RECOVERY DRINK
Getting the necessary nutrients into your body within the first 30 minutes of finishing your exercise is essential to recovery, since it’s during this time when your muscles’ uptake of glycogen is at their fastest rate. Studies have shown that a 4:1 carbohydrate-toprotein ratio will provide both optimal glycogen stores and muscle repair for post-exercise recovery. There are numerous recovery drinks on the market that have this optimum balance of carbs and protein, but an easy-to-find alternative to a marketed recovery drink is lowfat chocolate milk. The milk adds the necessary protein, while the sugar from the chocolate adds the needed carbohydrates; there is even sodium to replenish some lost electrolytes-just be sure it’s not whole milk, which would add too much fat and slow absorption.