Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

How Much Sugar Is in Dark Chocolate?

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

How Much Sugar Is in Dark Chocolate?

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Aug 20 2026
Two bars on the same shelf both say "dark chocolate." One is 47% cacaoand one is 72%, and the first holds roughly twice the sugar. Thepercentage on the front of the wrapper is a sugar ceiling in disguise:70-85% cacao averages about 24 grams of sugar per 100 grams, while45-59% averages 49. Here is the full breakdown by tier, what thosegrams mean against a daily budget, and the three things the percentagewill not tell you.
Other Names for Sugar on Food Labels: How to Spot Them

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Other Names for Sugar on Food Labels: How to Spot Them

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Aug 11 2026
Oats first, then cane sugar, brown rice syrup, honey, and apple juiceconcentrate scattered through the next ten positions. No single sweetenersits near the top, but together they may outweigh everything else in thebar. Sugar goes by more than 60 names on ingredient labels, and nearly allof them fall into five recognizable families. Here is how to read them, andwhat the Added Sugars line does and does not catch.
Does Dark Chocolate Raise Blood Sugar?

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Does Dark Chocolate Raise Blood Sugar?

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Jul 30 2026
Yes, chocolate affects blood sugar, but not all chocolate behaves thesame. A 70% dark bar has a glycemic index near 23 and a glycemic loadof just 3 to 4 per ounce, while milk chocolate and table sugar climbmuch higher. Here is why cacao percentage is the dial that matters,and how fat, fiber, and protein change the whole equation.
What Is the Healthiest Sugar Substitute? A Clear Guide

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

What Is the Healthiest Sugar Substitute? A Clear Guide

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Jul 27 2026
The baking aisle is crowded with sugar swaps promising to be thehealthy choice, but only three things really separate them: blood-sugarimpact, calories, and nutrients. Coconut sugar lands around a glycemicindex of 35 versus roughly 65 for table sugar, while monk fruit adds nosugar at all. Here is how the common substitutes actually compare, andhow to pick the right one.
Is Coconut Sugar Better Than Honey? A Sweetener Guide

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Is Coconut Sugar Better Than Honey? A Sweetener Guide

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Jun 23 2026
Coconut sugar and honey both feel healthier than the white packet,but they win on different measures. Coconut sugar has a lowerglycemic index (GI), reported between 35 and 54 versus about 58 forhoney, plus far less fructose; honey brings more antioxidants. Bothare still added sugars at roughly 4 calories per gram. Here is howthey actually compare, and how to choose.
Are Sugar Alcohols Bad for You? What the Research Shows

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Are Sugar Alcohols Bad for You? What the Research Shows

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Jun 16 2026
Sugar alcohols built a category on the promise of zero-caloriesweetness with no metabolic cost. Most cause gastrointestinal (GI)issues at modest doses, and 2023 to 2024 research has linkederythritol and xylitol to elevated cardiovascular risk. Here iswhat the science actually says.
Snacks That Won't Spike Your Blood Sugar: What Works

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Snacks That Won't Spike Your Blood Sugar: What Works

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on Jun 02 2026
That mid-afternoon cookie hits fast and fades faster, leaving youhungrier than before. The reason isn't sugar alone — it's what thesnack is missing. Pairing carbohydrate with protein, fat, or fiber cansoften the blood sugar rise by 20 to 40 percent, turning a spike into agentle curve. Here are the snacks that do it well, ranked by buffer.
Are Artificial Sweeteners Actually Worse Than Sugar?

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Are Artificial Sweeteners Actually Worse Than Sugar?

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on May 26 2026
Diet drinks were supposed to settle the sugar question. The 2023World Health Organization (WHO) guideline reviewed more than 280studies and concluded non-sugar sweeteners do not reduce body fatlong term — and may carry their own cardiovascular and metabolicsignals. Here is what the evidence actually says, and what to dowith it.
Glycemic Load vs Glycemic Index: What Actually Matters

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

Glycemic Load vs Glycemic Index: What Actually Matters

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on May 19 2026
Glycemic index measures speed. Glycemic load measures speed plusserving size — and that one addition flips watermelon fromhigh-impact to mild and white rice from quick to genuinely heavy.Here is how to read both numbers, why the gap matters, and wherecommon foods actually land on each scale.