Research shows that chocolate milk might be just as good as sports drinks to help athletes recover from intense exercise. This information comes out of a small study from James Madison University in Virginia as presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine.
I like to ride my bicycle for hours at a time and have often enjoyed a glass of chocolate milk upon my return. My logic was that the milk contained some protein so it’s probably a good thing for muscles. Milk also contains fluid for rehydration, as well as minerals like calcium and magnesium, electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, and carbohydrates including lactose. These are all good for recovery after exercise and occur naturally in milk.
During the reported study 13 soccer players were given either low-fat chocolate milk or a high-carbohydrate sports drink. Then researchers measured blood levels of creatine kinase, an indicator of muscle breakdown. The players who drank the chocolate milk had lower levels of this chemical, indicating less muscle damage. Furthermore, based on measurements of players subjective reporting, there was no difference between milk and the sports drink as far as tiredness, muscle soreness, and muscle strength.
OK, the study was small, with only 13 players, but I think this clearly points out an alternative to expensive sports drinks. And, this is especially good news for chocolate lovers who can now claim that their chocolate milk is a good part of their exercise program!
