The days are growing longer, and the weather is becoming progressively warmer. With the winter hibernation coming to a close for another year, many people are crawling out of their indoor caves, and spending more time outside. There is an undeniable association between the warmth of the sun and our desire to be active. We all know however, that when we increase our physical activity, especially as the temperature rises, our bodily demands for fluids also increase. But are we doing enough to prevent dehydration that is inevitable from inadequate fluid intake? If you are getting thirsty, the answer is no!
If you watch TV, you have surely seen the “Recharge with Milk” commercial ad campaign, started by the Dairy Farmers of Canada. If you are unsure what I am talking about, see the clip below. The ads are built around studies that show chocolate milk provides the body with the ideal components to “rehydrate,” “refuel,” and “recharge” after exercise. In fact, post-exercise chocolate milk has become rather popular in the past few years, on the backs of celebrity endorsers, such as Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. In clinic, I see numerous athletes who either are or were on the chocolate milk bandwagon. But the question that comes in to play is whether or not it is truly the best post-exercise option for athletes?
