By Meredith Cohn

Chocolate milk may be a good alternative for post-exercise hydration, according to two studies presented at the American College of Sports Medicine's annual meeting in Baltimore on June 2-5.

The studies were funded by a grant from the National Dairy Council and National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board.

Researchers in one study found that drinking chocolate milk after a run helped the muscles repair. They measured the responses in eight male runners in good training shape. They all consumed healthy diets, and then after runs drank fat-free chocolate milk or the same amount of calories of a carbohydrate-oriented beverage. They took muscle biopsies during a three-hour recovery period and those of the chocolate milk drinkers had “heightened markers of muscle protein repair” compared with those who had the carb drink (which is a standard sports drink).

The second study measured glycogen stores in muscles. That is the source of fuel during prolonged exercise. The milk drinkers had more glycogen 30 and 60 minutes after drinking milk versus the carb drinkers.

The studies were conducted in the lab of Nancy Rodriguez, professor of nutritional sciences at the University of Connecticut.