The amino acids in protein help rebuild muscle after the breakdown that occurs during resistance training. But what about endurance exercise? A study published in the journalMedicine and Science in Sports and Exercise compared the recovery supporting potential of chocolate milk to a carbohydrate beverage.

After running for 45 minutes at 65% of capacity, male subjects were given either chocolate milk or a carb-only drink. Muscle biopsies were taken 3 hours later followed by a treadmill run to exhaustion. Milk stimulated protein synthesis and even though muscle glycogen wasn’t affected by either post-workout drink, treadmill time to exhaustion was greater for the milk drinkers.

True Strength Moment: Recovery from exercise involves amino acids from protein for muscle rebuilding, carbohydrates for glycogen replenishment and some time off to let both processes to take place. Strength athletes tend to downplay the importance of carbs and endurance athletes have a reputation for being indifferent to protein. For recipes that take both macronutrients into consideration, search the protein smoothie database at OptimumSmoothie.com