myFM: Muscle cramps

If you've ever randomly experienced a muscle cramp, you know how painful they can be. Muscle cramps often happen from long periods of exercise or repetitive movement. 

Muscle cramps can happen for a host of reasons like because of medication that you’re taking like diuretics, or meds for high blood pressure, they can deplete minerals. Dehydration is another factor, so not enough water and thinking that the sports drinks will actually help when they’re really full of sugar. The main reason though is most commonly mineral deficiencies. Workouts that make you sweat a lot, working out in hot weather and not balancing your electrolytes of potassium, magnesium and calcium is a good place to start. 

Eating magnesium rich foods likegreens, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes, whole grains, wheat germ, wheat and oat bran. Potassium rich foods that are better than a banana include avocado, sweet potato, spinach, butternut squash, beets and drinking coconut water really is your best drink for cramps. Calcium from leafy greens and broccoli, nuts and seeds, especially sesame seeds and tahini (sesame seed paste), are better go-to’s than relying on dairy. 

Include supplements of Magnesium Bis-Glycinate, Cell Mins; a liquid mineral and even Spectralyte from sproutright.com can really help turn this around.

Listen to this morning's segment below!