{"id":7501,"date":"2026-01-27T17:03:34","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T11:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.ultrahuman.com\/blog\/bittersweet-truth-horlicks-classic-malt-and-the-risk-of-hyperglycaemia\/"},"modified":"2026-01-27T17:21:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T11:51:44","slug":"bittersweet-truth-horlicks-classic-malt-and-the-risk-of-hyperglycaemia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.ultrahuman.com\/blog\/bittersweet-truth-horlicks-classic-malt-and-the-risk-of-hyperglycaemia\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Horlicks good for health? Blood sugar impact and nutrition explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Horlicks Classic Malt is a legendary bedtime beverage. A malted milk drink fortified with nutrients \u2013 including carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals \u2013 it’s long been enjoyed by those looking for a cosy wind-down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it comes with a hidden cost: sugar. And plenty of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The perceived benefits of Horlicks, such as supporting relaxation, sleep, bone health, or general nourishment, are mostly marketing. There’s no strong clinical proof Horlicks actively improves sleep, aside from the calming effect of a warm milk drink<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A standard serving of Horlicks (25g powder mixed with 200ml semi-skimmed milk) contains around 19.2g of sugar<\/strong> \u2013 more than five teaspoons’ worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That’s 21% of the UK daily recommended guidelines for sugar, which can make it problematic for those looking to manage blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some people, high sugar intake before bed may amplify overnight glucose variability and early-morning hormone-driven glucose rises, which can fragment sleep or worsen morning blood sugar control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read next: Why 3AM wakeups could be your metabolism<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What happens to your blood sugar after drinking Horlicks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Horlicks<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The simple sugars in Horlicks cause a sharp rise in glucose levels \u2013 known as a hyperglycaemic spike. Frequent spikes and crashes like this can, over time, increase the risk of insulin resistance and metabolic dysregulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proprietary data from the Ultrahuman Open Glucose Database<\/a> \u2014 the world\u2019s largest open-source glucose response database built on CGM food logs \u2014 shows that 69% of users recorded an unstable glucose response after consuming Horlicks with semi-skimmed milk.<\/a> The average peak blood glucose level hit 153 mg\/dL, which is considered outside of the “normal” range for a non-diabetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to minimize the impact of Horlicks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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