Ripped with nutrition. And that's just the beginning...

Oregon State University’s Sports Performance Center embraces the wisdom of flavored milk as part of a comprehensive approach to sports nutrition. Chocolate and strawberry milk is now available in the state-of-the-art weight room facility for OSU football athletes. According to Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Bryan Miller, the inclusion of flavored milk has been noticeably successful.

“We like what we’re seeing in terms of recovery from hard workouts,” said Coach Miller. “Our athletes get thoroughly rehydrated, their muscles experience less damage and so recover faster, and they get actual nourishment…all of which improves physical performance. Plus, the guys just like the stuff, so they’re even more likely to garner the full recovery benefit.”

“A big draw for us was the quality of the locally produced milk,” said Coach Miller.

OSU’s flavored milk protocol follows suit with an expanding body of evidence assigning recovery and rehydration attributes to milk that rival commercial sports drinks. Yet chocolate and strawberry milk provide additional nutrients at levels most sports drinks can’t match. We’re talking calcium, vitamin D, vitamin A, magnesium and potassium. Plus, the carbohydrates and high-quality protein found in milk can genuinely help restore weary muscles and thereby increase capacity for endurance related work.

More specifically, the higher carbohydrate content of chocolate milk makes the protein better able to do its job. In the absence of appropriate levels of recovery carbohydrate, protein can be used as a fuel source, thereby robbing weary muscles of the protein necessary for muscle building and recovery.

Additionally, recent studies* suggest exercised-related muscle damage may well be lessened by the protein found in flavored milk. And that same protein is instrumental in the development of lean muscle. Add to that, the risk of cramping is lessened thanks to the presence of sodium, calcium and magnesium in the fluid base of chocolate milk.

“The evidence we’ve seen from various studies suggests flavored milk is a natural option for athletes who give it their all,” said Coach Miller. “And we’re really interested in milk’s 4:1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein, teamed with a minimal amount of saturated fat. Researchers say that’s the target ratio for a recovery drink to be effective.”

To learn more about chocolate milk as a sports recovery drink, click the links below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnxquJLhMnY
http://www.winforum.org/chocolatemilkrecovery.html

* Source: Gilson SF, Saunders MJ, Moran CW, Corriere DF, Moore RW, Womack CJ, Todd MK. Effects of chocolate milk consumption on markers of muscle recovery during intensified soccer training. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2009;41:S577.