Chocolate milk is the best fitness drink, and has been preferred by the health conscious, a new research has revealed. Even the most basic version of its shake was found to top "isotonic" drinks such as Powerade, Gatorade and Lucozade at helping the body recover from workouts. Physiologist Dr Michael Saunders of America's James Madison University in Virginia hailed choc-flavoured milk "a unique beverage" at an Institute of Physics conference on the science of exercise. Saunders' tests showed that the drink's benefits came from its carbohydrate-to-protein ratio, plus its electrolytes and blend of minerals including calcium and potassium. He said that it was just as good as isotonic drinks if not more effective, and also said that it was cheap, the Sun reported. His research follows previous studies showing plain milk to be a good choice for athletes after training sessions.