Is Chocolate Paleo & Keto Friendly (2024)

Wondering if chocolate fits into your diet?

Generally, today’s most common diet plans give a positive nod to cocoa - after all, it’s made from cocoa seeds that are extracted from a fruit. Plus, natural cocoa and dark chocolate has proven to haveseveral health benefitsas shown in recent medical studies. Where things get more complicated is when cocoa is made into chocolate, which can have 5-15 other ingredients in the mix.

Is Chocolate Paleo & Keto Friendly (1)

Keto Friendly Chocolate

The aim of a ketogenic, or low-carb, diet is to achieve and maintain a state of ketosis, which means your body is rewired to burn fat for energy rather than glucose. Naturally, a keto diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. An acceptable amount of daily carbohydrates for keto can be anywhere between 20-100 grams per day.

Cocoa solids have little fat and no sugar, so it doesn’t really help you but it also doesn’t hurt you on a keto diet. On the other hand, cocoa butter, sugar, and milk found in most commercial chocolates can and likely will push you beyond the allotted amount of carbohydrates per day.

How to “Treat Yoself” to Chocolate on a Ketogenic Diet

Unsweetened Cocoa Powder or Nibs

You can have unsweetened cocoa powder. It’s 100% cocoa solids with no added sugar. Similarly, cocoa nibs are pure cocoa. Add these to a smoothie, salad, or other recipes.

100% Dark Chocolate

These chocolate bars contain only one ingredient - pure cacao. They are unsweetened and, unlike baking chocolate, tempered and meant for personal enjoyment. Keep in mind that100% dark chocolatecan be very bitter, but many craft chocolate makers offer a 100% bar that feature complex flavors and can be creamy to satisfy your chocolate cravings.

Ultra Dark Chocolate, At Least 80% or Higher

Dark chocolate typically includes only three ingredients - cocoa solids, cocoa butter, and sugar. This can be a sweet treat enjoyed in small amounts. Half an ounce of ultra dark chocolate can be about 5-8 grams of carbohydrates, mostly from sugar. Here are some of our favorite ultra dark keto friendly chocolates

Paleo Friendly Chocolate

The goal of the paleo diet is to eat the same foods that were available to people living during the Paleolithic era. The thought being that our bodies have not adequately adapted to the over processed foods that exist today, and so it wholly rejects any foods that resulted from farming and modern technology. A good rule to follow is anything that can be hunted and gathered is okay, which translates to lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.

Cocoa, and even chocolate, definitely fit within the bounds of paleo. The tricky part is processed sugars and milk do not. And the majority of commercial chocolate, including micro-batch craft chocolate, contains processed sugars. A general rule of thumb among Paleo dieters is the darker the chocolate, the better. Go for dark chocolate above 70% and even better above 85% cacao content. The more cacao % in a chocolate bar, the less sugar and other ingredients it will contain.

If you're hesitant to try chocolate that is above 85% cacao because you find it unpalatable or too bitter, do yourself a favor and try some high quality craft chocolate before you rule out allultra dark chocolate. Unlike industrial mass produced chocolate, dark chocolate from craft chocolate makers have a myriad of complex flavors and is both rich and delicious.

Alternatively, you can also look for chocolate bars that don't contain any cane sugar, and are sweetened with natural sweeteners. The more popular paleo alternatives for sugar are honey, maple syrup, maple sugar, and coconut sugar. Another great option is to use dried fruits like dates and raisins to sweeten things up.

Whole 30 Approved Chocolate

Whole 30 is an extremely strict diet that excludes all sugar, dairy, grains, alcohol, legumes, and treats. You can eat meat, seafood, eggs, and a moderate amount of fruit. You can also have natural fats, herbs, spices, and seasonings, as well as all the vegetables you want. The no sugar and no dairy policy limits your options to only natural cocoa.

What would Whole 30 purists say?

Technically, cocoa powder and cocoa butter are Whole 30 compliant, which means pure cocoa powder and 100% dark chocolate bars are allowed.

However, Whole 30 purists argue that one of the goals of this diet is to correct and permanently change your food decisions. Rather than reaching for sweet treats like chocolate to satisfy your hunger, Whole 30 breaks and replaces these habits with healthier choices that fit the natural needs of your body. Even when it comes to something as natural and bitter as cocoa powder, Whole 30 purists argue that cocoa will act as a stand-in for chocolate. These bad habits of reaching for sweet treats need to be cut off cold turkey, otherwise there is a high chance of relapse after the 30 days are up.

We’ll leave it up to you.

Chocolate While Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is a popular method of fasting completely or significantly reducing your calories for a period of time followed by periods of eating normal. Proponents of this diet believe that extended fasting allows your body to perform important cellular functions as opposed to spending most of the day on the singular task of digesting food.

There are several ways to intermittent fast. For instance, you can alternate between days of fasting and days of eating normal. Other common approaches are to fast for two days a week while eating normal for the other five days, or only eat within a specific eight-hour window of time each day.

Whichever you prefer, intermittent fasting isn’t a diet that focuses on what you eat but rather when you eat.

That being the case, can you eat all the chocolate you want when you aren’t fasting?

The simple answer is yes. There are no restrictions to what you can eat on this diet. However, the point of intermittent fasting like any other diet is to be healthy and lose weight. To do this, making healthier cocoa choices and eating chocolate in moderation will be more effective.

