New Post Workout Drink: Chocolate Milk

After you workout it is vital that you get food into your system. Now it may surprise you what you could use for that post workout meal. A new study, published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, reports that athletes who drank chocolate milk after an intense bout of exercise were able to workout longer and with more power during a second workout compared to athletes who drank commercial sports beverages.

"Our study indicates that chocolate milk is a strong alternative to other commercial sports drinks 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."


The study was done on cyclists and given one of three beverages:

1) low-fat chocolate milk

2) a traditional fluid replacement sports drink

3) a carbohydrate replacement sports drink


On their second workout the chocolate milk drinkers were able to workout out twice as long as the sport drink users, and as long as those who consumed the fluid replacement drink. The researchers theorized that chocolate milk contains the proper carb to protein ration for optimal post workout drink. The researchers also note that chocolate milk is a great-tasting and cost-effective alternative to many sports drinks. Another important factor is that milk contains calcium to build strong bones which is not found in your typical sports drink.