Hot Chocolate After Workouts ► Optimal Recovery

Who doesn't like hot chocolate after a hike or a Day on the slopes? Yummy! But what about a cup of hot chocolate afterwards? trained? This sweet drink reportedly has super powers when it comes to it for recovery after exercise. The contained bifidobacteria multiply in our stomach and produce active ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties … and that is only one of several advantages. Sports doctors consider hot chocolate a real power drink.

Ingredients for hot chocolate after exercise

A cup of hot (or cold) chocolate provides you with a number of minerals your body needs for muscles and bones:

• potassium
• copper
• magnesium
• iron
• phosphorus
• calcium
• Flavonoids (secondary plant substances)
• protein
• Vitamin D

Why post-workout hot chocolate is great for recovery

The blend of cocoa powder and milk provides the perfect ratio of carbohydrates and protein after training: 3 parts carbohydrates & 1 part protein. Have a cup of this sweet treat to supply your muscles with the protein they need to regenerate after a workout and to help your body fill up with carbohydrates. C.Arb & Protein Mix BoostS. Recovery even more than pure carbohydrate drinks like apple juice or non-alcoholic beer.

Researchers found in an article in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism that Chocolate milk is an effective training recovery aid for endurance sports. In addition, research in applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism found that Chocolate milk was a better recovery aid than commercial recovery drinks for endurance sports with low to medium intensity.

If chocolate milk is good for recovery, then hot chocolate is even better after a cold weather workout!

How flavonoids help

Flavonoids are so-called secondary plant substances. They are not only found in cocoa, but also in red wine, grape juice, tea, fruit and vegetables and are full of positive, health-promoting substancesg Properties (1, 2, 3):

• Prevent cancer (they reduce the risk of stomach, colon and breast cancer)
• Antioxidants (they bind free radicals, which can be the result of metabolic processes or environmental stress or cigarette smoke; radicals cause the skin to age faster and can promote diseases such as cancer or cardiovascular diseases)
• Anti-inflammatory
• Low blood pressure

Recipe for the perfect hot chocolate after a workout

All you need is a handful of ingredients to make your own DIY recreational hot chocolate drink. Milk (low-fat if you like), unsweetened cocoa powder, and sugar or honey – that's all. Make sure to use natural cocoa powder instead of sweetened cocoa powder, as the latter has too little cocoa and therefore too few flavonoids.

• 250ml / 1 cup milk *
• 1 tbsp sugar or honey
• 1 tbsp cocoa powder (unsweetened) or 10g dark chocolate (with at least 85% cocoa)

* Feel free to use soy milk, but make sure to use the sweetened version to get the same amount of carbohydrates.

And voilà, you've got yourself a drink with 8g of protein and 24g of carbohydrates.

Curious what other foods are good for runners? Learn what the nine The best food for runners are! Additionally, some people may have a bloated stomach after exercising or may drink hot chocolate after exercising. Try this one Anti-flatulence drinks if that happens to you! Even if you're trying to lose weight, get that Facts about running on an empty stomach First.

Try hot (or cold) chocolate as a powerful drink to support regeneration after a workout and share your experience in the comments!

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