Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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My friend and I just split a 100% dark chocolate organic Sunspire baking bar. Is it bad to be regularly eating this much chocolate? We do this every couple days?

What's good about dark chocolate and what's the bad?

Is it really true that it contains phytic acid? If so, that would be sad because I have come to enjoy the 100% bars and their taste.

Does dark chocolate cause an insulin spike?

edited Apr 25 2012 at 18:44

asked Apr 25 2012 at 18:34

YoungPaleoLover
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This seems to have been asked quite a lot. – David Moss Apr 25 2012 at 19:20

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Mae West notwithstanding, too much of any good thing doesn't seem like a good idea. You can even drink too much water. – tdgor Apr 25 2012 at 19:30

Christine M. · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-25 19:27:48Z UTC

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I don't know about the effect on insulin, but if you frequently crave dark chocolate you may have a magnesium deficiency. Try supplementing - I use Natural Calm; tastes decent and it's not terribly expensive.

answered Apr 25 2012 at 19:27

Christine M.
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Don't lie, tastes like "crap" (regular one at least), lol. But, it does work ; ) – MotoMoto Apr 26 2012 at 2:53

Lol, I've only tried the sweet lemon and raspberry lemon. It's not the best thing in the world, but ok. And yes, it works. :) – Christine M. Apr 26 2012 at 21:50

Why would you supplement if you can get it from real food? – Wisper Apr 27 2012 at 21:42

Mark Sisson actually recently addressed this: marksdailyapple.com/… The world we live in today is not the same one that our Paleolithic ancestors lived in. The soil and water are depleted of magnesium, so it's harder (but not impossible) to get enough from real food. That said, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, mineral water, and some other things can be ok sources. I recommended supplementation because it's worked well for me, it's cheap, and it's got good bioavailability. – Christine M. Apr 29 2012 at 17:14

Molly · Answer 2 · 2012-04-25 19:34:55Z UTC

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(hands over ears) "La La La La"

answered Apr 25 2012 at 19:34

Molly
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falalalalalalala – Phazo Apr 25 2012 at 19:48

I don't get this.... – Soccertanker Feb 20 at 4:05

Esther · Answer 3 · 2012-04-27 18:09:53Z UTC

If it's truly 100% dark chocolate, then there is no sugar in it... at all. If it's really 100% dark chocolate. It's literally just chocolate, and nothing else. :)

However, if the chocolate that you ate was sweet, it was definitely not 100% dark chocolate.

100% dark chocolate -- made from cocoa beans which are similar to their coffee bean cousins -- is extremely bitter and NOT sweet at all.

Therefore, it would not cause an insulin spike... there's nothing to encourage insulin production. Kind of like when you drink black coffee.

Richard N · Answer 4 · 2012-04-25 20:27:32Z UTC

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I would think the theobromine would whip the adrenal glands around significantly. It's a stimulant not unlike caffeine.

answered Apr 25 2012 at 20:27

Richard N
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Dark chocolate does a number on my adrenals. I'm very sensitive to all manner of stimulatns, and dark (>70%) chocolate is worse than caffienated tea for me. – Kelly Apr 27 2012 at 18:16

Emily S · Answer 5 · 2012-04-25 20:32:44Z UTC

I totally agree that it might be a deficiency in magnesium or chromium. Maybe try this alternate that worked for me:

Em's "Hot Cocoa"

3-4 heeping spoonfuls of 100% cocoa powder (baking isle) cinnamon

Pour boiling water over it, stir it up. Top with almond milk or canned coconut milk.

Fixed my need for that chocolate bar and I know you'll find it delicious.

Plus, a lot less calories if that is in concern.

Blog post "Chocolate Rehab" : http://baconandskinnyjeans.blogspot.com/2012/01/chocolate-rehab.html

Enjoy!

foreveryoung · Answer 6 · 2012-04-25 18:42:33Z UTC

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IF you are prone to mood swings, trying to lose wieght, trying to improve your omega 3/6 ratio, or if you have a sensitive stomach then avoid it. if none of those apply, then, I guess you'd be fine.

answered Apr 25 2012 at 18:42

foreveryoung
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Why would it affect weight loss- low carb and no sugar. Does it affect insulin? – YoungPaleoLover Apr 25 2012 at 18:43

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Also I don't understand why it would affect omega 3/6 ratios when It's fats mainly consist of monounsaturated and saturated. – YoungPaleoLover Apr 25 2012 at 18:48

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I am sorry I should have clarified with FAT LOSS. You can definitely lose weight as long as you are creating a consistent calorie deficit, but I personally think macronutrient ratios and the quality of calories has a lot to do with the specific type of weight loss. I don't think eating no sugar chocolate bars is conducive to fat loss and muscle maintenance or gain. – foreveryoung Apr 25 2012 at 19:07

Sal · Answer 7 · 2012-04-25 19:15:32Z UTC

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I think the key is to have the fat content (%) of the dark chocolate higher than the sugar content (%)

answered Apr 25 2012 at 19:15

Sal
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There is no sugar in 100% – YoungPaleoLover Apr 25 2012 at 19:50

KA24 · Answer 8 · 2012-07-10 00:15:27Z UTC

I love 100% Cacao baking chocolate. I buy the Baker's brand for very cheap as well. I eat 2-3 oz a day and that's really the only time (outside of maybe a few times a year eating Lindt's 90% dark) chocolate I eat. It has no sugar at all.

UncleLongHair · Answer 9 · 2012-07-10 02:49:37Z UTC

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Chocolate is yummy and an anti-oxidant and all that, but if you're having say a bar a day every day, that probably means you are under-eating or are missing out on some nutrients. It is a candy bar after all.

answered Jul 10 at 2:49

UncleLongHair
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I wouldn't call 100% baking chocolate a candy bar. :) That said, I eat this stuff all the time, though I don't think I could do a whole bar. I usually do 1oz at most/day. It's a stimulant, but different from coffee, doesn't make me jittery, it's almost "calming". At first, it's bitter as hell, but you get used to doing without the sugar fairly quickly. – raydawg Jul 10 at 10:30

Kelleil · Answer 10 · 2012-07-10 00:38:28Z UTC

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Paleohacks: I AM YOUR SAVIOUR!

http://ycchocolate.com/

You. Are. Welcome.

answered Jul 10 at 0:38

Kelleil
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Too much dark chocolate?

10 Answers