Why chocolate milk?

It’s the ratio of carbs to protein. Yes, another sweetened milk would do the same thing, but chocolate milk is ubiquitous.

Nah, I'd say there's no specific reason why chocolate milk is recommended. It's mostly because of the carbs and protein that help you recover from a good workout. I personally just eat a banana with greek yogurt plain or raw almonds as my go-to recovery. I also have vanilla flavored protein power I use. I add in a cup of unsweetened cashew/almond milk, scoop of powder, and 85g of frozen fruit with some nut butter. Best recovery drink I ever had.

I’ve never heard of drinking chocolate milk after a workout.

no1kiwi75 wrote: »

Curious as to why chocolate milk is recommended after exercise?

It's not really recommended so much as people noticed it has a similar percentage of sugar (quick carbs) to protein as normally is recommended post workout, and they are talking about low fat (1% or skim) chocolate milk in the examples I've seen.

Post-workout it's often recommended to consume something that replenishes lost glycogen plus some protein at a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio. You want quick carbs in that context, so that's why recovery sports drinks are largely sugar (you also want some sodium, which chocolate milk has). So it's a nice excuse to have some chocolate milk, which many people recall from childhood and like. (I tried it at a running camp last year and it did taste nice after running, although I am not someone who normally consumes post workout drinks and am not adding it to my normal routine).

I have never had banana milk (or even heard of it), and personally think strawberry milk is ick, but imagine both would work similarly.

The benefit over a plain protein shake is you want the quick carbs and most protein shakes are basically just protein.

There's no need for it, of course, but if you want some fast carbs and protein, pick something that tastes good too.

cocoa has antioxidants.

Huh.

Noob here... I didn't know it was so important to have carbs and protein after a workout. To be more specific, I had heard of it, but dismissed it as broscience.

How vigorous does the workout have to be for this to be relevant? I kind of workout to contribute to my deficit (I'm female, short, in my thirties, sedentary work... in other words, totally screwed, lol), so I'm kind of hesitant with the idea of chugging calories lost right back --and in drink form, as it were! Eating them wouldn't thrill me much either, because I'd rather save the calories for my next meal (which comes quite a while afterwards).

But if I must, I must...

I do strength and cardio (some hiit, some steady). Beginner levels. Is it always necessary?

psuLemon wrote: »

sophia162 wrote: »

Huh.

Noob here... I didn't know it was so important to have carbs and protein after a workout. To be more specific, I had heard of it, but dismissed it as broscience.

How vigorous does the workout have to be for this to be relevant? I kind of workout to contribute to my deficit (I'm female, short, in my thirties, sedentary work... in other words, totally screwed, lol), so I'm kind of hesitant with the idea of chugging calories lost right back --and in drink form, as it were! Eating them wouldn't thrill me much either, because I'd rather save the calories for my next meal (which comes quite a while afterwards).

But if I must, I must...

I do strength and cardio (some hiit, some steady). Beginner levels. Is it always necessary?

It's not all the relevant outside of being an elite athlete. To put it in perspective, below is a good approach to follow in terms of priorities. If you are a point of optimized intake and nutrition, than supplement and timing of nutrients may be important, but not as much as a noob.

Ah, I see. Cool, thanks!

I'm in the green-yellow portion of the pyramid, which suits me just fine for now. Trying to hit my deficit, my macros... and I'm also pretty mindful of my water/fiber/sodium/variety intake.

I guess I'll move up that triangle when the time is right (if ever, hehe, it depends on how much I end up gravitating towards the whole fitness thing).

Thanks! ✌

no1kiwi75 wrote: »

Appreciate all the replies. I think food can do the same thing after a workout but if you need a quickie then why not. Cheers.

Chocolate milk isn't food?!?!