Milk: Fitness Drink
Friday, December 12, 2008
Tara Gidus, MS, RD, CSSD, LD/N
Milk contains:
- 9 essential nutrients
- Calcium and Vitamin D to maintain bone strength
- High quality protein to help build muscle (when combined with exercise)
- Electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sodium that are lost in sweat
- Fluid to hydrate you
Research proves it
- Did you know that studies have shown that chocolate milk is a perfect recovery food? It has carbs, protein, electrolytes, and good taste!
- Teens who drink milk instead of sugary sodas are leaner (healthier weight) and they get more calcium in their diets.
- Drinking milk can help prevent stress fractures in athletes
How much?
Aim for 3 glasses (8 oz each) of low fat or fat free milk every day. It is easy to get them in.
- Smoothie made with milk
- Cereal with milk
- Glass of milk with meals
- Glass of chocolate milk after a workout
- Pudding made with milk
While I personally can't imagine drinking milk during exercise, fitness doesn't just happen during exercise. Your lifestyle choices outside of the gym also play a part. Drink a glass of milk before a workout for energy or after a workout for recovery. Drink water during exercise.
2 Comments:
At Sat Dec 13, 11:21:00 AM 2008,
John Mayer said…
Milk is NOT a fitness drink; it is bad for you, even the low-fat kind. The countries with the highest milk consumption also have the highest rates of osteoporosis, probably because the body buffers the excessive amino acids (they ARE acids, after all) with calcium taken from your main calcium reserve, your bones. Also, the notion of “high quality” and “low quality” protein is outmoded and invalid.
At Sun Dec 14, 06:52:00 PM 2008,
frank witthoeft said…
Hi,
Thanks for the info but I hope the following doesn't sour the milk:
Several years ago, Professor Ajit Varki of the University of California, San Diego discovered a molecule called Neu5Gc that appears in the tissues of every mammal except humans (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, September 29, 2003). Now he has put together the pieces of a puzzle that may explain why humans evolved with large brains and why, if we want to live into old age, we should probably avoid eating meat from any other mammals (Science, October 31, 2008).
Dr. Varki proposes proposes that when humans ingest the flesh or milk of any mammal, they absorb Neu5Gc and treat it the same way as an invading germ, so they make antibodies against it. This turns on their immunity and keeps it active so it eventually attacks the host itself, the human body. This is called chronic inflammation, which can lead to heart attacks, strokes, cancers and so forth.
Frank
Post a Comment
<< Home