There are approximately 37 calories in one chocolate piece of chocolate. A dark chocolate of 28g which is made up of 70 to 85 percent cocoa solids contains 170 calories. Chocolates are usually available in the form of a dark chocolate, a milk chocolate and a white chocolate.
Chocolates are rich in antioxidants and a powerhouse of calories. Dark chocolates can have a good impact on health if eaten in moderation as they contain antioxidants that help in enhancing heart health and balance the immune system. Check out the calories and some of the benefits of chocolate below.
Chocolate happens to be one of the most popular sweet treats in the world today. This is evident from the fact that people consume over 3 million tons of cocoa beans each year as per the World Cocoa Foundation. Chocolate as we know it is drawn from the fruit of the tropical tree - Theobroma cacao - whose name translates to “food of the gods” in Greek. These trees are found along the Amazon and Orinoco rivers in South America as well as in West Africa and Southeast Asia.
Fruit borne from the cacao trees is the size of and resembles the shape of a papaya. These pods contain up to 50 beans that are covered in a white pulp. These seeds are then fermented, dried, and ultimately roasted in chocolate factories thereby giving rise to nibs that become chocolate.
Fine chocolate exists in the form of dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate.
Dark chocolate is made up of chocolate liquor, vanilla, cocoa butter, sugar and lecithin.
Milk chocolate is made up of all that dark chocolate contains in addition to milk solids and milk fats.
White chocolate is made up of all that milk chocolate contains barring chocolate liquor.
The number of calories in a single serving (or calories in 1 chocolate piece) of chocolate weighing 7 grams amounts to 37.
Those who have a sweet tooth and are fond of chocolate will be pleased to note that chocolate, when consumed in moderation, has been shown to be a powerful source of antioxidants. This holds particularly true in the case of dark chocolate.
Examine the table mentioned below to gain better insight into the nutrition found in a single ounce of dark chocolate made up of 70 to 85 percent cocoa solids.
Dark Chocolate Nutrition |
|
Calories |
170 |
Fat |
12 g |
Sodium |
0 mg |
Carbohydrates |
13 g |
Fibre |
3 g |
Sugars |
7 g |
Protein |
2 g |
As a number of health-related diseases such as diabetes have emerged over time and become more widespread in their occurrence, the importance of conscious patterns of food consumption can never be stressed enough. In order to consciously consume food, it is important to understand and be aware of the calories in everything you eat. Listed below are the calories found in popular chocolates.
Kind of Chocolate and Quantity |
Calories |
Calories in Dairy Milk chocolate bar (7 blocks or 1.4 oz) |
200 |
Amul dark chocolate calories (100 grams) |
577 |
Calories KitKat wafer bar (100 grams) |
518 |
Ferrero Rocher calories (1 piece i.e., 12.5 grams) |
72 |
White chocolate calories (100 grams) |
539 |
Milk chocolate calories (100 grams) |
535 |
Calories in unsweetened chocolate (14 grams) |
90 |
Calories in caramelized white chocolate (4 squares or 25 grams) |
139 |
Calories in ruby chocolate (2 squares or 25 grams) |
140 |
Calories in raw chocolate (1 serving of 28 grams) |
166.9 |
People often enjoy adding chocolate to a wide variety of desserts or may choose to eat a bar of chocolate on its own. Either way, it makes for a delicious treat that people tend to eat after a meal or in order to celebrate victories big or small. Take for instance chocolate cake which is served on people’s birthdays. Listed below are desserts and drinks that are made up of chocolate or are chocolate-based spreads and the calories they each contain.
Desserts, Drinks and Spreads that Contain Chocolate |
Calories |
Hot chocolate calories (1 cup) |
235 |
Chocolate cake calories, without frosting (100 grams) |
371 |
Calories in a brownie (100 grams) |
466 |
Homemade chocolate chip cookies (100 grams) |
488 |
Calories in a chocolate cupcake with icing (1 cupcake) |
241 |
Chocolate ice cream (100 grams) |
216 |
Calories in Nutella, a hazelnut, and chocolate spread (100 grams) |
541 |
Calories in a single cake pop (weighing 38 grams) |
149 |
Calories in a single chocolate truffle (weighing 100 grams) |
510 |
Provided chocolate is eaten in moderation it can have a positive impact on your overall health. This holds particularly true in the case of dark chocolate. Nutrition facts pertaining to this kind of chocolate stem from the antioxidants it contains. The most powerful of these is a flavanol called epicatechin. This compound helps fight inflammation and protects against cell damage.
Some of the more pronounced health benefits associated with eating dark chocolate are as follows.
Antioxidants found in dark chocolate have been found to lower blood pressure, reduce the chance of clotting and allow for improved blood circulation to the heart thereby reducing the chances of a stroke and coronary heart disease.
Flavanols prevent the immune system from going into overdrive and help minimize oxidative stress which is an imbalance that gives rise to several diseases.
Epicatechin provides cells with protection and makes them strong. It also allows the body to use insulin in a superior manner which can help prevent or combat diabetes.
Flavonoids found in dark chocolate positively impact brain function and allow for faster reaction time, stronger memory, and superior visual-spatial awareness.
As explored above, chocolate has been shown to have a wide range of benefits. That being said, it is important to consume it in moderation. It is recommended to eat no more than 1 to 2 ounces or 30 to 60 grams of chocolate in a single day.
Prior to having any chocolate, it is important to be aware of the calories, fat and sugar content it contains which can stand to impact the overall health benefits that chocolate brings with it through the aid of an online calorie calculator. Chocolate has the potential to trigger migraines in the case of some people who must therefore consume it with additional caution while having health insurance.