Bittersweet Chocolate vs. Spirulina
Nutrition comparison of Bittersweet Chocolate and Spirulina
Ever wonder how your favorite foods stack up against each other in terms of nutrition?
We compared the nutritional contents of
bittersweet chocolate
versus
spirulina
(100g each)
below using 2020 USDA and NIH data[1].
For a quick recap of significant nutrients and differences in bittersweet chocolate and spirulina:
- Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in calcium, calories, dietary fiber, iron, potassium and protein.
- Bittersweet chocolate has more lutein + zeaxanthin than spirulina, however, spirulina contains more beta-carotene than bittersweet chocolate.
- Spirulina has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate.
- Spirulina has signficantly more Vitamin C than bittersweet chocolate.
USDA sources for nutritional information: Bittersweet Chocolate (Baking chocolate, unsweetened, squares) and Spirulina (Seaweed, spirulina, dried) . Have a correction or suggestions? Shoot us an email.
Calories and Carbs
calories
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in calories. Bittersweet chocolate has 121% more calories than spirulina - bittersweet chocolate has 642 calories per 100 grams and spirulina has 290 calories.
For macronutrient ratios, bittersweet chocolate is much lighter in protein, lighter in carbs and much heavier in fat compared to spirulina per calorie. Bittersweet chocolate has a macronutrient ratio of 9:18:73 and for spirulina, 59:25:17 for protein, carbohydrates and fat from calories.
Macro Ratios from Calories:
| Bittersweet Chocolate | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 9% | 59% |
| Carbohydrates | 18% | 25% |
| Fat | 73% | 17% |
| Alcohol | ~ | ~ |
carbohydrates
Bittersweet chocolate and spirulina contain similar amounts of carbs - bittersweet chocolate has 28.4g of total carbs per 100 grams and spirulina has 23.9g of carbohydrates.
dietary fiber
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in dietary fiber. Bittersweet chocolate has 361% more dietary fiber than spirulina - bittersweet chocolate has 16.6g of dietary fiber per 100 grams and spirulina has 3.6g of dietary fiber.
sugar
Bittersweet chocolate and spirulina contain similar amounts of sugar - bittersweet chocolate has 0.91g of sugar per 100 grams and spirulina has 3.1g of sugar.
Protein
protein
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in protein. Spirulina has 301% more protein than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 14.3g of protein per 100 grams and spirulina has 57.5g of protein.
Fat
saturated fat
Bittersweet chocolate is high in saturated fat and spirulina has 92% less saturated fat than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 32.3g of saturated fat per 100 grams and spirulina has 2.7g of saturated fat.
cholesterol
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are low in cholesterol - bittersweet chocolate has 2mg of cholesterol per 100 grams and spirulina does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamins
Vitamin C
Spirulina has signficantly more Vitamin C than bittersweet chocolate - spirulina has 10.1mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams and bittersweet chocolate does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin A
Spirulina has more Vitamin A than bittersweet chocolate - spirulina has 29ug of Vitamin A per 100 grams and bittersweet chocolate does not contain significant amounts.
Vitamin E
Spirulina has 11 times more Vitamin E than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 0.4mg of Vitamin E per 100 grams and spirulina has 5mg of Vitamin E.
Vitamin K
Bittersweet chocolate and spirulina contain similar amounts of Vitamin K - bittersweet chocolate has 9.7ug of Vitamin K per 100 grams and spirulina has 25.5ug of Vitamin K.
The B Vitamins
Spirulina has more thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, Vitamin B6 and folate.
| Bittersweet Chocolate | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| Thiamin | 0.147 MG | 2.38 MG |
| Riboflavin | 0.1 MG | 3.67 MG |
| Niacin | 1.355 MG | 12.82 MG |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.168 MG | 3.48 MG |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.027 MG | 0.364 MG |
| Folate | 28 UG | 94 UG |
Minerals
calcium
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in calcium. Spirulina has 19% more calcium than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 101mg of calcium per 100 grams and spirulina has 120mg of calcium.
iron
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in iron. Spirulina has 64% more iron than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 17.4mg of iron per 100 grams and spirulina has 28.5mg of iron.
potassium
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in potassium. Spirulina has 64% more potassium than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 830mg of potassium per 100 grams and spirulina has 1363mg of potassium.
