Chocolate Milk... The Recovery Drink of Champions?

After a hard day of intervals, a long distance run, or any sort of workout it is best to consume some sort of nutrients that the body can absorb (within 30 min. after your workout, yet even better if it is before 15 min.) to achieve proper recovery. Doing so will reduce soreness and muscle fatigue throughout the rest of the day. Things like fruits, granola, protein bars, Gatorade, and poweraid are great to have and will make your body feel more energized.

What most people don't know is that 1% Chocolate Milk is one of the best things to consume after a run. Low-fat milk is a great source of nutrition . It consists of 90% water, so it replaces fluid lost in sweat. Low-fat milk also has calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D to build strong bones, and B vitamins to produce energy. Potassium and sodium are also found in chocolate milk and these are key electrolytes lost during exercise. The main carbohydrate in cow’s milk is lactose(milk sugar). Low-fat chocolate milk contains carbohydrate and protein in a proportion greater than 3 to 1, which is the optimal level to refuel tired muscles after hard exercise. The presence of protein in milk is vital because it speeds the uptake of sugar into exhausted muscles by directly increasing insulin levels in blood. And not to forget, it tastes great.