AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A bowl of whole-grain cereal
with milk is as good as a carbohydrate-based sports drink to help muscles
recover after a workout, U.S. researchers suggest.
The study, published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports
Nutrition, said that for the amateur athlete and the moderately active
individual trying to keep in shape, grabbing a quick bowl of whole-grain cereal
with a splash of skim milk may be a smarter move than a high-priced sports
drink.
Exercise physiologist Lynne Kammer of The University of Texas at Austin and
colleagues studied 12 trained cyclists, eight male and four female. After a
warm-up period, the subjects cycled for two hours at a comfortable work rate.
"Cereal and non-fat milk are a less expensive option than sports drinks," Kammer
says in a statement.
"The milk provides a source of easily digestible and high quality protein, which
can promote protein synthesis and training adaptations, making this an
attractive recovery option for those who refuel at home."
The study found that glycogen repletion, or the replenishment of immediate
muscle fuel, was just as good after whole grain cereal consumption and that some
aspects of protein synthesis were actually better, Kammer says.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International