Low sodium/salt causing cramps?

charlieaulert
charlieaulert Posts: 127 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
I’ve been struggling with leg cramps recently and I’m pretty sure it’s due to a low sodium diet. I have reduced my water weight within the last few weeks, but I am getting bad calf cramps when playing football.

I’m fit and have good CV endurance but my calves cramps are preventing me from playing.

I’m going to get plenty of sodium over the next 4 days, will I see a quick improvement, i.e. by Saturday?

Any suggestions on low calorie/low carb foods with a good amount of sodium/salt would be good!

Replies

  • ldwatene
    ldwatene Posts: 150 Member
    Salt and seasonings?
  • charlieaulert
    charlieaulert Posts: 127 Member
    ldwatene wrote: »
    Salt and seasonings?

    Most definitely! Quite hard to add salt to the foods I eat, but I'm going to try! Cheers!
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    edited August 2017
    I used to get this, but it was b/c I was low in magnesium and potassium intake in my diet. cronometer helped me find this out.
  • KaroshiQueen
    KaroshiQueen Posts: 213 Member
    Try potassium supplements.
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    edited August 2017
    Tell your football coach what you are doing. Since he may not want his players in 96 degree heat to be taking in 10,000+ mg sodium a day.
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    Run this by your organization's Training staff.
  • Fitnessgirl0913
    Fitnessgirl0913 Posts: 481 Member
    Calf cramps can be a sign of electrolyte imbalance, which can be very serious and can land you in the hospital so I recommend talking to your doctor, they may want you to get blood work done. Until you know for sure do not take any supplements such as potassium or magnesium until you know if you actually need them. The "healthy potassium range" is literally from 4.5-5.2 or some very small window like that so if you are not deficient taking a supplement can cause toxicity in the body and yet again land you in the hospital. Just be careful and talk to a doctor!
  • DebLaBounty
    DebLaBounty Posts: 1,169 Member
    Gatorade.
  • Moxie42
    Moxie42 Posts: 1,400 Member
    I deal with this too! From my own research and experience, the three things that seem to cause cramps (for me, charley horses) are defincies in magnesium, potassium, and sodium. I now take a magenium supplement, I try to eat a banana most days (for potassium) and no longer avoid salt like the plague.

    For me, the effects were virtually immediate. The first time I took a magnesium pill, it was during a charley horse that would not go away (of course it happened in the middle of the night). Once I took the pill, I started to feel a little better within minutes and when I got up in the morning, my leg was hardly sore. Usually the entire day after a charley horse I'm limping and feeling like it's going to cramp up again. I've been taking the supplements and increased sodium ever since, and haven't a single cramp. So yes, I do think you'd be fine by Saturday, or even within a day or two.

    Some good low-cal options to increase sodium:
    * Dill pickles! This is my go-go.
    * Cucumber slices sprinkled with salt
    * Regular (canned/boxed) broth/soup
    * Frozen entrees from the store (including Smart Ones, Lean Cuisines, etc.)
  • Old_Cat_Lady
    Old_Cat_Lady Posts: 1,193 Member
    Please talk to your coach even if you consider magnesium or potassium. In larger amounts they can cause irregular heartbeats. Last thing you want is to be at football practice and have heart irregularities.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I suggest adding a gastrolyte package to your water as it is a balanced electrolyte formulation.

    Leg cramps are concerning. Don't mess with unbalanced electrolytes. It can land you in the hospital.
  • not_a_runner
    not_a_runner Posts: 1,343 Member
    Are you trying to make weight for something? - What do you mean you've "reduced your water weight"? Is there a possibility you're dehydrated?
    Low carb foods and not being able to add salt to what you're eating seems kind of odd for a football player... What do you eat that you can't add salt?
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