More than just milk

In a few weeks from now, the 2024 Summer Olympic Games will commence in Paris, France. Among the delegates representing the United States is none other than Elle Purrier St. Pierre. A Vermont dairy farmer, mother, wife, and record-holder elite athlete, Elle inspires multitudes. Elle broke the 3,000-meter indoor race record in Glasgow, Scotland, just after breaking her own record for the U.S. women’s indoor mile several weeks prior. Throughout her running career, Elle said that milk has been a critical component of her training and racing regime, enabling her to refuel and maintain her elite performance level. 

Refueling with milk, white or chocolate is no secret among athletes. There was even a promotional campaign launched years ago by MilkPEP called Team Chocolate Milk. The program aimed to increase awareness of milk’s benefits when it comes to nutrition and health. Team Chocolate Milk has since been discontinued as the organization decided to pivot. They intend to now focus specifically on women. Their campaigns, Gonna Need Milk and #TeamMilk, are now aiming to share dairy’s superiority in quality nutrition when it comes to balanced nutrition, strength, health and sleep. 

As a former ultrarunner, chocolate milk and dairy protein are things that Megan is very familiar with and has utilized in her running. In the journey to running long distances, especially when the length extends to 26.2 miles and beyond, nutrition becomes extremely critical. An unbalanced plan of caloric and electrolyte intake throughout can quickly derail the best race. Electrolytes, lost in perspiration, exhalation, and urination, are critical for things such as nerve conduction, muscle contraction and proper fluid balance. Milk’s natural ratios of calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium are perfect for facilitating hydration. 

During races, glycogen (glucose that the body has previously stored) is called upon for energy for muscle contraction. The trained human body usually stores about two hours’ worth of energy during hard exercise. Beyond that, the body will switch to using fat for energy, just as a cow with ketosis will burn fat for energy. Chocolate milk has simple natural milk sugars, such as lactose, along with added sugars that can be used to replace these lost glycogen stores.

Unbalanced post-race nutrition and rehydration can wreak havoc on the body and extend recovery times. The International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism noted that drinking chocolate milk within 30 minutes of intensive exercise was better at recovery and replacing glycogen storage levels than other “high-tech, expensive supplements.” Milk’s high-quality, complete protein (meaning it provides the amino acids that our bodies require) helps rebuild and repair muscles after intense exercise. During this exercise, microtears occur in muscles. Drinking milk protein regularly after these rigorous workouts has led to decreased muscle damage and soreness, according to the Journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition & Metabolism. 

Yes, this is all great news for milk, which has been steadily decreasing in consumption over the past several decades. However, many of us may be thinking, “Why should we care?” Not all of us are athletes. Remember, though, that there is a lot of physical labor that occurs, often in the summer heat, on our farms or in our yards. At NexGen we now stock our fridge and coolers with FairLife Core Power Chocolate Milk rather than sugary drinks. These developments in regard to the benefits of refueling with milk are no longer just for elite athletes. They’re for all of us, including our young athletes here in our communities. Many high school athletic programs are now also offering chocolate milk rather than sports drinks for post-athletic recovery programs. Midwest Dairy Association has funded grants across the state that aim to provide young student-athletes with chocolate milk. Dairy West, representing Idaho and Utah dairy farmers, is also funding a Replenish with Chocolate Milk Program for high school athletes this coming year. Students and our communities consuming quality nutrition in their daily lives, building strong bodies and habits, and learning about dairy is a win for us all. 

Megan Schrupp and Ellen Stenger are sisters and co-owners of both NexGen Dairy and NexGen Market in Eden Valley, Minnesota. They can be reached at [email protected].