The Muscle in Chocolate Milk
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I've never heard the words "chocolate milk" and "exercise" in the same sentence until recently. But research implies that drinking one cup of low-fat chocolate milk within an hour after your workout can help you lose weight, reduce muscle soreness and make your next workout feel better. If we listen to the Dairy Council, chocolate milk can make your life better.

Does this sound too good to be true? I thought so too, until I saw the science behind the study.

It turns out that low-fat chocolate milk has the perfect per-serving ratio of protein to carbs. It has 4 grams of protein to 1 gram of carbs, which is the magic ratio for your body to optimally refuel and recover. It's also a liquid, which helps replenish fluids and rehydrate your body after a sweaty workout.

Plus, it's a delicious treat that takes me back to grade school. Chocolate milk can make you feel like a kid again; just try ordering a glass at a restaurant and see how you feel.

Of course, the milk industry mooo-ved quickly to capitalize on this study, and now most grocery stores carry those handy serving-sized grab-n-go bottles of liquid chocolate delight. It's low-fat chocolate milk, but it's disguised with names like "protein" and "fuel."

Of course, there are other post-workout snacks that replenish our muscles in the same way, like yogurt with a handful of granola or a banana with a dollop of peanut butter. But it's hard to resist the liquid chocolate darling of the dairy industry. Plus, it's such an easy snack to grab when I get home from the gym.

And if this chocolate milk toast promises to make me feel better and look leaner tomorrow, as well as make me feel like a kid again when I drink it, then I'll drink to that.

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