In keeping with the
holiday season, I have some very good news for
those of you who take pleasure in the taste of
chocolate. Indiana University scientists
recently discovered that one of the most
effective drinks to help athletes recover after
exercise is a glass of chocolate milk. The small
group of fit athletes (supported in part by the
“Dairy and Nutrition Council”) in the study were
asked to work out strenuously on a stationary
bike, then drink a carb replacement drink like
ENDUROX R4, a fluid replacement, drink like
GATORADE, and a glass of low-fat chocolate milk.
Then, after a few hours rest, they were asked to
cycle again until the point of exhaustion. The
test was repeated three times (once/each kind of
drink) and the research showed that the athletes
were able to go between 49 and 54% longer on the
second exercise bout after drinking the
chocolate milk than after they drank the carb
drink. The difference between the milk and the
fluid replacement drink was not statistically
significant.
This really should
come as no surprise when you carefully compare
the nutritional content of low-fat chocolate
milk with that of the typical carb drink. The
chocolate milk contains water, carbs, proteins,
vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes and may be
more easily absorbed by the body than a
processed drink. If you are lactose-intolerant
and want to know if you will get the same effect
from lactose-free milk or soy milk, the answer
to that question is unknown, but if I had to
guess, I would say probably not, since the
nutritional content is significantly different.
But if you or your client love chocolate and you
are always looking for a new carrot to drive
your clients to higher levels of intensity and
motivation, this could be a significant tool for
you to use to accomplish that goal.
Happy Thanksgiving
from all of us here at the IFPA.
Best regards,
Jim Bell, PhD
CEO
James
T. Bell, PhD is the
founder and president of the International Fitness
Professionals Association, IFPA.
More
Books from Jim Bell, PhD
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