bar.

I have no guilt nibbling on a square or two for a healthy snack, and at 85% cacao, it’s very low in sugar. This smooth, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate is expensive, so not great for using in recipes, but is a wonderful treat on its own.

I love serving this gourmet chocolate bar for dessert with a big bowl of berries when we have last-minute guests over and I haven’t had time to make a healthy Low-Carb Dessert like my Keto Brownies recipe. Buy on Amazon.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 13g • Carb 12g • Protein 3g

Consumer Reports Rating:
High in Lead: 140%
High in Cadmium: 189%

Thrive 85%

I love the Thrive 85% organic dark chocolate bar! Like everything the folks at Thrive Market do, it’s fantastic. Specifically, this low-carb dark chocolate bar has an incredibly rich deep flavor, with notes of coffee. You can’t buy it on Amazon or in retail stores.

Given that it’s organic, tastes impeccable, and has a low price point, it’s the best value item featured here.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 12g • Carb 11g • Protein 3g

Consumer Reports Rating: N/A

Green & Black’s 85%

I’m chomping on a piece of organic Green & Black’s 85% chocolate as I write this and it’s pretty amazing. The flavor is intensely strong and bright with no acidic or bitter notes.

Its mouthfeel is super velvety and it has no chalky or grainy aspects to its texture, it simply melts in your mouth.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 15g • Carb 10g • Protein 3g

Consumer Reports Rating: N/A

Alter Eco 85%

Alter Eco 85% is an organic chocolate that has a rich, dark chocolatey flavor with a nice smooth finish.

The texture is just a tad more grainy than the chocolates mentioned above, but it still melts in your mouth very nicely. It’s a strong chocolate with interesting notes of bitterness that blend into a good finish. Buy on Amazon.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 17g • Carb 9g • Protein 2g

Consumer Reports Rating:
Lead: 49%
High in Cadmium: 204%

Non-Organic Dark Chocolate Bars

Below are my favorite brands of conventional dark chocolate bars. In general, these are more affordable than organic but, as I mentioned above I don’t love consuming chocolate that’s not organic.

Conventional cacao beans are a highly sprayed crop that can be dense in toxic pesticide residue.

Chocolove Extreme 88%

Chocolove Extreme 88% is my top-ranked conventional, non-organic chocolate. This bar has a fantastic flavor. It’s smooth, rich, and creamy and has an extraordinarily silky mouthfeel as it melts on your tongue.

I love that it’s a local brand made in Boulder, Colorado. I can strongly recommend this amazing bar for snacking in terms of flavor, texture, and overall experience.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 15g • Carb 10g • Protein 3g

Consumer Reports Rating:
High in Lead: 240%
Cadmium: 83%

Lindt 85%

Lindt makes a fabulous conventional dark chocolate bar. It’s a high-quality very dark chocolate that melts in your mouth.

With hints of vanilla, it tastes fairly sweet to me, but my husband and the boys won’t touch it. That’s ok when it’s all I can get my hands on, i.e., organic chocolate bars are not around, this simply means more for me!

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 16g • Carb 9g • Protein 3g

Consumer Reports Rating:
High in Lead: 166%
Cadmium: 80%

Endangered Species 88%

Endangered Species 88% chocolate is smooth and creamy with a strong cacao flavor that comes right through. I don’t know why but it makes me crave a big tall glass of chocolate milk.

I really like this chocolate for snacking. It has wonderful notes of vanilla and is a good bar of conventional chocolate.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 13g • Carb 11g • Protein 3g

Consumer Reports Rating: N/A

Divine 85%

Divine 85% is a very good chocolate bar. While its texture is slightly waxy, the flavor is strong and pure. It’s a lovely chocolate for snacking and has a slightly different taste than the Endangered Species brand chocolate above.

The texture is not quite as smooth, but really these two healthy chocolate bars are so close in quality that it may come down to individual preference and price points when making your decision. Buy on Amazon.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 14g • Carb 11g • Protein 3g

Consumer Reports Rating: N/A

Healthy Baking Chocolate

Baking with chocolate is very different than snacking on it. Made of 100% cacao, baking chocolate is a very low-carb chocolate for purists.

Also known as “baker’s chocolate” it has absolutely no sweetener added, so fewer carbs and calories than any of the healthy chocolate bars above.

Dagoba 100%

This Dagoba chocolate bar is 100% cacao as well as organic and has no added sweetener, making it the perfect keto chocolate bar.

I use it for baking. While perfect in my Chocolate Brownies recipe, it’s so dark that I don’t find eating it straight up is all that palatable. However, many of my hardcore healthy readers on the Keto Diet love snacking on this super healthy chocolate as a treat.

Macronutrient Information:
1 ounce (28 grams) • Fat 15g • Carb 7g • Protein 4g

Consumer Reports Rating: N/A

Dark Chocolate Benefits

If you’re wondering about dark chocolate benefits, they are numerous. Dark chocolate is not only low-carb and low in sugar, it’s a good source of:

• Antioxidants
• Polyphenols
• Magnesium

The Dark Side of Dark Chocolate

As you can see chocolate is one of our favorite foods, but we’re really struggling since the Consumer Reports findings regarding heavy metals in dark chocolate were released.

Now when I make my husband one of the deserts below he asks if I am making him an unleaded treat.

I’ve switched over to Mast 80% chocolate bars for my snacking and am still looking into other healthy sources of dark chocolate that are low in heavy metals.

How to Make Chocolate

If you’re wondering how to make chocolate I have this healthy Homemade Chocolate recipe for you with seven ingredients total.

Healthy Chocolate Recipes

I have so many healthy chocolate recipes it will knock your socks off. Let’s start with my healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies below.

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

If you’re looking for cookies with almond flour I’ve got you covered.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

I love making this Chocolate Covered Strawberries recipe for Valentine’s day, but this low-carb recipe is so tasty we make it year-round.

Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe

My easy Chocolate Cake with chocolate frosting is chocolate heaven. But guess what? You’ll be thankful it’s a healthy Chocolate Cake as well! No guilt, total indulgence.

Chocolate Mousse

My easy Chocolate Mousse recipe is both rich and creamy, what more would one want out of a chocolate dessert?!

In the mood for rich and creamy chocolate ice cream, my Dark Chocolate Sorbet hits the spot.

Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate Cupcakes are perfect for birthday celebrations, especially when everyone selects their own toppings –sprinkles, nuts, or chocolate chips anyone?

Healthy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

These healthy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies are a dark chocolate lovers’ dream. They’re a traditional healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe loaded with pecans and more dark chocolate!

Homemade Chocolate Candy Bars

The only thing better than chocolate bars is a customizable chocolate bar which I’ve done with my Chocolate Candy Bars.

This healthy chocolate bar has a selection of my favorite toppings, including Magic Spoon Keto Cereal.

What’s Your Favorite Low-Carb Chocolate?

There you have it, the best low-carb chocolate bars, my favorite chocolate recipes, and safety information on heavy metals in dark chocolate according to California’s MADL levels.

Will you still eat dark chocolate given the new findings?

Do you like dark chocolate or are you more of a milk chocolate fan? Leave a comment and let me know what your favorite type of chocolate is if you’re still indulging.

This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared this Healthy Dark Chocolate Bars post in September 2019.