Cereal And Milk - The New Sports Supplement

13 May 2009

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A bowl of wholegrain cereal is as good as a sports drink for recovery after exercise, new research published in the Journal of the International Society of Sport Nutrition has shown. It found that this readily available, tasty and inexpensive breakfast food is as effective as popular, carbohydrate-based ‘sports drinks’.

The researchers concluded that, for amateur athletes and moderately physically active individuals who are trying to keep in shape, popping into the kitchen for a quick bowl of wholegrain cereal with a splash of skimmed milk may be a smarter move than investing in a high-priced sports drink.

The researchers say that their goal was to compare wholegrain cereal plus milk - which are ordinary foods - and sports drinks, after moderate exercise.

They wanted to understand their relative effects on glycogen repletion and muscle protein synthesis for the average individual and found that glycogen repletion, or the replenishment of immediate muscle fuel, was just as good after wholegrain cereal consumption and that some aspects of protein synthesis were actually better.

Lynne Garton, independent nutritionist said of the study: "This study provides yet more evidence of the wide-ranging health benefits of breakfast cereals, particularly wholegrain varieties. What it also shows is that cereal can be a wise meal choice throughout the day, not just for breakfast."