Is Chocolate Milk Good or Bad for You?

People who love chocolate (and who doesn’t?) most likely love chocolate milk, because it’s just like regular old milk, but chocolatier. Who says getting your daily calcium portion doesn’t have to taste good as you wash it down? With chocolate milk, you seemingly get the best of both worlds: healthy and delicious. Unfortunately, there’s another dimension you have to factor in when you consume chocolate milk—sugar. Sure, you might be increasing your calcium intake and building stronger bones, hence avoiding osteoporosis, but you’re also increasing your sugar intake, which increases the chance of developing diabetes. So while chocolate milk is healthy in one way, it’s unhealthy in another, making it overall a potentially unhealthy choice of beverage if consumed excessively.

But before completely writing off chocolate milk as an unhealthy option, keep in mind that like many other foods, consuming chocolate milk is fine as long as it isn’t too frequent. Moderation, not elimination, is the key. Chocolate milk can still be part of a balanced diet as long as you limit your portions and eat other healthy foods that give you the nutrients your body needs. In additional to moderating chocolate milk intake, you can also make your own chocolate milk at home. Instead of buying chocolate milk brands that come loaded with sugar, you can purchase cocoa mix and stir it into your milk yourself. This way, you can enhance your milk with that chocolatey taste you love while keeping track of how much chocolate you’re adding to your beverage. Buying cocoa mix and milk separately can also be a cheaper alternative to purchasing chocolate milk by bulk. Cocoa mix also has a considerable shelf life and will last you a long time. Just make sure that you keep it sealed and stored in a relatively cool area—your handy kitchen cabinet should do the trick just fine.

In conclusion, calcium is an important part of a healthy diet, and chocolate milk is one good way to build up your calcium levels as long as you drink it occasionally and not too much. Think of chocolate milk as a sort of healthier chocolate bar that can have a place in your daily caloric intake as long as it doesn’t contribute too often. There’s nothing wrong with indulging every now and then, but an indulgence is exactly that—an occasional pleasure, but not a frequent occurrence (hopefully). Chocolate milk should be enjoyed guilt free, but also with prudence as well as pleasure.