So there are a few trainers I see who love to tell people that chocolate milk is a “proven recovery drink” and here is a bit of reality on that.
The study they are referring to featured ONLY THREE PRODUCTS — Chocolate milk, Gatorade and Endurox.
It was tested on ELITE CYCLISTS for IMMEDIATE recovery — so a small group of cyclists so not a large study and they only tested if after 4 hours they could perform better.
Chocolate milk and Gatorade TIED — so hmmmmm, doesn’t really make a clear winner does it
An ACTUAL scientific study usually has a BLIND group — where they don’t know what they are getting – and a PLACEBO — where they are getting no change — and it usually involves more than a dozen participants. So don’t assume this study proves scientifically that you can chug chocolate milk and get some great recovery effects.
A serving of chocolate milk has 12 TEASPOONS of sugar — ask your dentist if that is a good drink of choice
OH AND I ALMOST FORGOT — It isn’t JUST milk and chocolate. Chocolate Milk usually has tons of additives to keep it nice and not separated on the shelf so often starch, corn syrup, carageenan, color, flavors and salt
So if you are a lover of chocolate milk, really think about it and don’t use your love of it to blind you to the fact that there are probably better options for recovery and performance that use products without the dairy, additives and sugar that you are getting in chocolate milk.