Calf/foot cramps

[Bimmerbill]

Been doing the low carb diet for a while, but getting foot and calf cramps that wake me up at night.

What's a good source of potassium? May break down and eat a few bananas, they seem to be the best bang for the buck. Lots of carbs tho...

 

[RunningBum]

This is a pretty good article:
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dum...amps-Night-time-Calf-Muscle-Pain.id-4150.html

I get them once in awhile too. Less since I started eating a banana every night (I also eat one with breakfast almost every morning).

I think the hydration tip is a good one too. The stretching tip probably is too, I know I have tight calf muscles.

 

[OAG]

I saw your subject for this thread and immediately thought Bananas. I had cramps several years ago and my SIL (who is a doctor) suggested them to me. Been eating them for the past 20 years and have had virtually no further cramps. It will take about a week to take effect but it is good and inexpensive (buy the old ones they mark down) therapy. Much better IMHO than potassium supplements.

 

[Orchidflower]

Swimmers like me get them if you don't have enough water in your system before you hit the pool (at least over 4 glasses for me) and enough potassium in my system. Those suckers really hurt, too. Heck with the carbs: eat bananas!
I did take supplements for a month or so when those cramps first started waking me up in the middle of the night with calf cramps. They work, too...but I like bananas, anyway.

 

[Bimmerbill]

Yeah, I knew bananas worked. I looked at supplements, but they only provide 3% per pill and I didn't want to eat a pile of them. I'm well hydrated, just think I'm missing out on some vitamins/minerals doing the low carb diet.

 

[A854321]

Make sure you are getting enough calcium, too. Taking a couple of Tums right before bed may help.

 

[lemming]

You can have half an avocado without breaking your diet. Tasty too.
Also switch to lite salt-it's a combination of sodium and potassium. Cuts down on sodium that you always get enough of and adds something you don't.

ps Don't take diet advice from me, I'm the poster child for all the before pictures in those ads.

 

[calmloki]

Sis takes Quinine if leg muscle or foot cramps are too fierce - dunno what the adverse effects might be, but i like the hint of British Empire that emanates therefrom.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I saw your subject for this thread and immediately thought Bananas

Thats what I think when I see the subject for most threads.

I think I know why your foot is cramping. There's a calf sitting on it.

 

[Khan]

There are other sources of potassium besides bananas.
( http://www.health.gov/DIETARYGUIDELINES/dga2005/document/html/AppendixB.htm )

I stopped having leg cramps after adding magnesium supplements.
(Kicked the cat off the bed one night.)

 

[MikeD]

Magnesium cramps differ from potassium cramps for me. The potassium cramps can be worked out and stopped (that particular cramp, anyway) by flexing the muscle. The magnesium cramps are wierd, come on slowly, and almost nothing seems to make the cramp go away.

Mike D.

 

[OAG]

CFB-Is sick. Send him flowers, or something.

 

[kitty_37]

Agree from personal experience with the need for magnesium supplements sometimes on low carb.
The Eades (Protein Power) have good info on this in their books and website.
I now take cal-mag together at night (there is a ratio of the two you are aiming for)
Tomato juice or v8 works better for me than bananas cause of the sugar. Other fruits might be better like berries or melon.

good luck...
kitty

 

[hankster]

Ditto on the lite salt suggestion. It worked for me anyway.

 

[grumpy]

I have been on low carb diet for many years and tried lots of different stuff for leg cramps. What works for me is a combination of Balanced B vitamins (50mg) and magnesium (250mg x 2). Still get them when I swim but no longer bothered by cramps in bed at night.

 

[tmm99]

Cramps are usually caused by imbalance of calcium/magnesium/potassium. High protein intake depletes more calcium from your body. In addition, being really high on protein with low carb could make you lose minerals in general, by excreting more fluid, so maybe you should take multi-mineral supplements?

For potassium, Id' do tomato juice before bananas if I were doing low carb... 6oz of tomato juice should give you the same amount or more of potassium as a banana.

tmm

tmm

 

[Cruisinthru]

I have been on the South Beach Diet for three weeks now and I agree with the tomato juice suggestion. I suffered from leg cramps during the first week and then I added V8 juice to my breakfast routine, and no more leg cramps. 1 small can is thirty calories. I use the low sodium type. This is recommended on South Beach.

 

[runnerr]

Don't throw the best part of the banana away, scrap the inside of the peel with a spoon and eat that. It contains the most potassium.

 

[Walt34]

I think I know why your foot is cramping. There's a calf sitting on it.

People have been shot for puns better than that.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Aww dude, dont have a cow! I was just trying to get a leg up!

I oughta be more careful on a forum full of retired law enforcement guys.

I might have to moove quickly.

 

[Bimmerbill]

Thanks. I have a multi vitamin, but always forget to take it. Ate a banana a day for a while, seemed to have helped. Also, slowly adding a few more carbs to the diet since I've lost a lot of weight.