US Schools’ War Against Chocolate Milk by Gilbert Cruz

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The main concern of the article is the necessity of reduction of chocolate milk consumption in schools

The article under consideration under the title U.S. Schools’ War Against Chocolate Milk is taken from TIME, issued on 18 December, 2009. It is written by Gilbert Cruz, senior editor at TIME. The main concern of the article in question is the reduction of chocolate milk consumption in schools. The author provides opinions of several competent functionaries from nutrition organizations, such as the National Dairy Council and Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity (Cruz, 2009). These people are definitely against the chocolate milk presence in school lunches for it is one of factors provoking obesity in kids and adults. They support such opinion by the held investigations that show that chocolate milk contains more calories and sugar than even Coke. These officials suggest replacing chocolate milk with juices, fruits and vegetables. The conclusion which can be derived from the article is the necessity to exclude chocolate milk from school lunches, though it can be served at home in reasonable quantities.

The scientific background of the issue discussed in the article

Chocolate milk contains a lot of nutrients necessary for children development.

Thus, the consumption of chocolate milk is quite disputable issue, since it has its pros and cons. First of all, I’d like to draw my attention to the positive impact of chocolate milk. Miller et al. (2000) point out that chocolate milk provides significant portions of the necessary vitamins and minerals (p.40). On the whole, it is very nutritive and, of course, it tastes good. Moreover, for the nutrients which chocolate milk contains it is even recommended for children from 4 to 189 years old (Miller et al., 2000, p.41). Also Miller et al. (2000) add that investigations showed that children who drank chocolate milk and other flavored milks had better intake of the necessary nutrients (e.g. calcium and vitamin A) than those who drank tea or fruit drinks (p.41).

Chocolate milk contributes to milk tolerance improving.

Chocolate milk is also recommended for people with low lactose tolerance (Coulston and Boushey, 2008, p.762). It is due to the fact that chocolate milk is absorbed in stomach more slowly than unflavored milk. Thus, chocolate milk can make lactose tolerance higher, and people will be able to consume more useful nutrients from milk itself. It goes without saying that children and a lot of adults prefer chocolate milk to unflavored milk (Miller et al., 2000, p.43). It is a well known fact that milk is indispensable for newborn children and is necessary for adults, since it is milk that contains great amount of calcium and vitamin D (Wilson and Temple, 2004, p.224). It is also known that without lactase human organism cannot digest milk, and that can lead to abdominal disorders; so since with age amount of this ferment reduces, adults are subjected to milk intolerance (Wilson and Temple, 2004, p.224). Thus, adults and even children should consume products which can help to improve milk intake; in order to get all those useful and necessary nutrients, which dairy products contain. Chocolate milk is a really good and tasty remedy in this case, since it contains a great deal of milk and, at the same time, its components help organism to take as much nutrients as possible.

Chocolate can be useful in sport nutrition.

Moreover, it is necessary to add that investigations held in Indiana University provided quite unexpected results: chocolate milk proved to be more useful in sport nutrition (Fink et al., 2008, p. 372). This study showed that chocolate milk consumption after exhaustive exercises was better for athletes than consumption of special carbohydrate drinks. Investigations in this field continue, but researchers already admit that chocolate is much more palatable and cheaper than carbohydrate drinks (Fink et al., 2008, p. 372).

Possible chocolate milk contribution to obesity.

Of course, there always the pros and cons, so people concerning about negative impact of chocolate milk have the ground for their doubts. First of all, a lot of people argue that this drink contains too much sugar and may cause obesity. People who oppose them admit that chocolate milk contains some amount of sugar, but as Miller et al. (2000) put it none of the held investigations showed that sugar in such kind of drink as chocolate milk may cause obesity (p. 41). Some may argue that even that considerable amount of sugar present in chocolate milk can lead to obesity, since it will be added to thousands of other considerable amounts of sugar; so it is necessary to remove this drink from schools.

Possible chocolate milk contribution to dental caries.

Some people also express their concerns about possible chocolate milk contribution to dental caries development. These people claim that since this drink contains quite considerable amount of sugar, it may contribute to the development of caries, especially in children. Miller et al. (2000) refute this possibility and prove that there are at least two factors that prevent dental caries development: on the one hand, being liquid chocolate milk (and sugar in it) is cleared quite quickly, on the other hand, this drink contains component, e.g. cacao, phosphorus and others, which protect teeth.

The necessity to maintain reasonable chocolate consumption

To my mind, chocolate milk is more useful than harmful, for it contains so many nutrients useful for human’s life. It contains some amount of sugar and we know that abuse in sugar consumption leads to obesity, distention and many other diseases. Nevertheless, my firm believe is that balance is needed in everything. People need chocolate milk to improve their milk tolerance and, thus, obtain the necessary vitamins and minerals from milk. As mentioned above some investigations prove the nutritive value of this drink, and some recommendations for athletes to use chocolate milk instead of carbohydrate drinks are introduced (Fink et al., 2008, p. 372). Moreover, if schools will stop providing this product to children they can be deprived of this golden opportunity to get the necessary nutrients from products. I would suggest reducing the amount of this product in schools, it will be more helpful to serve chocolate milk, for example, twice or even once a week and educate children and their parents in terms of this product consumption. It is important to underline that chocolate milk is very useful in reasonable amounts.

The exclusive value of the article under consideration

Thus, in conclusion I’d like to point out that the article under consideration brings out a very disputable and important issue concerning the necessity to reduce chocolate milk consumption. To my mind, the article provides a bit negative attitude towards this drink, but still it suggests reasonable way out which presupposes balance in its consumption. Moreover, the article provides sufficient amount of information taken from the reliable and competent sources which enables the reader to get aware with the issue discussed and drive to his/her own conclusion. I would like to stress that the article does not reveal one-sided view; it provides comprehensive presentation of facts, which increases the article’s value. I believe that such kind of articles should exist in order to highlight different facts and events, concerning our nutrition, and suggest different solution on this or that issue.

Reference

Coulston, A.M., Boushey, C. (2008). Nutrition In The Prevention And Treatment Of Disease. New York: Academic Press.

Cruz, G. (2009). U.S. Schools’ War Against Chocolate Milk. TIME. Web.

Fink, H.H., Burgoon, L.A., Mikesky, A.E. (2008). Practical Applications in Sports Nutrition. Sudbury: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Miller, G.D., Jarvis, J.K., McBean, L.D. (2000). Handbook Of Dairy Foods And Nutrition. New York: CRC Press.

Wilson, T., Temple, N.J. (2004). Beverages In Nutrition And Health. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press.

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US Schools’ War Against Chocolate Milk by Gilbert Cruz

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