Milk to play greater role in sport

The Dairy Council said today that milk is set to play an increasingly important role in sport, as scientific evidence grows that it has a significant effect on recovery after exercise.

At a board meeting held at the Royal Highland Show today (Friday), The Dairy Council decided that it would make milk in sport a major area of activity throughout the rest of this year.

The Dairy Council will undertake a comprehensive survey among young, aspiring Olympic athletes across the UK to assess the use of milk in their training regimes. The Dairy Council will also hold an industry conference later in the year on milk in sport.

Following the board meeting today, Sandy Wilkie, the recently appointed chairman of The Dairy Council, said: "Across the world we are now seeing an increasing body of evidence on the benefits of milk after exercise, and its ability to help in the recovery from certain types of injury.

"The sports drinks industry is huge and there is no doubt there are many products that are regarded as ’cool’ among athletes and amateur sportsmen and women when, in fact, their restorative properties are no better than those of milk. Indeed, in terms of rehydration and reducing muscle damage induced by exercise, milk has been shown to be more beneficial than specially formulated sports drinks – and at a fraction of their cost.

"Most recently, a major study in the United States demonstrated that the drinking of chocolate milk was extremely beneficial to athletes and football players. Another study of the benefits of wholegrain cereal and milk concluded that it could be the next ’sports supplement’.

"The challenge for the dairy industry is to keep developing products that are attractive, as well as delivering real health and nutritional benefits. I am very confident that we are on the right track."