New research has found that lowfat chocolate milk provides equal or superior muscle recovery and repair compared to a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage with the same amount of calories.
The study was conducted by scientists from James Madison University and analyzed post-exercise consumption of 13 male college soccer players.
The participants underwent normal training for one week, then spent four days training intensively and were given lowfat chocolate milk or a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage daily during that period.
After a two week break, the athletes went through a second round of normal training, followed by four-day intensified training to compare their recovery experiences following each beverage.
The results indicate that after two and four days of intensified training, chocolate milk drinkers had significantly lower levels of creatine kinase an indicator of muscle damage compared to those who drank the carbohydrate beverage.
The conclusions, which were presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, suggest milk may be just as effective as some commercial sports drinks in helping athletes recover and rehydrate.
Scientists say this is due to milks mix of high-quality protein, which helps build lean muscle, and carbohydrates. Milk also provides fluids for rehydration and minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium that everyone needs to replace after strenuous activity.
Those who are concerned about getting enough proteins and minerals from their daily diet may turn to nutritional supplements.
