Media contributions
1Media contributions
Title Why Chocolate Milk is a Gold-Standard Recovery Drink, According to Science Degree of recognition National Media name/outlet Men's Health Media type Web Country/Territory United Kingdom Date 1/09/25 Description Men's Health article that I was extensively quoted in:
Following the renewed attention on chocolate milk as a gold-standard recovery drink, sports science lecturer Matt Carpenter (@mattendurancescientist) recently took to Instagram to break down exactly why it works in practice – one reason being its carb-to-protein ratio.
‘It’s a roughly 3:1 carbohydrate to protein ratio, allowing for the rapid resynthesis of muscle glycogen – so restoring the carbohydrate in your muscles and liver that you’ve lost during exercise, as well as the protein synthesis response that you want to get to repair your muscles,’ explains Carpenter.
The carbohydrate in chocolate milk is high-glycemic (raises blood glucose levels quickly), he adds, meaning it’s rapid-acting and will enter your bloodstream quickly, allowing for a quick resynthesis of carbohydrate. ‘This is why chocolate milk is a very good way of getting your muscle glycogen levels back up to normal levels compared to other methods.’
The type of protein in chocolate milk matters, too: ‘It’s a mixture of whey and casein, which allows for a long period where muscle protein synthesis is increased because casein is slower acting.’
Along with it being a good source of calcium and a relatively good source of vitamin D (plus the flavonoids from the chocolate), chocolate milk is a good, well-rounded recovery drink choice, says Carpenter.Producer/Author Hannah Bradfield URL https://www.menshealth.com/uk/nutrition/food-drink/a65565045/chocolate-milk-performance-recovery-benefits/ Persons Matt Carpenter