Summer is right around the corner and temperatures are rising! You’re probably drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated, but what about chocolate milk?
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Water vs. chocolate milk: What’s best to avoid dehydration?
While doing a story about the heat, NBC News spoke with a New York fitness trainer who recommends re-hydrating with milk and water.
“Specifically chocolate milk has gotten a lot of traction recently because of the proteins and the sugars and the carbohydrates that’s in it,” said Joshua Margolis of Mind Over Matter Fitness.
And Margolis is correct. There has been a lot of discussion about the benefits of milk since a 2011 study from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada.
The study, which was funded by the Dairy Farmers of Canada, found that milk was superior to a sports drink or water at re-hydrating young children after exercise, especially on a hot day.
“Children become dehydrated during exercise, and it’s important they get enough fluids, particularly before going into a second round of a game,” said Brian Timmons, research director of the Child Health and Exercise Medicine Program at McMaster. “Milk is better than either a sports drink or water because it is a source of high quality protein, carbohydrates, calcium and electrolytes.”
Timmons added that milk replaces sodium lost in sweat and helps the body retain fluid better.
Dr. Travis Stork from the TV show “The Doctors” has also said that drinking low-fat chocolate milk after a workout is a good idea. The protein, carbohydrates and electrolytes in milk are exactly what athletes need to refuel.
According to Driftwood Dairy, 8 ounces of low-fat chocolate milk has 160 calories, 3 grams of fat, 28 grams of carbohydrates and 8 grams of protein.
Flavored milk contains both natural and added sugar. It has about 4 teaspoons of added sugar.
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