photo credit: Joi
You know that too much cheese is not good for you. Most cheeses are loaded with fat and calories. But did you know that by simply grating cheese you can make your diet healthier?

That news comes via Britain’s Food Standards Agency which is urging consumers to grate cheese as a way to reduce the amount of fat you eat. Studies have found that people tend to use less cheese in a meal if they have grated it.

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If you’re a workout fanatic, you know the feeling of aching muscles well. New research suggests that getting a dose of caffeine before working out could reduce sore muscles afterwards.

The ability to forgo muscle soreness was demonstrated by both coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers.

The small study put 25 physically fit college-age men through rigorous workouts. About half the men normally consumed little to no caffeine while the other half normally consumed the equivalent of 3 to 4 cups of coffee a day.

Researchers had the guys pedal on a stationary bike for two high-intensity, 30-minute sessions. For one session, the participants were given a caffeine dose equivalent to about 2 to 3 cups of coffee. For the other session the men go a placebo pill.

In general, guys who got the caffeine had less thigh-muscle pain than those who got the the placebo. Since the study included both regular coffee drinkers and non-drinkers, the results suggest that people may not develop a tolerance to the pain-reducing impact of caffeine.

On one occasion, the men were given a dose of caffeine equivalent to two to three cups of coffee one hour before the workout; on the other, they were given a placebo pill instead.

In general, the researchers found, the men reported less thigh-muscle pain with caffeine compared with placebo. Since there was no difference between habitual caffeine consumers and non-consumers, people may not build up a tolerance to the pain-dampening effects of caffeine.

Researchers surmise that caffeine may limit muscle pain by blocking the effects of adenosine, a chemical that’s released in response to inflammation. So if you’re about to tackle a new or tough workout, especially one that you’ve experienced muscle pain from in the past, consider drinking a shot of caffeine before you start.

photo credit: Refracted Moments?