Chocolate Milk for Muscle Recovery

Fitness lovers everywhere can rejoice! Low-fat chocolate milk is actually good for you and muscle recovery after a strenuous workout. So, why is low-fat chocolate milk the perfect choice for a post-work out drink? Chocolate milk contains many of the nutrients the body needs for recovery.

According to the article, "Chocolate Milk's 'Natural' Muscle Recovery Benefits Match Or May Even Surpass A Specially Designed Carbohydrate Sports Drink" on the web site Medical News Today (2009), "Post-exercise consumption of low fat chocolate milk was found to provide equal or possibly superior muscle recovery compared to a high-carbohydrate recovery beverage with the same amount of calories." This means that low fat chocolate milk can provide exercise lovers the same carbohydrate quantity needed to help restore muscle damage after their work outs.

During work outs, muscles can become fatigued and stressed, and often can suffer from work out induced injuries, such as small tears within the muscle. As muscle are worked, they can be microscopically injured--a natural process from which the muscles are then rebuilt stronger and firmer. It is this process which helps develop muscle tone and mass. However, the muscle must be repaired and repaired appropriately. The high carbohydrate and protein within chocolate milk has shown that it can repair muscle damage just as effectively as popular sports drinks.

This is great news, particularly for women, since drinking low fat milk can provide the necessary calcium and vitamin D often missing from diets. Milk can also provide missing or lacking minerals, such as magnesium and potassium, along with the much needed calcium. Milk can also rehydrate the body just as well as water or a sports drink.

However, it should be noted that individuals who are counting calories and watching carbs should chose a low fat or skim version of chocolate milk, since regular chocolate milk can have upwards of 200-plus calories and 32 grams of sugar per 8 ounce serving. Keep in mind that the recommended daily sugar intake is 40 grams, or 10 teaspoons. With one regular 8 ounce serving of chocolate milk, you are getting your daily intake. Yikes!

Despite this, low fat chocolate milk is a great alternative for a post-work out drink. So before you reach for a bottled sports drink, reach for a glass of chocolate milk instead. The wholesome goodness within milk is much better for you than the empty calories of sports drink. After all, milk does do a body good!