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Horlicks Chocolate also known as Horlicks Chocolate delight is a chocolate-flavored health drink packed up with nutrients to make your children grow taller, stronger and sharper. Horlicks generally come in four flavors: chocolate, classic malt, kesar badam, and elaichi.
So today, in this article we will be reviewing Horlicks Chocolate by analyzing the ingredients and determining whether it is safe for our kids. Let’s begin.
Ingredients in Horlicks Chocolate
- Malted barley
- Sugar
- Milk solids
- Cocoa powder
- Wheat gluten
- Minerals
- Soy protein isolate
- Emulsifier INS 471
- Liquid glucose
- Natural color 150c
- Acidity regulators 501 and 500
- Vitamins
- Salt
- Natural identical flavors
Horlicks Chocolate Review – Analyzing
Malted barley
The first ingredient mentioned in Horlicks Chocolate is malted barley. Malted barley is the base of this product (42%) and is considered good for your child’s health. Malted barley is rich in B complex vitamins that are necessary for your child. Malted barley is also considered good for your heart as it decreases cholesterol levels.
Sugar
The next ingredient mentioned in the packaging of Horlicks Chocolate is sugar. The amount of sugar present in it is not clearly mentioned. But after analyzing and experimenting I found out that it contains about 32% sugar which is moderately high. But the serving size of Horlicks is about 27 grams. So after calculating, the amount of sugar results to 8-9 grams per serving which is actually within the permissible limit. The sugar becomes a matter of concern if you are giving it to your child 2-3 times a day.
Milk solids
The next ingredient found in Horlicks is milk solids (about 8%). 8% milk solids are way too less compared to other health drink brands in India.
Cocoa powder
The best thing that I liked about Horlicks Chocolate is the presence of cocoa powder instead of brown color or flavor which is very common in most other health drinks.
Wheat Gluten
Wheat gluten is added to Horlicks chocolate to maintain the uniform texture of the product. Gluten is a type of protein found in wheat and is not at all harmful to your health. But those who are allergenic to gluten should definitely stay away from this product.
Fortified with nutrients
The ingredient list of Horlicks Chocolate does not mention the presence of nutrients. Rather, the nutrients in Horlicks powder are artificially fortified. So if you are thinking that the nutrients in Horlicks are present in it naturally, then you are entirely wrong. The vitamins and minerals present in Horlicks chocolate are artificially fortified.
Soy protein
The main protein source in Horlicks chocolate is soy protein. This could have been better if whey protein would have been used instead of soy. But overall soy protein is also not harmful to your child’s health.
Emulsifier 471
Emulsifier 471 is generally manufactured from coconut, soy, corn or sunflower. It is generally added in Horlicks chocolate so that it gets mixed easily with milk and does not form lumps. This emulsifier is considered safe and does not have any side effects.
Liquid glucose
The next ingredient mentioned in the packaging is liquid glucose. Liquid Glucose is a type of sugar itself and acts as a source of energy in your body.
Natural color 150c
150c found in Horlicks Chocolate is a matter of concern. Color 150c contains ammonia which may result in cancer in the near future and increases the risks of developing health concerns. 150a could have been used in place of 150c which is free from any sorts of ammonia or sulfides.
Acid regulators 500 and 501
Acid regulators 500 and 501 are used in Horlicks chocolate to maintain the shelf life of the product. Both acid regulators are basically known as sodas which are safe for our health.
5 signs of growth
Nutrition in Horlicks chocolate has been artificially fortified to make it a powerful health drink and support the 5 signs of growth. Horlicks claim to be great for your bones, brain, and blood formation.
- For healthy bones, Horlicks chocolate mentions the presence of calcium, Vitamin D, Phosphorous and magnesium.
- For healthy muscles, Horlicks chocolate mentions the presence of protein and potassium.
- For brain development, Horlicks chocolate mentions the presence of Iodine, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folic acid and carbohydrates.
- For healthy blood, Horlicks chocolate mentions the presence of Iron, Vitamin C and Vitamin A.
- For energy and proper metabolism, Horlicks chocolate mentions the presence of Vitamin B complex, energy and fat.
- For boosting the immunity system Horlicks chocolate mentions the presence of Vitamin E, selenium, copper and zinc.
- For providing electrolyte balance Horlicks chocolate mentions the presence of sodium and chloride.
Every nutrient required for maintaining proper health is fortified in the right amount in Horlicks. The amount of Vitamin D and protein present in Horlicks could have been increased.
Who can consume Horlicks chocolate?
The packaging does not mention who should consume Horlicks chocolate. Being a pharmacist and nutrition expert, anyone who’s above 5 years old can definitely consume Horlicks chocolate as it is highly nutritive. For children who are under 5 years old, there is a specific type of Horlicks known as Junior Horlicks.
Review
Overall, Horlicks chocolate is one of the best health drinks for kids in India, fortified with a good amount of nutrients. The only concern is the usage of color 150c which could have been substituted to make it a perfect health drink. The amount of sugar is also less compared to other health drinks on the market. Moreover, the chocolaty taste is loved by kids. There are 3 other variations including the classic malt, elaichi and kesar badam, so that your kids don’t get bored with the same old taste. Even adults and aged people can consume Horlicks once during the morning as it has no side effects. Only Horlicks won’t help in the growth and development of your child, rather a combination of a balanced diet is also necessary.
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