Oregon State University's Sports Performance Center embraces the wisdom of flavored milk as part of a comprehensive approach to post-exercise recovery from strenuous workouts by adults. Chocolate and strawberry milk is 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. Low-fat chocolate and strawberry milk provide a powerful nutrient package that supplies the nutrition the body needs after a workout. 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.

"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, you might enjoy browsing the links below.

* 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.