Horlicks Protein Plus is a popular high-protein drink designed to help people who are looking to add more protein to their diet or who have difficulty getting enough protein from food alone.
It comes in a powder form and claims to provide 30% of the daily protein needed for people age above 30 years.
And while it is packed with many essential vitamins and minerals, is Horlicks protein plus good for your health?
Short answer: Horlicks protein plus is good for health as it contains a triple blend of protein(Whey, casein and soy) and has various essential vitamins and minerals.
To get a better overview of Horlicks protein plus, read the following sections.
Also read: Women Horlicks Review: The Benefits, Ingredients, Side Effects, and More
Nutritional value of Horlicks protein plus
Protein
Horlicks protein plus claims it is made up of 3 high-quality proteins – Soy, Whey, and Casein.
Let’s learn about each type of protein.
Soy protein isolate
Biological value: 74
Soy protein isolate is a type of plant-based protein that has been isolated from the other parts of the soybean.
It is a highly refined form of soy protein that is often used in processed foods and supplements. It is a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids our bodies need.
According to the label, Horlicks protein plus (chocolate flavor) contains 9% soy protein isolate. However, if you choose vanilla flavor, it comes with 18% of soy protein isolate.
Whey protein concentrate
Biological value: 104
Whey protein concentrate is a dairy-based protein powder made from Whey, the liquid that separates from milk during the cheese-making process.
It is a popular choice for athletes and bodybuilders because it is a rich source of amino acids, the building blocks of muscle tissue.
According to the label, it is the main protein in Horlicks protein plus (chocolate flavor), containing 30%. However, if you choose the vanilla flavor, it has 16% of whey protein.
Casein protein
Biological value: 70
Casein protein is a dairy-based protein found in milk and other dairy products.
It is a complete protein containing all the essential amino acids your body needs. It’s also a slow-digesting protein, making it an excellent choice for bedtime snacks or post-workout recovery drinks.
According to the label, Horlicks protein plus(chocolate flavor) contains just 1% of casein protein. However, if you choose the vanilla flavor, it has 5.2% of casein protein.
In total, about 40% of the Horlicks protein plus is consist of triple Protein Blend.
Adding to that, a single serving(30g) of Horlicks provides 10.2g of protein.
However, when prepared according to the recommended method of using 200ml milk, the overall protein content increases to 16g.
This is a significant increase and makes Horlicks protein plus a good choice for those looking to improve their protein intake.
Calories
A single serving of Horlicks protein plus has 112 calories, of which 40.8 comes from protein, 58.5 from carbs, and the rest from fat.
Carbohydrates
A single serving of Horlicks protein plus provides 10g of carbs. Carbs are vital as they are the body’s primary energy source.
Sugar
Sugar is one of the most crucial factors when choosing a nutrition product.
A single serving of Horlicks protein plus provides you with 4.5g of added sugar, equivalent to 1 teaspoon.
However, there is also a sugar-free variant of Horlicks protein plus which is good for those looking to cut down on sugar.
Fat
Horlicks protein plus is low in fat, with only 1.3g per serving. Of this, 0.4g is saturated fat and the rest is unsaturated.
The low fat levels makes Horlicks protein plus a good choice for those following a low-fat diet or for people with health issues that make it difficult to process fat.
Fiber
A single serving of Horlicks protein plus contains 0.9g of fiber, which is very low compared to what is recommended daily for an adult.
Vitamins
Horlicks protein plus comprises 14 vitamins, including Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, B12, C, D, E, and K.
The best part is that these vitamins are present in good quantities, making Horlicks protein plus an excellent choice for those looking to improve their vitamin intake.
A single serving of Horlicks protein plus provides the following:
- 33% of the daily value of vitamin A for men and 43% for women
- 54% of the daily value of vitamin B1 for adults
- 57% of the daily value of vitamin B2 for adults
- 53% of the daily value of vitamin B3 for adults
- 30% of the daily value of vitamin B5 for adults
- 76% of the daily value of vitamin B6 for adults
- 30% of the daily value of vitamin B7 for adults
- 15% of the daily value of vitamin B9 for adults
- 41% of the daily value of vitamin B12 for adults
- 35% of the daily value of vitamin C for men and 42% for women
- 33% of the daily value of vitamin D for adults
- 10% of the daily value of vitamin E for adults
- 16% of the daily value of vitamin K for men and 22% for women
Minerals
Horlicks protein plus comprises 5 minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
A single serving of Horlicks protein plus provides the following:
- 9% of the daily value of calcium for adults
- 12% of the daily value of magnesium for men and 16% for women
- 13% of the daily value of phosphorus for adults
- 97% of the daily value of iron for men and 57% for women
- 9% of the daily value of zinc for men and 12% for women
Ingredients in Horlicks protein plus
The key ingredients in Horlicks protein plus includes protein, cereal extract, edible vegetable fat, cocoa powder, antioxidant, maltodextrin, emulsifiers, acidity regulators, and natural colors.
Let’s learn a bit about each ingredient.
Protein
As discussed above, Horlicks protein plus is made from a blend of Whey, soy, and casein.
Cereal extract
Cereal extract is a natural product made from the extracts of grains such as wheat and barley. It is used in many supplements because it is rich in nutrients and can help improve the consumer’s health.
