Recently, a few studies have supported athletes drinking chocolate milk for muscle recovery after exercise. These research studies on chocolate milk want you to think that it is an effective, natural and simple way to energize the body. Could this just be a new fad or is there really something to this information?
Who is Paying for The Research on Chocolate Milk?
The first thing anyone should do when reading a “research” study is to find out who funded the research in the first place. This could suggest a certain bias to the study in question. One of the recent studies done in relation to chocolate milk as a post-exercise recovery aid was performed on 9 cyclists in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. The study demonstrated that both chocolate milk and Gatorade improved time to exhaustion and total work for the cyclists compared to another carbohydrate replacement beverage (Endurox). Despite the statistical significance of their research, the results of this study are questionable due to a very small sample size of only 9 cyclists and the acknowledgment that it was supported by the Dairy Council.
Two research studies presented at the recent American College of Sports Medicine meeting in Baltimore also demonstrated that chocolate milk may be a worthwhile post-exercise recovery beverage. Both of these studies were supported by a grant from the National Dairy Council and National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.
A recent study in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research from the University of Texas demonstrated that postexercise chocolate milk supplementation can improve subsequent exercise performance compared to carbohydrate and placebo supplementation. This study was supported by a grant from the National Dairy Council and the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.
Until we see some good quality unbiased research studies that demonstrate the value of chocolate milk for athletes, we would suggest that chocolate milk consumption should be restricted. Chocolate milk is very high in calories as it laden with processed sugars. Many school boards across North America have eliminated chocolate milk and soda from school lunch programs in order to decrease the incidence of childhood obesity. It seems odd to promote a high calorie beverage like chocolate milk to young athletes while we are combating a childhood obesity epidemic.
Another concern with chocolate milk is the problem many athletes have with digesting dairy products. Many athletes are lactose intolerant and get stomach upset when consuming chocolate milk. There is also the possibility that milk proteins are inflammatory and will cause a decrease in athletic performance among milk protein-sensitive athletes.
If you want to be a successful hockey player, you should know what to eat; the best way to train and how to improve you game. Luckily for all the prospective hockey players, HockeyOT offers an inclusive online hockey training program that includes an athlete nutrition program that will help you maximize your potential as a hockey player.
