Strawberry Milk vs. Chocolate Milk: Which Is Better?
Some people don’t fancy the taste of plain milk. That puts them at risk of avoiding milk and missing its nutritional benefits. So, drinking flavored milk has become an option to encourage the intake of the dairy food group for such people. Some of the most common flavored milk include strawberry milk and chocolate milk. But, which is better?
Chocolate milk is better if you need more antioxidants and vitamin D, but strawberry milk is often considered lighter for your stomach and tastier. Both of them offer a delicate, nutrient-packed, smooth, and sweet flavor without overwhelming the drink.
I understand that the debate of strawberry milk vs. chocolate milk can be so contentious that you’re afraid to dive into it. So, read on and learn which is healthier, has more sugar, and if strawberry milk is good for you, your kids, or your weight loss routine.
How Is Strawberry Milk Different from Chocolate Milk?
Strawberry milk is a flavorful beverage packed with minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. It improves blood sugar levels, lowers inflammation, and reduces risk factors for heart disease. However, strawberries contain natural sugars, which can increase the number of calories you eat.
Chocolate (particularly dark chocolate) has a higher number of antioxidants than the number of strawberries. Hence, chocolate milk offers more protection from disease-causing free radicals. Moreover, a cup of chocolate milk contains a third of your recommended daily intake of Vitamin D that strengthens teeth and bones. But, chocolate milk might have more amounts of fats than strawberry milk. [1]
Typically, chocolate milk has 8.1 grams of proteins, 290 mg of calcium, 0.68 mg of Iron, 152 mg of Sodium, and 145 mcg of Vitamin A. Conversely, strawberry milk has 7.8 grams of proteins, 228 mg of calcium, 0.15 mcg of Iron, 110 g of Sodium, and 132 mcg of Vitamin A.
Sugar Content
Typically, white milk has 11 grams of sugar (lactose, which occurs naturally in milk) in an 8-ounce serving. However, strawberry milk has 178 calories and 31 grams of sugar, while chocolate milk has 158 calories and 25 grams of sugar. [2]
Is Strawberry Milk Good for You?
Strawberry milk is a dairy-based beverage flavored by adding fresh strawberry, strawberry powder, or strawberry syrup to milk. Adding flavor to milk doesn’t change the nutrition a lot. Hence, strawberry milk has 30% of your recommended calcium intake and 25% of your recommended Vitamin D intake. Besides, milk has other nutrients, including proteins, Vitamin B12, niacin, and potassium. [3]
Moreover, strawberry milk is good for your health as strawberries are enriched with nutritious vitamins and minerals. It also has detoxifiers that can help deal with arthritis and gout issues and enhance and correct eye health.
This pink sweet, creamy, and delicious drink is a non-caffeinated, kid-friendly beverage. It’s a tasty option that encourages children to drink milk, a vital element of a good diet to build strong bones. Besides, strawberry milk contains protein, calcium, and Vitamin A.
However, be careful with the serving size because strawberry milk contains more sugar than regular milk, and too much sugar means weight gain and cavities.
What is more, strawberries in strawberry milk have soluble fiber that slows the stomach’s emptying rate and increases the fullness feelings, which helps regulate your appetite. Besides, fruits promote the production of leptin and adiponectin hormones that enhance metabolism and help burn fat.
But, adding flavoring to milk adds extra calories and sugar (10 grams of sugar are added to a standard ½ pint serving) to an otherwise healthy drink. Besides, strawberry milk has about 8 grams of saturated fat, which you should be wary of if you’re trying to lose weight.
To lower the risk, enjoy strawberry milk in moderation. Also, choose nonfat or low-fat milk and strawberry syrup with natural sugar instead of artificial sweeteners.
