Chocolate Milk As A Sports Drink Has To Be The Worst Health (But Admittedly Delicious) Suggestion Of The Year | HuffPost Life

This Has To Be The Worst Diet Suggestion Of The Year

The Huffington Post UK

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HuffPost UK Lifestyle is doing a stock take of all the terrible diet and fitness news that has come our way during 2013, and it's a toughie. There has been the cotton ball diet and somewhere a woman is using a corset as a DIY gastric band.

But quite possibly, this has to rank as the worst diet and health tip of the year: the National Dairy Council in America is recommending that it's good to glug chocolate milk after a workout. Their latest campaign features sweaty athletes drinking the stuff after a workout.

If it just stayed in America, that would be fine (well, not really, but you know what we mean) but it seems to be going global.

The Week reported that this chocolate milk trend is being picked up around the world.

The reasoning behind it is that after "rigorous exercise, an athlete needs to hydrate, restore their levels of glycogen (or sugar), and consume enough protein to help rebuild and repair their tired muscles."

We asked the experts for their take on it.

"The evidence that chocolate milk is good as a sports drink is about as clear as the drink itself," says Sam Feltham, bestselling fitness author and expert. "Not only is it unclear but it is questionable as to whether it would be healthy in the long term. Chocolate milk can often contain 9 teaspoons of sugar making it as healthy as a can of soda, and we know from research that those who consume just one can of soda a day are at a much higher risk of type 2 diabetes void of how fit or lean they are. Indeed a sugary drink could boost your sport performance in the short term but could compromise your health in the long term."

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The Week cites a study which showed that cyclists who were tested with a carb-replacement drink, a fluid replacement drink and a chocolate milk drink, actually showed better performance with chocolate milk. But - as a long term solution, it is flawed.

Charli Cohen, fitness expert and HuffPost UK blogger says: "The benefit of chocolate milk is that it contains fast carbs, fast release whey protein, slow release casein protein and cocao contains theobromine which works as a vasolidator. You can get all these benefits through less processed, lower sugar foods, so just because chocolate milk contains all these things that are beneficial post workout doesn't mean it's best for optimal health."

If the experts aren't saying it's that great nutritionally, where is all this coming from? Another study was published in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise testing chocolate milk and muscle recovery. Eight runners were found to recover quicker again, with chocolate milk.

Healthnotes.com reported: "Researchers found that the participants’ muscle recovery was enhanced after drinking chocolate milk compared with the carbohydrate-only drink. Chocolate milk seemed to promote muscle synthesis (as opposed to breakdown) and inhibit protein breakdown after exercise. Glycogen stores were similar after drinking chocolate milk and the carbohydrate-only drink."

Nicholas Polo adds that the ratio of carbs to protein isn't as simple as it sounds. "How much carbohydrates and protein you need depends on your size and goals and the intensity, type and duration of the activity. While chocolate milk can help with muscle recovery, the carbohydrate and protein content falls way below the needs of an athlete’s body immediately after intense training.

"A glass of chocolate milk will only give you 8g of protein. On the other hand, a good protein powder product will offer you 35g of protein. Combining your protein shake with a healthy meal like sweet potato, cottage cheese and eggs would be a far better choice for getting your sufficient post workout nutrients than chucking down a glass of chocolate based simple carb milk"!"

The conclusion seems to be that in the world of 'best sports drinks', chocolate milk isn't it. The counter-argument could be to drink fat-free chocolate milk, but as we all know, 'fat free' has become a byword for drinking or eating more of that particular product, cancelling out the weight loss intention. What do you think?

10 Worst Diet Tips Ever

Fat Makes You Fat (01 of10)

Why that's BS: It depends on the type of fats you're eating, says Tricia Psota, RD, a nutritionist based in Washington D.C. "Fats in chips, cookies, and greasy foods can increase cholesterol and your risk for certain diseases. But good fats, like nuts, avocados and salmon, protect your heart and support your overall health." And when paired with a healthy diet, the right fats can help keep you from being, well, fat, adds Sharon Palmer, RD, author of The Plant-Powered Diet. (credit:Getty Images)

Stop Snacking To Lose Weight (02 of10)

Why that's BS: Eating in small, frequent amounts is a great way to curb hunger, control portion sizes, and make better nutritional choices, says Mike Clancy, CDN, a personal trainer at David Barton's Gym in New York City. "Smarter snacks like nuts, fruits, and yogurt will keep your energy levels high throughout the day." (Need proof? Our 400 Calorie Fix plan -- which involves three or four meals plus snacks -- can help you lose 11 pounds in just two weeks!) (credit:Flickr:SweetOnVeg)

A Calorie Is A Calorie -- And You Should Count Them (03 of10)

