Refuel With Chocolate and Dairy

High-performance athletes, and those who aspire to achieve this distinction, are quickly learning that chocolate milk and chocolate flavored, dairy-based beverages are a nutritious and great-tasting option to help them train longer and harder. Unlike fruit-flavored, non-dairy sports drinks, chocolate dairy beverages deliver a unique blend of nutrients including calcium and vitamin D for bone health. After all, strong bones are essential to a powerful workout.

Most recently, Apure Foods Co., Wheat Ridge, Colo., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hershey Co., Hershey, Pa., which was formed in April to develop and deliver food and beverage products with enhanced nutritional and wellness benefits, rolled out reGen. This muscle recovery drink is designed to harness the antioxidant benefits found in natural cocoa with the nutrients athletes need to recover their muscles following a grueling workout. reGen is powered by natural cocoa, with more than two tablespoons (12 grams) in each 200-calorie, 11-ounce serving. Research shows that consuming natural cocoa can help maintain healthy blood flow, which may enhance the delivery of carbohydrates and protein during muscle recovery, and may enable a more efficient removal of the "waste" products produced during exercise that can lead to post-training muscle soreness. reGen also contains the scientifically recommended 3:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein, optimal for recovery. Each serving contains 35 grams of carbohydrates to 11 grams of protein from whey and casein. 

Many chocolate-flavored beverages utilize alkalized cocoa, for improved flavor, color and solubility; however, alkalization can significantly reduce cocoa's antioxidant power, according to the company.
Scientists from the Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition worked with the reGen team to develop a unique patent-pending process that incorporates the large amount of natural cocoa found in each serving of reGen without using alkalized cocoa.

According to clinical testing, study participants who consumed the reGen beverage experienced an average of 25% improvement in their muscle recovery compared to the leading carbohydrate and electrolyte beverage. In the same clinical study, when participants consumed reGen they experienced an average 9.7% increase in endurance versus when they consumed an identical beverage without cocoa.The Milk Pep organization promotes regular chocolate milk as the best beverage for refueling, as it is an affordable, great-tasting beverage that is readily available. Some beverage manufacturers have taken the concept further, adding value in terms of package, shelf stability and nutrition composition. For example, a little more than a year ago, Attitude Drink Co., Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., introduced Phase III Recovery. This low-fat, chocolate-flavored dairy beverage sports the "Real Seal." It starts with Grade A milk that undergoes a proprietary ultrafiltration process to concentrate milk's inherent nutrients, resulting in a high-protein beverage (35 grams of protein per 14.5-ounce container) for recovery after intense exercise. It is also a good source of 18 vitamins and minerals and contains 29% less sugar than regular flavored milk, which is accomplished through the use of sucralose.