Is chocolate milk really the new health drink? An expert weighs in
Think chocolate milk belongs on children’s breakfast tables and should be consumed with a straw? Well, it’s slipping into shopping baskets and is on the verge of a comeback – only this time, it’s adults who are reaching for the glass. The chocolate milk market is worth $9.25 billion and rising with brands such as Chocomel, Huel and Tom Parker Creamery edging into what used to be a Nesquik-only space. Arla even has a lactose-free version.
Remember Mars Bar drinks and the Nesquik bunny? Stefanie Joy Daniels, a nutritional therapist who runs Life Begins at Menopause, says it’s fond memories like these that are drawing us back to chocolate milk. "Adult chocolate milks such as the ones made by Huel and Rebel Kitchen are experiencing a boom most likely because they combine nostalgia with modern wellness trends – offering adults a guilt-free way to enjoy a childhood favourite while meeting their health or fitness goals," she says.
Because while commonly thought of a sweet treat and not something to be indulged in too often, chocolate milk does offer a few health perks too. "You’re getting calcium and protein macros [the macronutrients the body needs plentiful amounts of to function]," says nutritional therapist Jane McClenaghan. According to the Royal Osteoporosis Society, a cup of chocolate milk offers somewhere in the region of 200mg of calcium, something that you may be of particular benefit for women.
Osteoporosis is a risk for women if we don’t consume enough dairy to get the calcium that is essential for bone health, especially in middle age. On average, women lose 10 per cent of their bone density in the first five years following the menopause. If consuming enough dairy is a struggle for you, chocolate milk could well be an occasional shortcut.
Given its sugar content, around 25g per 100ml glass, replacing every cuppa with chocolate milk isn’t the healthiest move. That said, drink it after a run and even the sugar could have benefits. "Women have a 45-minute window after a long cardio session," says Jane. "Chocolate milk will give you glucose to replenish what you have lost. This is why, if you do a half marathon or a 10km running event, you often get given sweets at the end of it. It’s harder for your body to recover from the intense exercise, and can take a few days, if you haven’t repaired glycogen stores."
Sadly for kids, chocolate milk is still not the ideal treat for them, says Jane. Children require less sugar than adults, who should stick to 30g of free sugars per day. Kids age seven to 10 require 24g of free sugars per day, according to the NHS while, for younger kids, between the ages four and six it’s 19g. "Instead, blend frozen berries, half a banana and a glass of milk – then you’re getting antioxidants and fibre too," says Jane. "If it’s a chocolate taste you’re after, add a spoonful of cocoa or cacao powder."
In fact, even adults should exercise caution in the face of this nostalgic trend. "I wouldn’t be getting into the habit of drinking it regularly, between meals or thinking of chocolate milk as a pseudo health drink," says Jane. "If it’s health benefits you’re after, then you are better off drinking a glass of milk."
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