Chocolate milk is considered a tasty childhood treat to many. But what most people don’t know is that low fat chocolate milk isn’t just delicious, it’s actually extremely beneficial for your body following a workout.
Here are 3 reasons why:
1. Helps To Build Lean Muscle
Chocolate milk provides a completely natural supply of high quality protein that helps to build lean muscle throughout the body. This high quality protein is a combination of whey protein and casein protein, which are both found to be very efficient muscle builders.
These proteins carry essential amino acids into the muscles to help repair damaged muscle tissue. Whey protein works much faster than casein protein and gets the amino acids directly into the tissues, while casein protein takes a slower approach and supplies a constant flow of amino acids over an extended period of time. This balance of slow and fast-acting proteins is the perfect combination for muscle growth!
2. Aids In Muscle Recovery And Repair
Compared to other sports drinks and water, chocolate milk provides the perfect 4:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein for optimal muscle recovery and repair. This ideal combination provides a higher concentration of glycogen (also referred to as muscle fuel) that must be replaced for proper recovery and repair. Together, carbohydrates and protein also help to restock sugar supplies in the muscles, start protein synthesis (which is getting rid of or fixing damaged proteins and creating new ones), and prevent protein breakdown (which helps to conserve proteins and muscles for optimum recovery).
To start the muscle recovery and repair process, it’s best to consume 10-20 grams of protein within 30-60 minutes after exercising. Chocolate milk contains around 8 grams of protein in an 8 oz. serving, which gets you almost halfway there!
3. Contains Calcium, Essential Fluids, And Electrolytes For The Body
In addition to muscle building, recovery, and repair, chocolate milk also supplies the body with calcium, essential fluids, and electrolytes that the body needs. Calcium helps to keep your bones strong and intact. The fluids (water) keep your body hydrated, while B vitamins supply you with energy, and vitamin A sustains your immune system. The electrolytes (calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium) help by restoring all the fluids and essential nutrients that you lose while sweating, which are crucial for daily functioning.
These mind-blowing benefits work together to improve your overall athletic performance and muscular health. So what are you waiting for? Pour yourself a glass of delicious low fat chocolate milk after your next workout and enjoy the awesome benefits!
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