Is Nesquik Healthy? The Science Behind This Magic Choco Powder

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Nesquik is a staple for many households. It comes in lots of varieties, including Nesquik Chocolate Powder. Using Nesquik is an excellent way of getting young children to drink milk, but it may have some drawbacks.

In this article, we are going to closely examine Nesquik powder to determine whether it is healthy, if it has any health benefits, and what the drawbacks of consuming it are. 

Keep reading to find out more!

Nonetheless, Nesquik may help increase your mineral intake. When mixed with milk, the powder contains calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc, along with vitamins A, C, and D, and some B vitamins. It also helps children increase their protein intake by making milk more appetizing to them.

However, while Nesquik products do have some mineral content, there are much healthier places to get these nutrients, including drinking milk on its own.

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What Ingredients Does Nesquik Contain?

Nesquik Chocolate Powder is made up of very few ingredients. It contains raw cane sugar, cocoa powder, soya lecithin, which is an emulsifier that prevents separation, as well as salt, vitamins C and D, natural flavoring, and cinnamon.

The product does not contain any added colors, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, or artificial flavors. The ingredients may vary depending on which of the flavors you choose, and the above ingredients pertain to Nesquik Chocolate Powder only.

Health Benefits of Nesquik Powder

Nesquik Chocolate Powder is relatively high in sugar, but it still has some benefits for your health. We have taken a look at some of these health benefits below.

#1 Fortified with vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency can cause many health problems, including poor bone health, anxiety, muscle pain, and rickets in children. In fact, it is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the world.

You can get vitamin D from food products like fatty fish, but most vitamin D comes from the sun hitting our skin and being synthesized by our body. 

Fortified foods, like cereals and plant milk, are one of the best ways for people to get more vitamin D in their diet without having to take a supplement.

#2 Ensures that children drink milk

Milk is a nutritionally dense beverage that can ensure children get the required calcium each day, as well as being an excellent source of protein. The proteins in milk contribute to muscle growth and repair, while calcium promotes healthy bones and teeth. Both are incredibly important for children.

#3 No artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors

Unlike many products marketed to children, Nesquik Chocolate Powder is free from E-numbers, artificial flavorings, and preservatives. There is controversy surrounding many of the artificial additives used in children’s food products that alter the flavor or color of it, with some people thinking they are linked to the development of cancers and behavioral problems.

More research is needed to substantiate many of these claims; however, some parents choose to avoid these additives, and some are even now banned by the food industry.

Potential Side Effects of Nesquik

While Nesquik does have some benefits for health, particularly for children, it does come with a few drawbacks. We’ve taken the time to explore some of these below so you can weigh up the pros and cons of consuming Nesquik.

#1 Very high in sugar

Nesquik Chocolate Powder has an extremely high sugar content. Indeed, in 100g of powder, there is 78.6g of sugar. Consumption of excessive amounts of added sugar can lead to the development of several chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders, as well as playing a role in chronic inflammation, poor gut health, and dental health problems.

While Nesquik Chocolate Powder encourages children to drink milk and get important nutrients, like calcium, there are other fortified food products that could ensure children get these minerals without the high added sugar content.

#2 Highly processed

Even though Nesquik contains many nutrients, it is still a highly processed food. This means that many of the natural nutrients have been stripped during processing, and the nutrients in the product have been added artificially.

Additionally, the cocoa powder used in Nesquik is processed. However, depending on the extent of processing, cocoa can still retain its health benefits, including flavonols.

#3 Not suitable for people with diabetes

Due to its high sugar content, Nesquik Chocolate Powder is not suitable for people with diabetes. Those with diabetes need to eat fewer simple carbohydrates and follow a low-GI diet. With 78.6g of sugar per 100g, there is far too much sugar in this chocolate milk for people with the condition, and it would likely cause a blood sugar spike.

Nutrition Facts for Nesquik Powder Mix

To help you get a better understanding of the nutritional value of this chocolate milk product, we have summarized the key nutritional facts below.

Nutritional value (per 100g)

Source: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/2109192/nutrients 

High in calories

There are 357 calories in 100 grams of Nesquik chocolate flavor powder and 54 calories per serving (~15g of powder). This is a high amount of calories for a beverage. High-calorie, high-sugar drinks are known to cause weight gain and offer very little nutritional benefit.

High in carbohydrates and sugars

The high sugar content in Nesquik could have a negative effect on your health. Research indicates that excessive consumption of added sugar can lead to the development of many chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.

In addition, excessive amounts of sugar are also bad for your dental health and can cause inflammation in the body, which leads to gut problems. Drinking Nesquik powder every day could lead to overconsumption of sugar.

High in sodium

High sodium intake can lead to increased blood pressure, which is a biomarker for poor cardiovascular health. Nesquik contains a high amount of sodium, so consuming this beverage could lead to high blood pressure and overall poorer heart health.

Fortified with vitamins and minerals

Nesquik is fortified with vitamins C and D, and it contains essential micronutrients that promote healthy bones and teeth. These are important for our health, especially for children.

Nesquik vs. Ovaltine

Source: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/2109192/nutrients and https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/173222/nutrients 

Nesquik Alternatives

While moderate consumption of Nesquik is unlikely to have damaging effects on your health, if you usually enjoy chocolate milk every day, you may want to look for a healthier alternative. Below is a list of a few low-sugar, low-sodium alternatives to Nesquik that you could try.

• Nestle Milo chocolate malt powder – This powder is usually mixed with hot water or milk or a combination of both. It has a slightly malty taste and is less sweet than Nesquik. It has less sugar and slightly less salt than Nesquik too.
• Chocolate almond milk – A good choice for vegans. Chocolate almond milk has significantly less sugar and salt than Nesquik.
• Cacao powder – Cacao powder is a relatively bitter flavor but could be sweetened with natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup. It contains much less sugar and salt than Nesquik and can be mixed into hot milk.
• Milk chocolate hazelnut milk – Another plant-based milk, chocolate-flavored hazelnut milk has much less sugar and salt than Nesquik and is higher in both fiber and protein.

A Word from Nutritionist

Edibel Quintero

Medical advisor for Health Reporter

Nesquik creates many products, including chocolate milk powder, Nesquik cereal, and syrups. While they do encourage children to drink more milk, they contain lots of sugar, which is considered bad for your health.

As fortified powders, Nesquik products may support increased vitamin and mineral intake, promoting healthy bones and teeth, and they contain vitamin C to promote better immune function. However, there are healthier places to get these important nutrients that don’t contain as much sugar as Nesquik does.

To ensure that you get all the essential vitamins and minerals for a healthy body, you need to eat a varied, whole, and healthy diet. This includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats. Milk is an important source of calcium and protein, but it should be drunk on its own to avoid consuming too much sugar.

While an occasional glass of Nesquik will not be damaging to your health, it should not be consumed in place of regular milk.

FAQs

Conclusion

To sum up, Nesquik is not considered a healthy beverage due to its relatively high sugar content. While it does contain some essential micronutrients and is fortified with vitamins, you can find these minerals in other lower-sugar beverages and food products.

However, drinking Nesquik occasionally may not pose significant risks to your health, but the key is to consume it in moderation.