Did you know that 7% of American adults believe chocolate skim milk comes from brown cows?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No wonder people have such whimsical ideas about this brown beverage. Most of us have enjoyed its sweet, refreshing flavor after a long day at school, and some of us continue to indulge long into our adulthood. But have you ever considered that it doesn\u2019t just have to be a guilty pleasure? Yep, you read that right. Chocolate milk (or at least its skimmed version) can be surprisingly good for your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we\u2019ll talk about what chocolate skim milk is, what\u2019s in it, how it\u2019s great for your health, how to make it at home, and some concerns to look out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chocolate milk is simply milk that has been sweetened with chocolate. You can get it anywhere. Your local supermarket should carry a variety of brands of the stuff, or you could buy chocolate syrup and add it to milk. If you\u2019re more into DIY, you could also blend cocoa powder with milk (plus a little sweetener to satisfy your sweet tooth), and you\u2019ve got homemade chocolate milk. Serve cold for a delicious thirst quencher. Both kids and adults love a glass of choccy milk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But we\u2019re here to talk about chocolate skim <\/em>milk. What\u2019s that? Skim milk is what you get when you remove all the milkfat from whole milk. It contains less than 0.3% fat (1<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n So on one hand, you have delicious and refreshing chocolate milk. On the other, you have light and healthy skim milk. What do you get when you put them together?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It really does seem like you\u2019re getting the best of both worlds here. Before we go further into why you should consider adding chocolate skim milk to your diet, here\u2019s a rundown of what\u2019s in a cup of brown goodness:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Serving size: 1 cup<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Total calories: 140 (7%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Total fat: 0.7g (1%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Total carbs: 27.22g (10%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Cholesterol: 5mg (2%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Protein: 8.55g<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00b7 Sodium: 98mg (4%)<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Note: The number in parenthesis is the percentage contribution towards your daily recommended intake.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Not only is chocolate skim milk great for your taste buds, but it\u2019s also great for your health. Here\u2019s how the brown beverage stacks up when it comes to health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a reason why many schools are switching to our titular dairy product in student lunches. A 2005 study found that kids were served an estimated 5,960 fewer calories and 619 fewer grams of fat per year when they were served chocolate skim milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, that\u2019s not a lot. At least not when it happens over a year. But as you\u2019ll see, chocolate milk does wonders for your body, so you might as well scarf down fewer calories while you\u2019re enjoying the health benefits of chocolate skim milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s where things get really interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A bit of background first: when you hit the gym or go for a jog, your body needs both carbohydrates and proteins to recover from the exertion. The carbs are what refuel your muscles. Proteins build and repair them. That\u2019s why top athletes seem to survive on a diet of protein shakes and nutrient bars \u2013 they need both these nutrients and they need a lot of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s the clincher: chocolate skim milk has both. If you\u2019re a run-of-the-mill fitness enthusiast or gym rat, you\u2019ll love the balanced carb-to-protein ratio of this beverage. The average person needs a recommended daily protein intake between 10 and 20 grams to build muscle and lose weight. Check our nutrition facts table up top \u2013 one cup of the good stuff contains right around 8.55g of protein. Take one cup before your workout session, one after, and voila. You\u2019ve hit your protein intake sweet spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, it\u2019s a great post-workout energy drink. Chocolate skim milk will boost your recovery after intense sessions at the gym, so chug away (3<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n And last but not least, the best part: it\u2019s cheap! Much cheaper than your regular post-workout pick-me-ups. Chocolate skim milk is just as effective as your garden-variety carbohydrate energy drinks, but is a fair bit lighter on your wallet (4<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve probably heard since grade school how calcium makes your bones and teeth stronger. But milk\u2019s most popular nutrient is now known for an even more impressive health benefit. Calcium has been shown to slow down fat absorption (5<\/a>)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s just half of the equation, though. Drinking calcium-fortified milk isn\u2019t enough. Your body needs a particular vitamin to properly absorb calcium, namely vitamin D. And sure, the famous \u201csunlight vitamin\u201d helps strengthen your muscles, keeps your bones strong, and improves your mental health, but what\u2019s important to us right now is the calcium thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chocolate skim milk has perfectly balanced amounts of both calcium and vitamin D. Which means you can get in a healthy one-two combo in your fight against body fat. Round one goes to chocolate skim milk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inflammation is a process by which the body’s white blood cells and substances they produce protect us from infection with foreign organisms, such as bacteria. Sounds helpful, right? Here\u2019s the thing. Your immune system doesn\u2019t always get it right. Sometimes there can be a false alarm, and you\u2019re left with redness, heat, swelling, or worse. You just want it to go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enter chocolate milk. Long story short, it has been shown to reduce inflammation. Long story longer, daily consumption of skim milk with cocoa rich in flavonoids may reduce inflammation. It\u2019ll also slow or even prevent atherosclerosis, the scarier older brother of inflammation which causes your blood vessels to narrow and harden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drink plenty of chocolate skim milk and you won\u2019t have to worry about either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly, it\u2019s not all rainbows and sunshine. While yes, everyone\u2019s favorite chocolate-flavored dairy product is healthy for the most part, some studies do advise a smidge of caution.<\/p>\n\n\n\nChocolate Skim Milk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Nutrition facts of chocolate skim milk (<\/strong>2<\/strong><\/a>):<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Health Benefits of Chocolate Skim Milk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1.<\/strong> Low in calories<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2.<\/strong> Effective and cheap workout drink<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3.<\/strong> Vitamin D and calcium for lowered fat absorption<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4.<\/strong> Fights inflammation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chocolate Skim Milk \u2013 health concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n