As the saying goes, “Milk does a body good...”
So chocolate milk must do a body better, right?
Cause chocolate has actual, verifiable benefits and so does milk, so it must be a super drink.
You’d be surprised but the answer is actually yes, chocolate milk can be good for you.
I’m not lying. Not joking. You can actually use chocolate milk as a valid way to help recover from your workout.
Wait… What? How is it a Good Recovery Drink?
Well, for one, it’s way better than water. And if you’re not making your own healthy sports drink (even if you are), it’s probably better than that, too.
Water is just water. It replaces the water you lost due to sweating and not much else. Add some salt in and you’re replacing a few minerals. Even coconut water just replaces a few vital minerals and water.
But chocolate milk has calcium, carbohydrates, protein, casein, sugar….
Sugar? Yes, sugar. Occasionally, sugar can be good for you – especially when you’re trying to get quick energy. A lot of sugar is never a good thing, but the little bit you get with chocolate milk can be the boost you need to recover from a particularly rough workout or a long run.
Carbohydrates don’t deserve all the negative press they’ve gotten. They still are necessary to replace glycogen stores after a workout. Chocolate milk gives you what your body craves and can help you eat even more (which isn’t bad after a workout).
Did you know that Turmeric is loaded with anti-inflammatory properties that will help you recover faster? Check out our Turmeric Curcumin today >>
Post-Workout is the Time to Take In Nutrients
You’ve got an hour window. Really, 20 minutes is as long as I’ll go without eating anything after a workout. The reason is simple. You’ve just destroyed your muscles. If you want them to recover, you need to provide them with their building blocks.
Most people think all they need to provide their body with is protein. All those people are wrong. By drinking a glass of chocolate milk, you’ll also build your appetite and take in the nutrients you need.
What About Whey Protein?
Absolutely. Take whey protein if that’s your thing. Some of it is even chocolate flavored. The only downside to whey is that it can be incredibly expensive. You can buy a whole gallon of milk for the price of a single serving of whey protein.
To make chocolate milk, all you need to do is add a tablespoon or two of a high quality dark chocolate. (Sorry, Nesquik isn’t going to cut it). You’ll even get some beneficial antioxidants out of the deal. During exercise, you produce quite a few free radicals, so it’s a great idea to get some antioxidants in you.
That being said, you’re obviously getting less protein from a glass of milk than you would in a glass of whey protein. For every one cup of milk, you get about 8 grams of protein. It’s not a whole lot.
So if you’ve been lifting weights, chocolate milk is not the best recovery drink for you. However, if you’ve been doing an endurance-based activity (basketball, a run, HIIT, etc), then chocolate milk can be just what you need to do your body some good.
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