Are fast-food milkshakes a good source of calcium?
Yes, but at a cost. The smallest size shake usually 12 to 14 ounces at fast food restaurants provides about 300 to 350 milligrams (mg) of calcium, which is the same or slightly more than that contained in an 8-ounce cup of milk. On the other hand, if you drink 12 ounces of milk, you’d get about 450 mg of calcium. The disadvantage of using shakes as a frequent source of calcium comes from their other components. The calorie count of the smallest shakes is about 400 to 450 each. Fat content ranges from 12 to 17 grams. Sugar content numbers about 60 grams. Some of that sugar is naturally found in milk, but a cup of skim milk, which would provide a similar amount of calcium, has only 12 grams of sugar. It also has only 90 calories and no fat. Even a cup of reduced-fat chocolate milk is healthier than a milkshake. It contains 180 calories, 5 grams of fat and about 25 grams of sugar with the same amount of calcium. If you order a larger milkshake, the calorie load really increases. You can g
