| What's the best thing for you to drink after your | | | | to focus on foods that are higher in carbohydrates, |
| hockey game to speed up recovery and make sure | | | | "medium" in proteins and low in fat. |
| that you are feeling your best the next time you hit the | | | | One of the best things to have after a game to speed |
| ice? The answer might surprise you. | | | | up the recovery process is chocolate milk - which is |
| During a hockey game, your body uses the | | | | something that all hockey players love to hear. Who |
| carbohydrate stores (called glycogen) in your muscles | | | | doesn't love chocolate milk? Not only does it taste |
| for energy. As your glycogen levels decrease, so | | | | great, but a 500ml serving of 1% chocolate milk has |
| does your ability to perform your best. The faster | | | | 332 calories, 5 grams of fat, 16 grams of protein and |
| these carbohydrate stores are replenished after | | | | 55 grams of carbohydrates. For those of us who |
| exercise, the better you will be able to perform in your | | | | aren't nutritionists, what those numbers mean is that |
| next game. You also need to take in some protein | | | | there is a 4 to 1 ratio of carbohydrates to proteins |
| after your game, which speeds up recovery by | | | | (55:16) in chocolate milk. This 4:1 ratio has been |
| repairing your damaged muscles and enhancing | | | | scientifically proven to be ideal for helping players |
| glycogen replacement. | | | | recover best after a tough game. |
| First of all, you need to drink a lot of water to | | | | At the risk of sounding like a commercial, chocolate |
| rehydrate after getting off the ice. It is also critical that | | | | milk not only tastes great, but it gives you the complete |
| you take in some high-energy fuel within the first 30 | | | | nutrition you need after a game to refuel, recharge and |
| minutes. During this critical recovery window, you want | | | | get ready to hit the ice again soon. |