If muscle cramps are not dealt with in a healthy way or they aren’t taken care of, then it could end up being a very frustrating situation for everyone that is trying to take care of things.
Even though stretching and other techniques can actually play a big role in helping you to reduce the number of cramps that you have, you may also want to think about other things that you can do in order to prevent and/or stop them from being a big problem while you’re exercising or going about your activities of daily living.
Did you know that your diet can actually be a big part of what helps to prevent issues with your muscles and joints?
That being said, there are a lot of foods that can actually help you to reduce the pain and irritation that comes when you’re trying to take care of your muscle cramps. Here is a look at some of the most common and most helpful ones.
Dried Fruits
There are a lot of people out there that actually swear by eating a handful of dried fruits in the morning.
Fruit is something that is good for our bodies anyway, so it’s really not shocking that it has been shown that it’s going to be able to help people reduce the number of muscle cramps that they are fighting off on a regular basis. The fruits you eat usually matter, too.
Raisins don’t usually do much, but dried apples, bananas, citrus fruits, and other potassium and calcium filled foods can help to loosen up your muscles and make it so that you’re more flexible.
The fruit also gives you a bit of a boost, which helps you to feel great and get the exercise that you need.
Bananas
You’ve probably heard that you should eat a banana if you’re fighting off cramps and other similar issues.
Because of that, there are a lot of people who will carry a banana with them in order to make sure that they have an answer when they are trying to fend off muscle cramps during, before, or after exercise.
The fact of the matter is, bananas have more potassium than many other fruits and vegetables.
By eating one, that potassium can get into your system quickly and make it so that you’re able to take care of everything that you can.
Tomato Juice
Tomato juice is actually excellent and has almost as much, if not more, potassium than some of the other options that we have listed here.
And, on top of that, it has a few other added benefits that will allow you to get exactly what you need so the cramps can go away.
Tomatoes actually have a lot of vitamin C in them as well, and that helps your body to recover from issues like muscle cramps a lot more quickly than you would have been able to otherwise.
Strawberries
Everyone likes strawberries, and there are a lot of people who eat some form of it when they’re exercising or trying to get through their day. Why?
Because they are full of vitamin C and calcium, both of which help to strengthen the body and recover from injuries, cramps, and strains that you may experience when you’re out and about. That being said, strawberries are really easy to add into your day.
You can eat a strawberry based bar, you can add it to your protein smoothie, you can put them in your cereal, or you could do any number of other things to make sure that you get the most out of what you’re doing.
Dairy Products
Dairy products like cheese, milk, and yogurt can all help your body to get the help that it needs in order to prevent issues with muscle cramps.
The main thing here is the calcium, which is meant to help you strengthen and recover your muscles and bones.
Magnesium, however, also plays a role in this as well. If you wake up with cramps in the middle of the night, go and get a piece of cheese or some milk.
Warm milk before bed will also make it a lot easier for you to get what you need when it comes to preventing those cramps in the night.
Just make sure that you’re eating and drinking low-fat dairy products.
Water
It may sound odd that water is listed here, but it’s actually a very important part of whether or not you’re going to be able to take care of the issues that you have with muscle cramps.
As you likely know, a lot of muscle cramps can be prevented by drinking plenty of water when you’re out and about.
When your body gets dehydrated and there isn’t enough water going to certain parts of your body, you will start to notice that you’re dealing with a lot more muscle pain than you would have otherwise.
That’s because, when your muscles start to dry out, they will lose their flexibility and it will be much more difficult for you to recover from an injury.
Stay hydrated and get plenty of the water throughout the day and you’re well on your way to ensuring that muscle cramps are being kept at bay.
There are a lot of different foods that you can eat that can make your muscles a lot less cramped.
As you can see, many of these foods have magnesium and potassium in them, which are known to help loosen you up and make you feel better.
If you have muscle cramps often, it could be the sign of a bigger problem that needs to be taken care of and dealt with.
Talk to your doctor as soon as you can to get a proper diagnosis and to make sure that you’re going to be able to get the care and help that you need in order to be able to exercise and move around appropriately.
References:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/260508-what-foods-help-muscle-cramps-and-are-high-in-potassium/
http://www.rd.com/health/healthy-eating/eat-to-beat-leg-cramps/
http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/learn-the-connection-between-diet-and-muscle-cramping
