Several studies show the benefits of drinking chocolate milk as a recovery drink. However, other than the fact that it contains an optimum protein/carb ratio, allowing repair of damaged tissue and post workout muscle glycogen renewal, do you know of other benefits for athletes?
Other studies continue to show the potential of chocolate milks as a recovery drink contributing to physical performance in future endurance workouts. For example, a study published in the Journal of Science & Medicine in Sports shows that runners could run 23% longer in a subsequent session and a 38% increase in muscle strength indicators when drinking chocolate milk after an effort compared with a sports drink with similar calories amount. Another study shows that cyclist could ride 51% longer after having recovered from a ride drinking chocolate milk.
In summary, several studies and sports nutrition headways show that chocolate milk is an effective and simple drink when the time comes to recover from a workout. However, one must not forget to take into consideration the amount of calories thus ingested in their daily equation, the physical effort must be intense enough to justify drinking a post workout recovery drink.
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