Chocolate Milk Refuels Muscles

Drink fat-free chocolate milk over carbohydrate sports drinks to refuel and build your muscles after a workout, according to new research.

Chocolate milk contains the right balance of protein and carbs to fuel fatigued muscles after exercise, according to William Lunn, PhD, an exercise scientist at the University of Connecticut.  "It's not just a dessert item, but it's very healthy, especially for endurance athletes," says Lunn.

The research involved 8 healthy, male runners who ate a balanced diet for two weeks. After each week, they were subjected to a quick paced, 45 minute run. After each run, the participants either drank 16 ounces of chocolate milk or a carb-based sports drink with an equivalent number of calories.

The runners who drank the chocolate milk showed increased muscle protein synthesis that increased their ability to rebuild muscle tissue compared to the carb-only sports drink. The chocolate milk also increased their glycogen levels, or muscle fuel, 30-60 minutes after exercising which helps fuel future performance.

While only male subjects were studied, one can assume that women could also benefit from a post workout chocolate milk. The research was presented this week at the American College of Sports Medicine conference in Baltimore.

Chocolate milk is a fantastic protein and carb drink that is inexpensive and less-engineered than other recovery drinks. Drink one after your workout and you'll feel the difference immediately.