Does chocolate milk help athletes?

Chocolate milk has become a somewhat volatile liquid.

In a food fight that’s been raging for the past few years, some have called on schools to ban the beverage for children because of its high sugar content; the National Dairy Council struck back with a “Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk” campaign. A cup of chocolate milk has about 24 grams to 30 grams of sugar; regular whole milk has about 11 grams to 13 grams of sugar. (For more, read the Los Angeles Times story “Should chocolate milk be allowed in schools?”)

But a new University of Connecticut study, funded by the council and the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board, shows one group that may benefit from chocolate milk: endurance runners. The Hartford Courant examines the study in “Researchers up on chocolate milk, down on energy drinks.”

Check out other findings on the link between chocolate milk and athletic performance in the Los Angeles Times’ “Drink of champions.”

--Mary Forgione / For the Los Angeles Times