Is a milkshake healthy?
A milkshake is a treat, not a health drink. USDA FoodData Central lists a thick vanilla shake at 112 kcal and 17.75 g carbohydrate per 100 g, with 146 mg calcium and 3.86 g protein. We found no official source that states health benefits for milkshakes.
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In this article
What is in a milkshake?
USDA FoodData Central has entries for thick shakes of the kind sold in fast-food restaurants. Values are per 100 g.
| Per 100 g | Thick vanilla | Thick chocolate |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 112 kcal | 119 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 17.75 g | 21.15 g |
| Protein | 3.86 g | 3.05 g |
| Fat | 3.03 g | 2.70 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.886 g | 1.681 g |
| Calcium | 146 mg | 132 mg |
| Sodium | 95 mg | 111 mg |
How much is in one shake?
USDA lists a vanilla container of 11 oz (313 g) and a chocolate container of 10.6 oz (300 g). That works out to about 351 kcal and 56 g carbohydrate for the vanilla one, and about 357 kcal and 63 g carbohydrate for the chocolate one (our calculation from the per 100 g values). Restaurant shakes and homemade ones can differ a lot from these entries.
Does a milkshake have health benefits?
It does contain calcium and protein from milk, as the numbers above show. But we found no official source (NHS, CDC, WHO, FDA) that lists health benefits of drinking milkshakes, so we do not claim any. We did not verify claims about fiber or digestion, so we leave them out.
How often should you have one?
The data is a good reason to treat a shake as dessert and check the size. If you have diabetes, a heart condition or another health concern, ask a doctor or dietitian how a drink like this fits your diet.
People also ask
Is a milkshake healthy?
It is better seen as a treat. A thick vanilla shake is listed by USDA at 112 kcal and 17.75 g carbohydrate per 100 g, about 351 kcal for an 11 oz container (our calculation).
Does a milkshake have calcium?
Yes. USDA lists 146 mg calcium per 100 g for a thick vanilla shake and 132 mg for a thick chocolate shake.
How many calories are in a milkshake?
USDA lists 112 kcal per 100 g for thick vanilla and 119 kcal for thick chocolate. A full container is about 350 kcal (our calculation).
Sources
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