Buzz
Post-workout snack and drink companies want you to believe that nutrition after exercise is an exact science, claiming you need specific nutrients in certain ratios from their products to recover and perform your best. A recent study tested this theory by comparing sports recovery products to a McDonald's meal—and found the fast food worked just as effectively.
The study, published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise, involved recreational athletes who tested two post-workout meals with similar nutritional content—1300 calories, 70% carbs, 10% protein. One meal included sports products like Gatorade and PowerBars, while the other was a McDonald's meal—a dream scenario where both breakfast and lunch are available: hotcakes with orange juice, alongside a burger and fries.
The results were the same for both meals, including the glycogen levels (the amount of carbohydrate replenished in the muscles) and the athletes' performance in a time trial a few hours later. Runner's World reported on the study, quoting marathoner and dietitian Nancy Clark:
"I haven't yet seen a study where a commercial supplement outperforms real foods," she says. "Supplements may appear impressive due to their precise carbohydrate-to-protein ratio, but you can get the same nutritional value from more delicious, affordable real foods with enough carbs, protein, and calories."
This clarifies why chocolate milk can serve as a comparable alternative to recovery drinks—although it's worth noting that some studies supporting chocolate milk were funded by the dairy industry, which has a similar agenda to brands like Gatorade (to promote their product's benefits and drive sales).
In conclusion: Food is just food, and the nutritional content matters more than whether it carries a 'sports recovery' label. For more information, check out Runner's World for in-depth analysis and expert insights on the study.
Photo by Ryan McFarland.
