Research shows that downing chocolate milk after workouts can help replenish exhausted muscles and significantly aid exercise recovery.
Maybe you opt for pre-packagedprotein wateror head to the kitchen to whip up aprotein shake.
But research shows that there’s anotherworkout recoverydrink to add to the list: chocolate milk.
Its high water content replaces fluids lost as sweat,preventing dehydration.
“It’s water plus a whole lot more,” he says of the beverage.
Drinking plain old water after exercise replaces sweat loss and that’s it.
“There’s nothing to metabolize in water,” he notes.
So, is drinking chocolate milk after workout sessions a good idea for you?
All the questions you need answered, below.
Assess your exercise intensity first.
Downing a post-workout beverage chock-full of carbohydrates probably isn’t ideal for the casual weekend golfer, says Stager.
These sports stress high endurance levels and constant, sustained movement.
Competing athletes need high levels of calories, carbs, and protein to sustain that level of performance.
That’s why Stager tested out chocolate milk’s performance as a workout recovery drink on nine cyclists.
In his lab, each athlete biked until exhaustion, and then rested for four hours.
During this break, each consumed low-fat chocolate milk, Gatorade, or the high-carbohydrate sports drink Endurox R4.
Afterward, they cycled to exhaustion again.
Besides what you use to re-fuel,whenyou do it is just as important.
“Elite athletes may only have six to seven hours between workouts.
And you consume more if you actually like what you’re drinking, found Stager.
Post-workout food options don’t have to end at the supermarket shelf either.
A trainer, basketball player, and avidweightlifter, Huff loves creating his own blend.
Liquid and solid carbohydrates are equally good.