Edible vegetable fat powder
Edible vegetable fat powder is a type of food additive that is made from vegetable oils. In the case of Horlicks protein plus, it is made from high oleic sunflower oil, which is known as a good source of essential fatty acids.
Cocoa powder
Cocoa powder is made from the beans of the cacao tree. These beans are roasted and then crushed into a paste. The cocoa butter is removed from the paste, leaving behind a dry powder.
It is used in the chocolate flavor of the Horlicks protein plus to give it a chocolate-like flavor.
Antioxidant
Horlicks protein plus has Ascorbyl stearate(INS 305), a type of antioxidant as a food additive that primarily helps to preserve the food nutrition quality and shelf life.
In addition, antioxidants help prevent or delay cell damage by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are natural byproducts of cell metabolism that can damage cells and lead to inflammation.
Maltodextrin
Well, maltodextrin is a very controversial ingredient. It is an artificial food additive used in supplements to boost energy levels and performance.
It is considered safe for most people. However, it carries some risks for people with diabetes.
Natural colors
The chocolate flavor of Horlicks protein plus used two types of natural colors (INS 150d) and (INS 150c)
While the FDA permits these colors, they may pose a risk to people with asthma and high blood pressure.
Emulsifier
An emulsifier is a substance that helps to bind together two or more substances that would otherwise not mix well. In the food industry, emulsifiers stabilize mixtures and improve texture.
Horlicks protein plus uses (INS 471) as an emulsifier produced from glycerine obtained from soya bean oil.
Acidity regulators
Acidity regulators are common food additives that are used to control the acidity and alkalinity of a food or beverage.
Two common acidity regulators used in Horlicks protein plus include
- Potassium hydrogen carbonate or INS(501(ii))
- Sodium carbonate(baking soda) or INS(500(ii))
Flavoring substances
The Horlicks protein plus has labeled that they use added flavours that are not natural but chemically identical to substances present in natural products. However, they have not disclosed what those flavours are.
6 Reasons Horlicks protein plus is good for health
1. High in vitamins
While protein is essential for athletes and bodybuilders, it is not the only nutrient they need.
Vitamins are also essential for optimal health and performance.
Horlicks protein plus not only has several vitamins but also the quantity of these vitamins is high.
In fact, every vitamin present in it provides more than 10% of the daily needed value.
This makes it an excellent choice for picky eaters who want all the essential vitamins in one drink.
2. Good for bodybuilding
While the protein amount may be low for some people, there is no doubt that, at this price, Horlicks protein plus is excellent.
For the average person looking to increase protein intake, Horlicks protein plus can be a great addition to the diet.
Additionally, drinking it with milk can boost the protein content by 40%, which is great for bodybuilding.
Furthermore, it has whey protein, which you usually don’t get in this price range of drinks.
3. Excellent for bone health
Horlicks protein plus is rich in calcium, vitamin D, phosphorus, and magnesium. All of which are essential minerals for bone health.
Calcium and phosphorus work closely together to make strong bones from the inside. At the same time, vitamin D and magnesium help properly absorb calcium in the bones.
4. Boost hemoglobin production
Horlicks Protein Plus is a good source of iron. In fact, for men, it has almost 100% of the daily needed value in a single serving.
Iron is an essential mineral that helps to boost hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues.
This doesn’t add value only to the average person but also to the athletes, as adequate iron intake plays a major role in energy metabolism, increasing overall performance.
5. Good for the immune system
Horlicks protein plus is packed with immunity-boosting nutrients like vitamins A, C, zinc, iron, and glutamine(amino acid), making it good for the immune system.
6. Boost nervous system health
The nervous system is responsible for transmitting signals throughout the body, which is crucial for maintaining health.
Horlicks protein plus is an excellent source of Vitamin B6, providing 76% of the daily need in a serving.
Vitamin B6 is necessary for the brain’s normal development and for keeping the nervous system healthy.
Additionally, it also helps to boost your mood by reducing the symptoms of depression.
Also read: Bournvita Vs Horlicks: Which One Is The Better Health Drink?
Are there any downsides to Horlicks protein plus?
1. It contain added sugar
Every serving of Horlicks protein plus comes with a 4.5g of sugar which is okay.
However, the sugar issue can be avoided by choosing the “No Added Sugar” option of the Horlicks protein plus.
2. Use of maltodextrin
Maltodextrin is one of the most common additives food companies use in their products.
While it is deemed safe by US FDA, it is highly processed and can pose health risks, especially for people with diabetes.
Maltodextrin has a high glycemic index of 95 to 136, which can cause a spike in your blood sugar levels, just like table sugar.
Therefore, if you have diabetes, you must be careful with a drink containing this ingredient.
3. Not for lactose intolerant
If you are lactose intolerant, Horlicks protein plus is not ideal, as it contains milk solids.
Final words: Is Horlicks protein plus good for health?
Horlicks protein plus is an excellent drink to include in your diet as it can easily provide at least one-third of your daily protein need and has whey protein, which you won’t find in any other drink in this price range.
Additionally, it is packed with many essential vitamins and minerals.
If you are an adult aged 30 or over, adding Horlicks protein plus to your daily diet can be good for your health.
However, if you have big bodybuilding goals, going with 100% whey protein supplements would be more beneficial.
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