What is chocolate

  • What Is Single Origin Chocolate
  • What Is Craft Chocolate
    • What is Bean to Bar Chocolate
    • What Is Tree To Bar Chocolate?
  • Types Of Chocolate
    • What Is 100% Dark Chocolate
    • The Best 100% Chocolate
    • What Is Raw Chocolate
  • Is Chocolate A Health Food
    • Is Chocolate Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free
    • Is All Chocolate Vegan
    • Lecithin in Chocolate
  • What Is Cacao or Cocoa
    • What Does Cacao Percentage Mean
    • Is Higher Percentage Cacao Healthier

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Is Chocolate Paleo & Keto Friendly (2024)

FAQs

Is Chocolate Paleo & Keto Friendly? ›

If you follow the paleo or keto diet, you may be wondering if you can eat chocolate. And the good news is—yes, you can!

Is chocolate ok on a paleo diet? ›

Cocoa, and even chocolate, definitely fit within the bounds of paleo. The tricky part is processed sugars and milk do not. And the majority of commercial chocolate, including micro-batch craft chocolate, contains processed sugars. A general rule of thumb among Paleo dieters is the darker the chocolate, the better.

Which chocolate can I have on keto? ›

Specifically, you should aim for dark chocolate that contains a high percentage of cocoa solids - ideally above 70%. This is because high cocoa-content dark chocolate tends to have less sugar and lower carbohydrate content, which aligns with the low-carb requirements of a keto diet.

Can you mix paleo and keto? ›

The Paleo-keto diet is becoming one of the most popular hybrid diets that exist, as it borrows the best aspects from each diet while eliminating mutually exclusive factors.

What happens if you eat a piece of chocolate on keto? ›

It's unlikely that a small piece of chocolate will kick you out of ketosis; however, this depends on the amount you eat. Chocolate with a high sugar content will significantly impact your blood sugar levels and insulin response, potentially affecting your ketosis.

Is cheese OK for paleo? ›

A Paleo-diet purist will tell you no, all cheese should be avoided on a Paleo lifestyle. Paleolithic humans didn't milk cows or process dairy. This is one case in which keto diet rules are much more lax than paleo.

Is coffee paleo? ›

Technically, no. Removing the caffeine from the plant is usually done through chemical processing that we consider too far from a natural, mechanical process. Our Paleolithic ancestors would not have had the ability to remove caffeine from coffee beans.

Is peanut butter keto-friendly? ›

Yep! Peeps following a keto diet can totally enjoy peanut butter. But it's important to stick with natural, unsweetened PB and be mindful of your portion sizes to maintain ketosis. Lots of manufactured peanut butter products contain added sugars, which increase the carb content.

Is popcorn keto-friendly? ›

Net carbs are calculated by taking the total grams of carbohydrate in a food and subtracting the amount of fiber. In this case, popcorn contains 6 grams of carbs per 1 cup serving and 1.2 grams of fiber, bringing the net carbs per serving to 4.8 grams. Yes friends, popcorn is indeed a keto food.

Will chocolate kick me out of ketosis? ›

To summarise, yes, dark chocolate can indeed be enjoyed as part of a keto diet, provided it's high in cocoa content (over 70% is ideal) and low in sugar. It's a delightful way to satisfy those sweet cravings while adhering to your dietary plan. The key, as with many indulgences, lies in moderation.

Do you lose weight faster paleo or keto? ›

Potential Health Benefits

While both paleo and keto diets work for weight loss, the paleo helps you lose weight through whole, unprocessed foods which are nutrient-dense and lower in calories than processed options. Meanwhile, keto promotes weight loss by increasing ketone bodies through carbohydrate restriction.

Does your body go into ketosis on paleo? ›

It can be harmful to stay in a state of ketosis for extended periods. People do not experience the symptoms with the paleo diet as a paleo diet does not lead to a state of ketosis.

Is keto or paleo better for inflammation? ›

Both paleo and keto diets have anti-inflammatory properties but work differently in managing inflammation and related health conditions. The paleo diet is better for managing autoimmune diseases, while the keto diet is better for managing diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

What chocolate is ok on keto? ›

Is chocolate allowed on the keto diet? Yes, chocolate is allowed on keto.It usually needs to be sugar-free dark chocolate made with at least 70% cocoa to be keto-friendly. This type can have as little as 1 g net carbs per piece.

Can I eat bananas on keto? ›

Bananas. Bananas may be great for muscle recovery, reducing bloat, and calming an upset stomach, but they're on the list of foods you can't eat on the keto diet. With 25g of carbs per 100g serving, bananas are too high in carbs.

Which vegetables are not keto friendly? ›

Potatoes and other starchy vegetables

While good sources of vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber, white and sweet potatoes ought to be avoided on the keto diet because of their high carb content ( 45 , 46 ). Other nutritious but high carb vegetables to limit include peas and corn ( 47 , 48 ).

Can you eat sweets on a paleo diet? ›

Paleo Diet FAQs

The diet does not include added sugar, added salt, or highly processed foods, so you won't be eating calorie-dense foods such as salty snacks, candy, and cookies. Instead, you'll eat fiber-rich, high-protein foods that tend to keep you feeling full longer.

What dairy products are paleo friendly? ›

Many people on a paleo diet today also include some sources of full-fat dairy, such as butter, cream, yogurt or whole milk. It's ideal if the dairy you eat or drink is from grass-fed cows. People who have dairy allergies or sensitivities don't need to include it in their diet.

What chocolate chips are paleo friendly? ›

Where to Find Paleo Friendly Chocolate Chips. If you don't mind cane sugar, Enjoy Life has the best tasting dark chocolate morsels that are dairy and soy free. You can find them here on Amazon. The Enjoy Life chips are also typically easy to find in most grocery stores.

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