Chocolate milk has been in the news recently — and part of that focus has been on its popularity as a recovery beverage for elite professional and endurance athletes. Chocolate milk is both affordable and well-liked. A growing body of scientific research has identified chocolate milk as an effective workout recovery solution — prompting athletes and those who advise athletes on nutrition to take notice.
This provides the dairy industry with a unique innovation opportunity. A better understanding of how chocolate milk helps the body rehydrate, refuel and rebuild after a workout has been a key research priority for the Dairy Research Institute, an organization established under the leadership of America’s dairy farmers through Dairy Management Inc. Recent studies on chocolate milk consumption by endurance athletes indicated that chocolate milk can help jump-start recovery after an intense training session, affirming chocolate milk as an effective post-workout beverage.