It's nutritious, delicious, and one of the best post-exercise recovery drinks out there? Up until a few days ago I thought chocolate milk was just another beverage. But while we were out on a mountain bike ride this past weekend, my friend Chris Haver asked: "Do you ever drink chocolate milk after a punishing ride? If I drink it right after a ride I'm never sore the next day."
Interesting. So I went out and bought some lowfat choco milk and whacked back a couple cups to test out the theory. And it worked, at least I wasn't sore the morning after 5 back-to-back mountain bike rides.
According to a study published a few years back by the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, chocolate milk outperforms many of the "sports drinks" on the market. "Our study indicates that chocolate milk is a strong alternative to some commercial recovery aids in helping athletes recover from strenuous, energy-depleting exercise," according to co-author Joel M. Stager, PhD, professor of kinesiology at Indiana University. "Chocolate milk contains an optimal carbohydrate to protein ratio, which is critical for helping refuel tired muscles after strenuous exercise and can enable athletes to exercise at a high intensity during subsequent workouts."
