Remedies for leg cramps (besides bananas)
jljshoe1979
Posts: 325 Member
I usually eat a whole banana for breakfast on days that I plan on exercising. It helps me avoid lower leg cramps. Lately, though, I am trying to cut back on sugar. For instance, I ate a half banana today, as bananas always kill my sugar number. I just got back from doing a walk/run and one of legs is twinging (feels like it wants to cramp/tighten up, but I won't let it...I keep stretching it out). Soooo, my question is what else can I take/eat to help keep my legs from cramping in place of my banana AND that will also be relatively low in sugar? My first thought is maybe taking two Midol before running (it helps with other body cramps)...does anyone else know if that would help or not?
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Replies
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Make sure you are well hydrated, first and foremost. Another great source of potassium is a baked potato - just be careful how much you add to it (butter, sour cream, etc.). Also, if you are watching your sugar one banana (although it has as much sugar as a glazed donut) will not kill you.0
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I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I think an Iron deficiency can cause cramps too0
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Magnesium, which can be applied to the skin as a spray or taken as a supplement.0
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Avocados also help for this0
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Avacados! Yummy
They have a lot of potassium. 0 -
Lots, and lots of water. I drink over 100 ounces of water in a day and I don't have problems with my legs cramping anymore. (Unless I drank too much alcohol the day before......) :drinker:0
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Dehydration can cause cramping as can potassium deficiency. If you are sure it is a potassium deficiency then you might try drinking V8 juice everyday. If you are on any blood pressure meds that may cause the body to lose potassium, you might check with your PCP about a potassium supplement.0
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Magnesium and good stretching. If you cannot take that (be careful of side effects) I get a bad one put a topical roll-on that is cold. Sorry I cannot name the brand but if you PM me I will tell you because it is not available in retail stores.0
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I have issues with leg cramps as well, I use a product called elete that I mix with my water. It has zero calories and a bunch of electrolytes, including potassium. I add 1 drop per ounce of water and drink it during and after my workout.0
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I get terrible leg cramps. I take an OTC potassium supplement everyday. Along with high potassium foods and tons of water.0
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This is going to sound gross, but I swear it works... I use it for my athletes all the time: pickle juice or a mustard packet. They both have something in them that make you stop cramping. I keep mustard packets in my med kit while at soccer practices/ games and every time someone gets cramps, they get a pack. They hate it, but it works! My dad also suffers from charlie-horses in him hamstrings and he drinks pickle juice all the time to help get rid of them. I do it too whenever I get them. It works! but brush your teeth afterwards
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Dittos on magnesium. I had plenty of sodium and potassium in diet, and acceptable levels in blood tests, but magnesium helps the body to use those actually, so you can eat plenty and have enough floating around, but if body can't make use if it, you can actually be low in muscles where it matters.
1 small pill in evening first time, and skeptical as normal, and no foot cramps that night. Incredible difference.0 -
Thermotabs (be careful if you're watching sodium intake).0
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I am trying the Low Sodium V8 as well. Glad to know it is supported by others.0
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Your cramps probably aren't caused by a potassium deficiency, especially if you normally eat bananas. Maybe you need new shoes, or less pounding. You could substitute biking or swimming for some of your walks/runs, exercise on softer surfaces, like dirt or a track instead of pavement, and make sure that your footwear is working for you.0
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I always thought it was a potassium thing, some people are saying magnesium.. either way, maybe take a multivitamin (just make sure you take one for your gender). Fills in all the gaps you may not have filled with food. I used to get crazy cramps in my calves, I find they only reappear if I've fallen off the vitamin wagon.0
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tonic water, or diet tonic water. Quinine helps0
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I usually eat a whole banana for breakfast on days that I plan on exercising. It helps me avoid lower leg cramps. Lately, though, I am trying to cut back on sugar. For instance, I ate a half banana today, as bananas always kill my sugar number. I just got back from doing a walk/run and one of legs is twinging (feels like it wants to cramp/tighten up, but I won't let it...I keep stretching it out). Soooo, my question is what else can I take/eat to help keep my legs from cramping in place of my banana AND that will also be relatively low in sugar? My first thought is maybe taking two Midol before running (it helps with other body cramps)...does anyone else know if that would help or not?
Do you drink DIET soft drinks?
If so...try cutting them out COMPLETELY. Any time I have ANY artificial sugar (including Splenda) I have leg cramps at night. Artificial sweeteners deplete potassium.
