14 DAY TRIAL // A recent study carried out by researchers at the Indiana University and partly supported by the Dairy and Nutrition Council showed that chocolate milk beats carbohydrate drinks when it comes to improving physical endurance. The team also drew attention upon the fact that chocolate milk is also healthier than traditional energy drinks which contain large amounts of caffeine and sugar.
Speaking about chocolate milk popular drink and its effects on physical endurance, cycling coach Scott Saifer stated: "My way of explaining it is, there's really nothing magic about the powder in a can that you mix with water. It's water, carbs, proteins, maybe minerals and electrolytes. What's in chocolate milk? The same thing. There's no reason it shouldn't be as good for recovery as a carb drink."
The study was conducted on a small group of athletes who strenuously worked out on a stationary bicycle and then half of them drank a carbohydrate drink, while the other half drank low-fat chocolate milk. After a few hours, subjects in the study resumed cycling and went on exercising until they reached exhaustion.
Overall results of the study showed that athletes who drank chocolate milk after the first workout session recovered better and were able to go between 49 and 54 percent longer on the second stint than their peers who received carbohydrate drinks. However, the difference between the 2 groups was not significant, but experts recommend chocolate milk to athletes or people who are on high-level exercising programs, as the drink is a rich source of micronutrients.
Dietician Mary Lee Chin, who does public-relations work for the Western Dairy Council also stated about chocolate milk: "It's not like you're talking about some beverage that's really outlandish and recommending that. Milk should be part of everyone's diet anyhow. It's the fact that you already have a nutritional benefit, and then there's this additional replenishment benefit as an added bonus."