Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in the diet can cause leg cramps. Medicines often prescribed for high blood pressure can cause increased urination, which may drain the body of these minerals.
It's been suggested that drinking 2 to 3 ounces of tonic water before bedtime can prevent leg cramps at night.
Bananas: A Time-Tested Treatment
You probably know that bananas are a good source of potassium. But they'll also give you magnesium and calcium. That's three out of four nutrients you need to ease muscle cramps tucked under that yellow peel.
Acetic acid is postulated to mitigate cramping by decreasing alpha motor neuron activity through oropharyngeal stimulation and inhibitory neurotransmitter production, while aiding in the role acetylcholine plays in muscle contraction and relaxation.
If too much salt is lost, the level of fluid in the blood will drop. Hyponatremia is a condition that occurs when the sodium in your blood falls below the normal range of 135–145 mEq/L. In severe cases, low sodium levels in the body can lead to muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
You may increase your risk of leg cramps at night if you: Sit for long periods, especially with poor posture. Stand for long periods, particularly on concrete floors. Overuse the muscles.
But if your symptoms persist even after at-home remedies, it could be more than just leg pain—it could be your heart. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a condition that is marked by limited blood flow to the limbs, particularly your legs, as a result of plaque buildup in your arteries.
Dark, Leafy Greens
Greens are among the more unexpected foods that deliver minerals that might help with muscle cramps. These are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium that can help replenish low levels of these minerals. Hunnes adds that they can also help with hydration since they're also full of water.
Leg cramps can occur for no apparent reason, known as idiopathic leg cramps, or as a symptom or complication of a health condition, known as secondary leg cramps. Causes of secondary leg cramps can include: pregnancy. exercise.
In addition to stretching, adding heat to your cramping muscles with either a heating pad or a warm bath can help relax and increase blood flow to the cramping muscle(s). Conversely, an ice pack can help ease the pain of a leg cramp while you wait for it to subside.
Leg pain and cramping is common and often due to muscle spasms. While this pain can feel severe, it is usually not serious. But, sometimes, what feels like a leg cramp may actually be something more serious: a blood clot in your leg, also called a deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
High or low blood glucose levels
Glucose is required for muscles to properly contract and relax, as is a balanced exchange of electrolytes, such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. When imbalances happen, through either high or low blood sugar, cramps can occur.
A form of citric acid and one of the most commonly used forms of magnesium, the highly absorbed magnesium citrate is known for its calming effects and is used to help soothe muscle cramps and the nervous system, in turn helping to relieve symptoms of stress, anxiety & restlessness.
Take 1 to 2 tablespoons in ¼ cup warm water daily. Also, at the very first sign of leg cramps, massage vinegar over and into the stressed muscles. My husband, who used to frequently suffer from leg cramps, swears by this remedy and always keeps a small bottle of ACV handy, just in case.
Apple cider vinegar helps to facilitate the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter responsible for nerve impulses that facilitate muscle contraction. ACV can also lower your ph and acidify the body. A symptom of being too alkaline is cramping, so lowering your ph with ACV can help.
Apple Cider Vinegar- Apple cider vinegar helps to regulate blood clotting, and contains both potassium and calcium that will ease cramping in the uterus muscles. Mix 1 tablespoon into a 16 ounce glass of cold or hot water, and drink! You can add ginger to get make it an even tastier and more effective pain soother!
Because many muscle cramps are related to electrolyte imbalance, foods that are high in electrolytes, like potassium, can be helpful in stopping them before the start. Though bananas are the most popular high-potassium food, other foods, including avocados, potatoes and leafy greens, also pack a potassium punch.