Why that's BS: "Not all calories are the same," says Clancy. "The type of calories, the timing of the calories, and the quality of the calories can significantly alter the effect of the calories on the body," he says. "Food creates reactions within our bodies and the type of food you eat is an important component in diets."For example, 50 calories of an apple will cause a different internal reaction than 50 calories of cheesecake, says Clancy. "The quality of the calories is also important because the chemicals, hormones, and general byproducts that are found within processed food effects the absorption of real nutrients." Quality calories are nutrient dense, like spinach. Calories that don't contain any nutrients -- also known as "empty" calories -- are like the ones found in French fries.Bottom line: Calories are important for understanding portion control, but they’re not the only factor in good nutrition, says Clancy. (credit:Getty Images)

Cut Out Carbs (04 of10)

Why that's BS: The research on carbohydrate intake is often misinterpreted, says Chrissy Carroll, MPH, RD, founder of Inspired Wellness Solutions, LLC. "Yes, it is true that excessive intakes of refined carbohydrates, like white bread or white rice, may lead to weight gain or increased cardiovascular risk. But there is no research suggesting that healthy carbohydrates, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, or legumes, can negatively impact health or weight. On the contrary, many studies suggest a diet high in these plant-based foods is associated with better overall health."Case in point: A 2002 American College of Nutrition study that found replacing refined grains with whole-grain and minimally processed grain products, along with increasing the intake of fruits and veggies, can help lower dietary glycemic load and insulin demand. This, in turn, can ultimately reduce the risk of both type 2 diabetes and heart disease, says Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, manager of wellness nutrition services for the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. So, keep the carbs! And aim for those that come from 100% whole grains or fruits, adds Kirkpatrick. (credit:Getty Images)

Load Up On Protein(05 of10)

Why that's BS: Sorry, caveman lovers: eating lots of protein is not the key to healthy weight loss. Why? The body needs three macronutrients: Protein, carbohydrates, and fat, says Rania Batayneh, MPH, a nutritionist and author of the forthcoming The One One One Diet (published by Rodale, which also publishes Prevention), and focusing exclusively on protein for weight loss makes no sense. "You not only deprive your body of fiber and other antioxidants found in healthy carbohydrates -- whole grains, fruits, and veggies -- but you also run the risk of eating too much fat in your diet which can lead to high cholesterol and triglycerides.” (credit:Getty Images)

Go Gluten-Free To Lose Weight(06 of10)

Why that's BS: There's no scientific evidence that gluten is a particularly fattening ingredient, says Palmer. "The problem is that we eat too many refined grains -- foods made of white flour or other refined grains," she says.And cutting gluten without checking with your doctor first can lead to deficiencies in important nutrients, such as fiber, iron, vitamin B12 and magnesium, says MaryAnne Metzak, CDN, a nutritionist in Southampton, NY.In the meantime, focus on getting healthy whole grains in moderate portions. (credit:Shutterstock)

You Burn More Calories Working Out On An Empty Stomach(07 of10)

Why that's BS: Working out with or without food in your stomach doesn't affect calorie burn -- but skipping meals before sweat sessions may result in muscle loss, finds a study published in the Strength and Conditioning Journal. And before you settle for a sports drink, know this: While a quick sip of sugar energizes your muscles, the drink’s other artificial additives can be harmful to your health, says Sanda Moldovan, DDS, MS, CNS, a diplomat of the American Academy of Periodontology. Instead, go for naturally sweet fruit, like bananas, peaches, and mangos before your sweat session. Or try an ounce of dark chocolate for the same caffeine fix you get from a half cup of coffee. "Chocolate also contains feel-good substances, called neurotransmitters, which are the same release during a 'runner's high,' " says Moldovan. (credit:Getty Images)

Eat Every Two Hours To Rev Your Metabolism(08 of10)

Why that's BS: Going four or five (or even eight!) hours between normally-sized meals will not make your metabolism slow down, says Monica Reinagel, MS, a nutritionist based in Baltimore. "Eating more frequently may help stave off hunger, which can help you fight temptation. But if you want to do this, you have to be careful to keep your meals and snacks really small," she says. "Otherwise, eating every 2 hours can simply lead to taking in too many calories over the course of the day." (credit:Getty Images)

Watch What You Eat During The Week, But Take The Weekends Off(09 of10)

Why that's BS: Throwing caution to the wind on the weekends can offset the consistency and success you had all week, says Batayneh. "On the weekends, we tend to sleep in, maybe missing our workout, typically drink more alcohol and have heavier meals. So if you lose about one pound between Monday and Friday, you just might gain it back -- or at least maintain it, really taking away the efforts towards weight loss."Which means if you're trying to lose weight, the weekends shouldn't be a free-for-all. You still need a plan, says Batayneh. Some suggestions: passing on the bread basket and limiting yourself to one cocktail. (credit:Shutterstock)

Swear Off Forbidden Foods(10 of10)

Why that's BS: "We tend to be in 'all or nothing' mode when we diet and never seem to find a middle ground," says Batayneh. "You have to realize that you can’t have pizza, French fries, and chocolate cake all in the same day, but -- with careful planning -- you can enjoy these foods when they are presented to you. Just don’t go for seconds and share if you can." In fact, research shows that moderately indulging in "forbidden foods" is what keeps people from bingeing on the stuff. (credit:Getty Images)

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