In a medium saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil, whisking until sugar is dissolved. Add cocoa and salt; mix well with a whisk. Let mixture simmer until thick, whisking continually to keep from scalding. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Add vanilla. Pour into an airtight container and refrigerate.

To make chocolate milk
1 tablespoon homemade syrup
8 ounces skim milk
Combine ingredients in a glass and stir.

With its perfect mix of protein and carbs to speed muscle recovery, you can't ask for a better post-workout drink than chocolate milk, said William Lunn, Ph.D., an exercise scientist at the University of Connecticut. Experts recommend it for serious workouts (1.5 hours or longer) or super-intense sprints.