A couple months ago, my adult son was rushed to the emergency room because he was vomiting and had severe abdominal pain. The doctor diagnosed his problem as being Kidney stones. When he asked about my son’s diet, as soon as he mentioned drinking chocolate milk every day with breakfast, the doctor interjected with “No more chocolate milk. It’s not good for you.” This order (along with the strong pain killers) confused my son. He had enjoyed drinking chocolate milk all of his life. His son only drinks the chocolate-flavored variety too. Read this informative article and find out the answers to “Is Drinking Chocolate Milk Really Good for You?”
Chocolate Milk and Kidney Stones
According to the National Dairy Council, whose opinion may be biased, “Drinking milk may help to reduce the risk of kidney stones.” The California Council of California goes on to state “Contrary to popular belief, milk does not lead to the buildup of mineral deposits in the kidney leading to kidney stones. Research out of the University of Chicago showed that people could consume 600 mg of calcium (the amount in two cups of milk) without increasing their risk of stone formation…”
However, www.ehealthmd.com says, that some health experts recommend eating a “low-calcium” and “low-oxalate” diet in order to prevent the formation of calcium Kidney stones. That means, you should monitor your daily intake of calcium, including dairy products, as well as foods and drinks like “colas, chocolate, peanuts, leafy vegetables, and tea” that contain a lot of
oxalate.
That means, for people like my son who suffer from calcium Kidney stones, drinking chocolate milk may not be good for them because of the chocolate, plus the calcium.
Chocolate Milk and the Remaining Population
Kidney stones aside, what about the rest of the population? Is drinking chocolate milk really good for us? According to the Wisconsin Dairy Council, drink flavored milk and your body will reap the same benefits as drinking white milk. Chocolate milk contains “calcium, protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B12, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin and niacin.” The Council points out that since soda pop and fruit drinks are mainly “calories and sugar”, drinking chocolate milk is a better choice.
Chocolate Milk and Our Teeth
The Wisconsin Dairy Council also states “Some studies suggest that the cocoa in chocolate milk may actually protect against cavities.” The National Dairy Council agrees heartily- “…the calcium, phosphorus, and cocoa in chocolate milk may protect teeth from decay.”
Other Health Benefits of Drinking Chocolate Milk
Is drinking chocolate milk really good for you? Joel Stager, a professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the Indiana University Bloomington’s School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation has determined it’s good for athletes. He is also the director of the Councilman Center for the Science of Swimming. From tests he has conducted on swimmers and cyclists, Stager has concluded that chocolate milk is beneficial in helping tired muscles recover. The key ingredients in chocolate milk that rejuvenate muscles are the high amount of carbohydrates and protein.
However, the average athlete would need to drink sixteen-ounces of chocolate milk every hour, for 4 to 6 hours to receive the maximum benefits of muscle restoration. And, please note the research was bankrolled in part by the Dairy and Nutrition Council Inc.
Additional Research
The University of Auckland in New Zealand reported in 2006 that, according to their research, chocolate milk may actually help “maintain muscle function” and add years to the lives of senior citizens. According to The University of Auckland’s Faculty of Science, the prescription may be as simple as taking a walk and drinking a glass of chocolate milk afterwards.
Conclusion
Since my son has omitted his morning dose of chocolate milk from his diet, and made some other small changes, he hasn’t suffered any more distress from Kidney stones. He isn’t on any prescription drugs for the problem. He was instructed to simply change his diet.
I’m not a big milk drinker, but I do enjoy drinking a glass of chocolate milk from time to time. Being a woman, I need the calcium it provides. The taste satisfies my overactive sweet tooth, and a glass of chocolate milk helps quiet my hunger in between meals.
I do believe chocolate milk is good for us. But, just like every other food and drink available to us today, I believe it needs to be drank in moderation.
