• Training
    • Injury Prevention
    • Training Tips
  • How To
    • Bike Fit
    • Gear
  • Nutrition
    • Nutrition Tips
    • Weight Loss
  • Repair
  • Reviews
  • Stories
    • Funny Stories
    • Jokes
    • Quotes
    • Videos
    • Funny Videos

I Love Bicycling

I Love Bicycling is a website that is geared towards cycling for beginners with road cycling tips, training articles, nutrition tips, weight loss, how to’s and bike repair articles.

Dairy and Cycling – Pros and Cons

April 19, 2016 by Wade Shaddy

 dairy and cycling
There’s not doubt whatsoever — and science will back this up — that milk is the gold standard of nutrition…for a calf. If you research the information provided by the National Dairy Council, dairy products are promoted as one of the pinnacles of sports nutrition. However dairy and cycling doesn’t necessarily always play together well. Look at nature as an example; humans are the only species that actually go back to drinking milk after being weaned off.

Dairy and Money

The reason for the controversy around dairy and cycling centers around profit. The pricey cost of dairy products make it lucrative for manufacturers. Gold medal cyclist Kristin Armstrong, former spokesperson for chocolate milk, (more on this later) is a perfect example of the dairy industry using a cycling superstar to promote dairy products.

Benefits of Dairy

But lets not be overly harsh on them either, dairy products can be very important to your health. They are a good delivery systems for foods such as yogurt, flavored drinks, spreads, and a wide range of other products that contain compounds and nutrients that are essential to good health and performance. Protein is a prime example of one of the benefits of milk.

Questions From the FTC

The Federal Trade Commission took claims that milk was the gold standard of nutrition to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) , to look into the scientific basis of the claims made in those goofy “milk mustache” advertisements. The outcome flies in the face of milk. Mark Hyman MD., has published a variety of reasons why milk may not be the perfect food.

Dairy and Cycling

“Dairy may cause numerous allergy-based infections ranging from ear infections, to respiratory, to gastrointestinal and skin symptoms. Anyone who suffers from these is recommended to have a strict 2-3 month dairy free period to see if symptoms ease.” Says Dr Michael Greger.

Dr. Spock

Dr. Benjamin Spock, probably the most respected pediatrician of all time, takes it a step further and recommends a life-long elimination of cow’s milk.

What is Milk

  • Most milk comes from pregnant cows; therefore carries a lot more estrogen to your diet. Estrogen is another story in itself.
  • Cows are often fed antibiotics, engineered hormones, pesticides, and other chemicals that flow directly to your milk.
  • Human milk has 10 times as much essential fatty acids and three times as much selenium as cow’s milk.
  • Adult cows get the calcium they need from plants, not milk.
  • It still remains widely accepted that calcium in dairy products strengthens bones and can help prevent osteoporosis.

Other Nutrient Sources

Some scientists agree that it’s better for us to get calcium, probably the most touted benefit of milk, from other food sources. Calcium, potassium, protein and fats, also in milk, are readily available in whole plant foods — vegetables, fruits, beans, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and even seaweed if you like sushi.

Lactose Intolerance

Then there’s the lactose intolerant issue with dairy and cycling. The majority of humans naturally stop producing significant amounts of lactase, the enzyme needed to properly metabolize lactose, the sugar in milk, sometime between the ages of two and five. Most mammals stop producing the enzymes needed to properly digest and metabolize milk after they have been weaned. Dairy causes digestive problems for about 75 percent of the population.

Constipation Issue

Constipation (this one is tricky for cyclists) with dairy and cycling is controversial and it can be a problem. According to pediatric testing, milk can cause constipation. And it’s a well known fact that cheese causes constipation.

Diabetics Take Note

Early exposure to cow’s milk has been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Albeit, in all fairness to milk, these test have typically centered around exposure to cow’s milk at an early age.

Mucus and Cycling

A study done in 2005 — these are really dated — published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers were unable to detect any measurable mucus increase. Dr. James Steckelberg is a consultant in the Division of Infectious Diseases and a professor of medicine at the Mayo Medical School. He has this to say about mucus: “Although drinking milk may make phlegm (mucus) thicker and more irritating to your throat than it would normally be, milk doesn’t cause your body to make more phlegm. In fact, frozen dairy products can soothe a sore throat and provide calories when you otherwise may not eat.”

What This All Means

  • What this all means to you is that you should think about what you’re putting in your body. If dairy products work for you the so be it, but you’re more likely to have fewer health issues by sticking with water or sports drinks.
  • Based on the limited research, milk appears to have favorable alterations in protein metabolism. The results of this study suggest that dairy can be an effective post-exercise rehydration drink and can be considered for use during and after cycling by everyone except those individuals who have lactose intolerance.
  • Milk’s nutrients—protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water—are rapidly absorbed and metabolized by the body to produce energy during cycling and help to replenish nutrient stores after activity. New research shows that milk is just as effective than commercially-available sports drinks and can increase muscle growth
  • Some cyclists may be fond of believing that a glass of chocolate milk is the perfect beverage. But although it has a good carb-to-protein ratio, the average store bought chocolate milk has a lot of high-fructose corn syrup — if you’re comfortable with that.

It’s Your Call

If you’re considering dairy and cycling as part of your regimen, it boils down to personal choice. But dairy is not a secret weapon. You can perform at your highest levels without it. The nutrients dairy provides can readily be obtained from other sources. On the other hand, unless you have a reason to avoid dairy products, it is worth considering the benefits of dairy. Dairy can make a contribution to your energy and nutrition goals and your post ride recovery.  As an added plus, dairy products are delicious and what would life be without them.

Filed Under: Nutrition Tagged With: cycling nutrition, dairy and cycling, milk and cycling

  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Latest Articles

JOIN Cycling: A New Training Platform for Cyclists

May 27, 2024 By Eric Lister

cold exposure

The Benefits of Cold Exposure for Cycling & Life

June 13, 2023 By Eric Lister

hill climb

The Ultimate Hill Climb Training Guide

May 31, 2023 By Eric Lister

shoulder pain cycling

How to Treat & Avoid Shoulder Pain While Cycling

April 12, 2023 By Eric Lister

psoas stretch

The Importance of the Psoas Stretch for Cyclists

April 6, 2023 By Eric Lister

cycling neck pain

The Ultimate Guide to Cycling Neck Pain: Causes and Solutions

March 21, 2023 By Eric Lister

Useful Info

  • Contact
  • Finally, A Global Cycling Club That Is Focused On Community And Love Of Cycling!
  • Privacy Policy
  • Share Your Story!
  • Terms And Conditions Of Use
  • Welcome to I Love Bicycling
  • What Happened When I Stretched Every Day For a Month

Recent Posts

  • JOIN Cycling: A New Training Platform for Cyclists
  • How to Hang Bikes in Your Garage: 4 Inexpensive Options
  • Gravel Bike Vs. Road Bike: Which One Is Better For You?
  • The 6 Types of Mountain Bikes & How to Choose the Best One for You
  • What Is a Touring Bike Good For? 5 Benefits We Know You’ll Love

Search I Love Bicycling

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2025 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in