Five-time basketball All-Star Al Horford is sharing his recovery secret in a new bilingual “Built with Chocolate Milk” campaign from the Washington, D.C.-based Milk Processors Education Program (MilkPEP).

A true triple-threat — in scoring, rebounding and assisting — Horford has continuously played at a high level, MilkPEP said, earning the right to be named an All-Star five times, a testament to his balanced approach to recovery and nutrition. As he looks to continue a successful season in the Eastern Conference — and help lead his team to a championship win in 2019 — Horford will show how chocolate milk is key for recovery.

A pectoral injury in 2013 forced Horford out for the season and into surgery. With his love for the game in the balance, Horford got serious about recovering the right way, which included switching up some of his nutrition practices, MilkPEP said.

After working with a nutritionist, Horford quickly learned that his body was missing the proper nutrients he needed to recover. He then added low-fat chocolate milk to his training regimen. Backed by more than 20 studies, real chocolate milk has the high-quality protein to build lean muscle and nutrients to help replenish muscles, MilkPEP said.

Horford is the face of the new bilingual “Built with Chocolate Milk” national TV and digital campaign, MilkPEP noted, which spotlights his balanced approach to performance, recovery and nutrition. The campaign debuted on Feb. 14. Horford is the first-ever Hispanic athlete on the roster. Fans will learn his secret to rebounding after strenuous games and workouts and will be able to watch exclusive content featuring the power forward.

“I always drank chocolate milk growing up, and I remember my grandmother would always have it when I would visit her in the Dominican Republic — that’s when it all started,” Horford said. “When I moved to the states at 14, my dad and stepmom continued to buy it for me, but as I got older and played more, I gave it up for drinks I assumed were better for performance.

“I quickly learned that I was lacking in important nutrients and that water alone couldn’t replenish my body sufficiently,” he added. “After working with a nutritionist, they turned me back onto chocolate milk, which is now my secret weapon after workouts.”

Horford joins a strong roster of elite athletes who choose chocolate milk as their post-workout drink of choice, including tennis star Sloane Stephens, three-time Triathlon World Champion Mirinda Carfrae and professional racing cyclist Alison Tetrick.

To learn more about the “Built with Chocolate Milk” campaign, read about the real science behind the recovery benefits of low-fat chocolate milk, and watch Al Horfod’s TV spot and exclusive behind-the scenes videos, visit BuiltWithChocolateMilk.com. Join the conversation on Facebook @BuiltWithChocolateMilk, Twitter @Chocolate_Milk and on Instagram @BuiltWithChocolateMilk using #RealWorks.