Researchers Find That Milk Is An Effective Post-Exercise Rehydration Drink
Researchers from Loughborough University in England recently tested the post-exercise hydration effects of milk against those of water and a sports drink. Subjects exercised until they had lost 1.8% of their body weight and then consumed a volume of water, a sports drink, or milk equal to 150% of their weight loss.
Urine samples were collected for the next 5 hours to measure fluid retention. The researchers found that the subjects consuming water and the sports drink returned to a state of negative fluid balance after one hour, meaning they had lost more fluid through urination than they had consumed. Only the milk drinkers remained in a state of full hydration. There was little difference between plain milk and milk with added salt in this regard. But the question must be asked: Who craves milk after a sweaty workout?
It is probable that the protein content of the milk was largely responsible for its superior retention. The sports drink used in this study did not contain protein. Previous research has shown that a sports drink with protein also hydrates better than conventional sports drinks and water.
The study has been published in the British Journal of Nutrition. |