Chocolate Milk Does it Again – Great for Athletes

Hot off the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism press: Chocolate milk once again proves itself as a recovery beverage.

Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin found that chocolate milk (which has a great combo of carbohydrate and protein) was a better post-workout beverage than a carbohydrate only sports drink or placebo. In this study 32 untrained subjects cycled for 60 minute per day, 5 days per week for 4.5 weeks. After every workout subjects consumed either chocolate milk, a carbohydrate only drink or a placebo. And, at the end of the 4.5 week study, the group that consumed the chocolate milk showed significantly greater improvements in VO2max (maximum oxygen uptake – a measure of aerobic capacity) of  compared to the carbohydrate beverage group and placebo group and, the chocolate milk drinkers also had grater improvements in their body composition (lean and fat mass) compared to the carbohydrate group.

Study authors conclusion: “Chocolate milk post exercise improves aerobic power and body composition more effectively than carbohydrate alone.”

Now, what if you are lactose intolerant? Try Lactaid. Seriously, Lactaid is so good I bought a gallon of it after trying it in Costco and I’m not even lactose intolerant.

Thanks to milk-lover Jeff Stout, PhD, CSCS for sending this study my way and always keeping me up to date on the latest and greatest in sports nutrition.