
There are plenty of sugar free dark chocolate options out there. This is great for diabetics, but is only slightly helpful to those looking to reduce calories. The main issue seems to be which sugar substitute to use.
Plenty of Options
Many manufacturers produce sugar free products. These are generally well received, and do not have the "after taste" issues that sugar free drinks have.
Sugar Free Is Not Low Calorie
Sugar Free chocolate is lower calorie than non-sugar free, but it still is not low calorie. The calories in dark chocolate come from two sources: the sugar, and the cocoa butter. Sugar free will have somewhat reduced calories from sugar, but will retain all of the calories from cocoa butter. Bottom line: you still need to have sensible sized portions, even if it's sugar free.
Which Sugar Substitute?

Many of the sugar free chocolate products use maltitol as the sugar substitute. This product is reportedly safe for diabetics, and is very low on carbs. Some people have reported laxative, gas, and/or bloating effects from products containing maltitol. Many manufacturers report that the amount of maltitol they use is too little to cause these effects. The US generally recommends a warning about laxative effects at 100g per day or more.
Erythritol appears to be the leading favorite alternative to maltitol. It appears to have better "sugar free" properties, and does not cause the laxative, gas, or bloating effects. However, not as many products currently use erythritol as use maltitol.
What To Do?
As with regular dark chocolate, moderate daily portions are still the best option. Try a small amount of a few sugar free chocolate products. If any contain maltitol, determine if they cause you any of the undesired side effects. If so, look for erythritol products.
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