A comprehensive review of the effects of cherry juice and chocolate milk supplementation on football performance and recovery

Background: Football matches and training sessions can induce metabolic and mechanical stress, leading to inflammation, oxidative stress, and muscle damage, all of which may negatively impact subsequent performance. Montmorency tart cherry, rich in phytochemicals and anthocyanins, is believed to aid in recovery and alleviate muscle soreness. Similarly, chocolate milk may promote glycogen synthesis, protein synthesis, and rehydration. The aim of this study is to review the effects of cherry juice and chocolate milk on athletes and summarize results to inform future research on football recovery. Methods: This comprehensive review identified relevant literature through an extensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscus databases, using combinations of keywords related to cherry juice, chocolate milk, and exercise. Studies were selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: A total of 372 studies were identified through the search [Cherry juice: n = 137; Chocolate milk: n = 235]. After assessing eligibility, 27 studies were included based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria [Cherry juice: n = 14; Chocolate milk: n = 13]. These studies investigated the effects of cherry juice and chocolate milk on various aspects of post-training or post-competition recovery, including muscle damage, inflammation, oxidative stress, and physical performance in athletes from different sports. Conclusion: Based on the reviewed literature, the ingestion of cherry juice and chocolate milk has the potential to reduce muscle damage and soreness and enhance recovery after exercise and physical activities in athletes from various sports. These positive results suggest that cherry juice and chocolate milk may also benefit football players as recovery strategies. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal dosage, timing, and duration of supplementation, as well as the long-term effects on recovery and performance in football-specific contexts.