Lead researcher John L. Ivy of the University of Texas at Austin says researchers in three related studies compared the recovery benefits of drinking low-fat chocolate milk after exercise to a carbohydrate beverage with the same calories — similar to a typical sports drink — and calorie-free beverages.

The study linked drinking low-fat chocolate milk after strenuous exercise to:

— Improved performance: Trained cyclists had significantly more power and rode faster, shaving about 6 minutes, on average, from their ride time when they recovered with low-fat chocolate milk compared to a carbohydrate sports drink and calorie-free beverage.

— Quicker exercise adaptation: Compared to those who consumed other recovery drinks, chocolate milk drinkers had twice the improvement in the measure of aerobic fitness and adaptation.

— Better body composition: Chocolate milk drinkers gained more muscle and lost more fat during training, with a 3-pound lean muscle advantage at the end of the 4.5 weeks compared to athletes who drank a carbohydrate drink.

“Collectively, our research suggests that low-fat chocolate milk — easily accessible for most athletes — can improve performance and aid training for trained and amateur athletes faced with tough routines,” Ivy said in a statement.