Forget Gatorade, with its added sugar and unfortunate glow-in-the-dark sweat side effects. Forget water, with its lack of added nutrients and bland taste. Neither sugary sports drinks nor water hold a candle to a nice glass of milk for post-workout hydration, according to a new study.
The study, published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, had a group of male participants hydrate using milk, Powerade, soy milk, and a milk-based supplement called Sustagen. The goal of the study was to find out how well Powerade actually hydrated people after excersising, and the results were conclusive: Powerade lost to all three, with subjects who drank it showing the greatest total body mass loss post-workout. Additionally, the authors of the study noted that drinking plain water caused a drop in sodium levels, which can worsen dehydration.
But before you pack a half-gallon in your gym bag, be warned: Powerade crushed the competition in how the subjects felt after drinking it, while subjects who drank milk reported feeling full and bloated. So even though you may be better hydrated at the conclusion of your workout, your significant other is going to exile you to the couch because of your stifling barrage of milk farts.
[h/t Time]