Antioxidants and Phytonutrients
carotenoids
Carotenoids are micronutrients commonly found in plants and some animal products. An example is beta-carotene, the notable carotenoid which is a popular source of Vitamin A.[4][5]
For specific types of carotenoids, bittersweet chocolate has more lutein + zeaxanthin than spirulina per 100 grams, however, spirulina contains more beta-carotene than bittersweet chocolate per 100 grams.
| Bittersweet Chocolate | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| lutein + zeaxanthin | 38 UG | ~ |
| beta-carotene | ~ | 342 UG |
Omega-3 and Omega-6
omega 3s
For omega-3 fatty acids, spirulina has more alpha linoleic acid (ALA) than bittersweet chocolate per 100 grams.
| Bittersweet Chocolate | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| alpha linoleic acid | 0.117 G | 0.823 G |
| Total | 0.117 G | 0.823 G |
omega 6s
Comparing omega-6 fatty acids, both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina contain significant amounts of linoleic acid.
| Bittersweet Chocolate | Spirulina | |
|---|---|---|
| other omega 6 | 0.553 G | ~ |
| linoleic acid | 1.435 G | 1.254 G |
| Total | 1.988 G | 1.254 G |
Customize your serving size
The comparison below is by common portions, e.g. cups, packages. You can also see a more concrete comparison by weight at equal weight (by grams) comparison.
Note: The specific food items compared are: Bittersweet Chocolate (Baking chocolate, unsweetened, squares) and Spirulina (Seaweed, spirulina, dried) .
Bittersweet Chocolate g
()
|
Daily Values (%) |
Spirulina g
()
|
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KCAL % |
|
5% | calories | 5% |
|
KCAL % | |
| G % |
|
5% | carbohydrates | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | dietary fiber | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | sugar | 5% | G | |||
| G % |
|
5% | total fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G % |
|
5% | saturated fat | 5% |
|
G % | |
| G | 5% | monounsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | polyunsaturated fat | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | trans fat | 5% | G | |||
| MG | 5% | cholesterol | 5% | MG | |||
| MG % |
|
5% | sodium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| 5% | Vitamins and Minerals | 5% | |||||
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin A | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin C | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| IU % |
|
5% | Vitamin D | 5% |
|
IU % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | calcium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | iron | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | magnesium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | potassium | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | thiamin (Vit B1) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | riboflavin (Vit B2) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | niacin (Vit B3) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B6 | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | pantothenic acid (Vit B5) | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | folate (Vit B9) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin B12 | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | Vitamin E | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | Vitamin K | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| G % |
|
5% | protein | 5% |
|
G % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | biotin (Vit B7) | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | choline | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | chlorine | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | chromium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | copper | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | fluoride | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | iodine | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | manganese | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | molybdenum | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | phosphorus | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| UG % |
|
5% | selenium | 5% |
|
UG % | |
| MG % |
|
5% | zinc | 5% |
|
MG % | |
| G | 5% | Water | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Starch | 5% | G | |||
| G | 5% | Alcohol | 5% | G | |||
FAQ
Does bittersweet chocolate or spirulina contain more calories in 100 grams?Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in calories. Bittersweet chocolate has 120% more calories than spirulina - bittersweet chocolate has 642 calories in 100g and spirulina has 290 calories.
Is bittersweet chocolate or spirulina better for protein?
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in protein. Spirulina has 300% more protein than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 14.3g of protein per 100 grams and spirulina has 57.5g of protein.
Does bittersweet chocolate or spirulina contain more calcium?
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in calcium. Spirulina has 20% more calcium than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 101mg of calcium in 100 grams and spirulina has 120mg of calcium.
Does bittersweet chocolate or spirulina contain more iron?
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in iron. Spirulina has 60% more iron than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 17.4mg of iron in 100 grams and spirulina has 28.5mg of iron.
Does bittersweet chocolate or spirulina contain more potassium?
Both bittersweet chocolate and spirulina are high in potassium. Spirulina has 60% more potassium than bittersweet chocolate - bittersweet chocolate has 830mg of potassium in 100 grams and spirulina has 1363mg of potassium.