What's the best snack to grab after a major workout? How about a bowl of whole-grain cereal, a bite of Indian takeout, or a big nonfat latte.

Each nosh option has a special ingredient that may help your body recover better and nip postworkout pain in the bud.

The 3 Cs
What, exactly, do these snacks have that others might not? The three Cs: carbs, curcumin, and caffeine. A carb-rich snack like cereal can help you overcome fatigue by restoring glycogen -- that stuff your muscles use for energy. Curcumin, a substance found in the Indian spice turmeric, may help quell muscle inflammation. And caffeine from coffee may help block muscle-pain-producing substances. (Coffee has other health benefits, too. Read about them here.)

More Pain-Free-Exercise Tips

• Warm up first. (Here's the step-by-step way to do it.)
• Stretch, stretch, and stretch some more. (Check out the stretches recommended by Drs. Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen.)
• Take an aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug 2 hours before heavy physical activity (if your doctor says it's okay). (Find out which pain relievers are best for postworkout pain.)

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