Comparison of Healthy Chocolates

Chocolate has always been a popular treat, but now science provides evidence that it can be a healthy part of the diet, too. The health benefits come from the cacao, which contains phenols, a class of phytonutrients. Dark chocolate provides increased health benefits because it does not contain the sugar and dairy that milk chocolate does, which can cancel the cacao benefits out. Also of importance to the health of the environment and farmers is organic and Fair Trade chocolate since it is grown without pesticides and the workers obtain a fair wage.

Properties

According to the book, "Anticancer: A New Way of Life" by David Servan-Schreiber, dark chocolate must contain more than 70 percent cacao to be truly considered dark. Dark chocolate contains a number of antioxidants, polyphenols and proanthocyanidins, all of which help to slow the growth of cancer cells. These beneficial components increase the higher the percentage of cacao. It also has one of the lowest glycemic indexes of sweet foods and can help placate sweet cravings quickly due to its richness.

Dagoba Organic Chocolate

Dagoba Organic Chocolate uses sustainably grown cacao from South America and Madagascar, according to its website. It is certified Fair Trade by Transfair, and it partners with the Upala Cacao Cooperative in Costa Rica to help in reforesting the region. Dagoba offers several dark chocolate bars with fruits and nuts, including the lavendar blueberry bar, which creates a "calming experience" upon consuming it, according to the company's website. Also available is the superfruit bar, which contains acai and goji berries, which are high in antioxidants. Dagoba also offers drinking chocolates and baking products.

Endangered Species Chocolate

Endangered Species Chocolate is also sustainable and Fair Trade, sourcing cacao from farm cooperatives that use responsible labor practices. Its chocolate is not only certified organic, but also gluten-free and kosher, along with its dark chocolate choices being certified vegan. Its packaging is also certified recyclable. When it comes to its dark chocolate bars, the company offers a 70 percent cacao bar; one with cacao nibs, yacon and acai; another one with goji berry, pecans and maca; and one with golden berry and lucuma.

Equal Exchange Chocolate

Equal Exchange is another company that develops Fair Trade and organic chocolate bars. The company uses Swiss standards in making its chocolate while obtaining cacao from farmer co-operatives in the Dominican Republic, Panama, Peru and Ecuador. It also gets fairly traded organic sugar from co-operatives in Paraguay and fairly traded vanilla from Madagascar. It offers several plain dark chocolate options, ranging from 65 to 80 percent cacao. Flavored options include dark chocolate with almonds or with espresso bean. All of its dark chocolate choices are vegan and gluten-free.

Theo Chocolate

Like the previous chocolate bars, Theo is organic and Fair Trade. But according to its website, it is the only "bean-to-bar" chocolate factory in the United States. It also claims to source its ingredients locally whenever possible. Like Dagoba, Theo chocolate is shade grown and pesticide-free, better for your health and the environment. Its darkest bar is 91 percent cacao, offering a high level of antioxidants. Other dark chocolate flavors include toasted coconut, fig, fennel and almond, coffee and one bar contains an original flavor: bread and chocolate.