No diet coke = no leg cramps. (for me anyway.)0 -
There are numerous foods that are high in potassium (even higher than bananas). Make sure you're getting your potassium daily...also adequate sodium. Everybody thinks sodium is this terrible thing, but it is an essential mineral that gets sweated out when you exercise. Low potassium and sodium = cramps. Also stay well hydrated, stretch, etc.0
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Take a daily multi vitamin! I used to get woken up ALL the time from charlie horses, and I'd cry they hurt so bad. They stopped when I started taking a multi, and I missed a couple days and I was woken up with the WORST cramp the other night! 0
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I used to get horrible leg cramps, then I started to get hip and thigh cramps. I went to the doctor and he told me to take a calcium and magnesium supplement like caltrate. I did, they went away. A few weeks ago I got dehydrated so I drank a ton of water and got the leg cramps again. Took some calcium/magnesium again and they went away. It worked for me. Good luck.0
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i had a problem for weeks,maybe even months. i would cramp up during the day but the worst was first thing in the morning. i could barely stand up some days. I tried consuming loads of potassium & magnesium but it did not help. i also tried a few other remedies i looked up online (like lemon balm, catnip & Passionflower. they are relaxing, anti-spasmodic herbs. my back felt better taking these but it had no effect on the leg cramps)....
then i tried L-glutamine powder. i was taking it to help alleviate sore muscles after weight lifting. low & behold my muscle cramp problem went away. I did some research on glutamine, it seems that it helps with absorption problems in the gut. that must have been an issue for me, probably why the potassium & magnesium supplements did not work. (that is my guess, anyway) I only took it for a few weeks. i haven't needed any for a while but i keep it on hand just in case it flairs up again.0 -
This is going to sound gross, but I swear it works... I use it for my athletes all the time: pickle juice or a mustard packet. They both have something in them that make you stop cramping. I keep mustard packets in my med kit while at soccer practices/ games and every time someone gets cramps, they get a pack. They hate it, but it works! My dad also suffers from charlie-horses in him hamstrings and he drinks pickle juice all the time to help get rid of them. I do it too whenever I get them. It works! but brush your teeth afterwards
One of my friends gets horrible leg and groin cramps and swears by the mustard packets!0 -
I have gotten awful shin splints especially when I first started running. I found that icing helps a lot. I just throw on a frozen bag of peas for about 10 minutes per leg, helps a lot!
I also suggest any sports drink (they have lots of sugar-free types). Works great for the aches and pains.0 -
Soaking your feet in warm water and Epsom salts is a great way to relax the muscles and get your magnesium also.0
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I usually eat a whole banana for breakfast on days that I plan on exercising. It helps me avoid lower leg cramps. Lately, though, I am trying to cut back on sugar. For instance, I ate a half banana today, as bananas always kill my sugar number. I just got back from doing a walk/run and one of legs is twinging (feels like it wants to cramp/tighten up, but I won't let it...I keep stretching it out). Soooo, my question is what else can I take/eat to help keep my legs from cramping in place of my banana AND that will also be relatively low in sugar? My first thought is maybe taking two Midol before running (it helps with other body cramps)...does anyone else know if that would help or not?
Lack of sodium.
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1st GOAL: 100kg (6JUN13)
13.2kg lost / 22.2kg to go
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Thanks everyone for all the replies...lots of great suggestions. Just to clarify - I do drink ~10cups of water per day (today I will drink 12 with the exercise). I had 8 oz of Gatorade when I got home. Maybe that wasn't enough?? I don't know. I also take a Calcium/Magnesium/Zinc with vit D supplement daily, extra vitamin D (all by itself), and right now, a "Hair, Skin, and Nails" supplement (it says to take like 3/day, but I only do 1 because of the other supplements I take, and I try to eat healthier type food...although, not as strict about that). I will look into some of the other ideas mentioned here that I haven't tried. I usually have bad leg cramps or stiffness, if I skip the banana...we'll see how things go.0
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This is going to sound gross, but I swear it works... I use it for my athletes all the time: pickle juice or a mustard packet. They both have something in them that make you stop cramping. I keep mustard packets in my med kit while at soccer practices/ games and every time someone gets cramps, they get a pack. They hate it, but it works! My dad also suffers from charlie-horses in him hamstrings and he drinks pickle juice all the time to help get rid of them. I do it too whenever I get them. It works! but brush your teeth afterwards
It's the vinegar. Our varsity football team keeps jars of pickle juice on the sidelines. I have a friend who sticks her tongue in a spoonful of vinegar and she swears the leg cramps are almost instantly gone.0 -
I usually drink young coconut water when I get leg or foot cramps. Fresh is best but you have to have the patience to cut one open. It's easy to find packaged these days though. It has loads of potassium, and a good amount of magnesium and iron. 0
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