Will milk hydrate you?
Whether you enjoy daily morning walks, trips to the gym, backyard and competitive sports or weekend mountain hiking, it’s important for your body to stay hydrated before, during and after exercise to optimise physical and mental performance, and let the body recover well.
What we eat and drink in the hours after exercise plays a crucial role in how our bodies recover, adapt and continue to perform.
Type ‘will milk hydrate you’ into Google and you’ll get over 22 million hits – people are wanting to know what will hydrate them best and there’s no shortage of answers – milk is quite up there.
While water would appear to be the obvious way to rehydrate, Milk makes a strong case thanks to the natural balance of sodium, carbohydrates and protein that help the body absorb and retain fluid.
When you exercise, your body loses water and the electrolytes sodium, potassium, chloride calcium and magnesium. The electrolytes help your muscles work during sport and exercise and help move the nutrients around your body and into cells.
This means that replacing them during and after intense exercise helps your body perform.
Research scientist Simon Gilmour says that, “Milk works to rehydrate the body because the nutrients work together. Milk contains high quality protein, natural carbohydrates and a small amount of sodium which combine to open molecular gates or 'co-transporters' in cells which allow water to flow in. The means the water can enter the bloodstream more rapidly than if you drank just water.”
Chocolate milk – the ultimate sports recovery drink?
Some have called chocolate milk the “ultimate sports recovery drink”.
Not only does it have a delicious flavour, the extra carbohydrates help to replenish lost energy stores from intense exercise. The high-quality protein also helps muscles recover effectively and come back stronger than before.
Here are some athletes who can vouch for chocolate milk.
Physiotherapist and cricket player Anlo Van Deventer enjoys chocolate milk with the Central Hinds cricket team after every game.
Milk works to rehydrate the body because the nutrients work together. Milk contains high quality protein, natural carbohydrates and a small amount of sodium.
Anlo’s represented New Zealand in the past and now plays premier club cricket for Takapuna and captains the Central Hinds team.
Her leadership role makes her realise the importance of recovery for her and her team.
“Our trainers have us drinking choccy milk as soon as we get off the field to try and hydrate us and help our bodies recover but to be honest, as players, we just love the way it tastes after a long day standing in the sun”, Anlo Van Deventer
She is very passionate about working with athletes in their recovery and rehabilitation from injury.