leg and feet cramps

[tracyinfo]

Hello there. I have been raw about 4 months now. About once or twice a week, I get a cramp in my lower leg (calf) or along the bottom/instep of my foot. Sometimes it wakes me at night. Other times, it occurs while I am practicing yoga. I have had cramps like this for a long time, but, I thought by going "raw" they would go away.

Me exercise level has been somewhat erratic. Up until my 30th birthday, I was very active, team sports, running, etc.. Then after children, I would walk, hike, and yoga.

Any suggestions out there?

-Tracy

[MaxMarie]

That's all I can recommend really.

I've had issues all my life. As I'm getting older they're getting worse. If I skip my yoga, I'm in deep doo doo.

Here's an article with some reasons for calf cramps:

http://www.americanrunning.org/displayindustryarticle.cfm?articlenbr=1776

[tglasco4]

How long have you been raw? Are you 100% raw?

[tracyinfo]

MaxMarie, thanks for the article. I will stretch and drink more water, even on the days I am not exercising.

Tglasco4, I've been 99% raw for 4 months. The few times I was not, were about 3 dinners (at my parents home) and about 4 cups of hot tea. All at different times of course.

For now, I will also try taking some calcium supplement.

-Tracy

[tglasco4]

Tracy, I would be interested to find out if the calcium supplements helped. Please keep in touch so we can see if it does!

Peace.

Todd

[LindyLoo]

Actually, you may want to try magnesium. Calcium aids contraction and magnesium helps to relax muscles. Greeny leafy veg are very high in magnesium as magnesium is to chlorophyll as Iron is to blood. Therefore, the greener the veg the more magnesium it will contain - hope that makes sense!!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

I would get feet cramps in my martial arts class. My Sensei told me to eat bananas when this happens, and sure enough it stops the cramps :-) (I think it's the potassium in the bananas). When he goes on his long bike rides, he always takes bananas with him to prevent leg cramps.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[rawdreaming]

i've heard from somewhere that Manganese, a trace element is also very helpfull for cramps. As well as dark leafy greens, Manganese is 'abundant' in pinapple and pecans.

[tracyinfo]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will check the calcium supplement I have for the other minerals.

Also, I will have no problem adding bananas or pecans to my diet. I love them.

Thanks, Tracy

[Sharon in Colorado]

I was going to suggest the banana thing as well. It is usually a potassium deficiency. Have a banana at night or a smoothie with bananas and then stretch it our before bedtime.

[VeganVixen]

Yes bananas work for that!!

[Sweet lips]

Supplement your diet with calcium, magnesium, potassium, and/or zinc, or
eat foods rich in those nutrients. Tight muscles cannot release
without these substances in your body.

Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can cause muscle tension. When you
feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated, so drink before you feel the
need. Dehydration is common and can cause many health issues."

Asparagus, Bell peppers, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Carrots, Garlic, onions, leeks, shallots, Spinach, watercress, Swiss chard, romaine, kale, Beets and mustard greens, Sweet potato, Tomato, butternut squash, and of course a bananas, oranges will also help.

[Mad Mex]

Get life into an old thread.

This morning I woke up with a massive cramp in the right lower calf.

I'm 99% raw, right now, since 5 days Green Soothie fasting, with a lot of greens, besides the GS I'm drinking 3litre of water, I do sport (cycling, running, inline-skating) regulary, I'm stretching.

Now the question, what am I missing?

In the last 5 days I haven't eaten bananas, but normally I do.

Thanks for an advise.

Saludos,

Marcel :cool:

[CathyA.]

Try putting those bananas back into your diet. That may be your missing link.

[Mad Mex]

I will, after my fasting. I cannot imagine fasting with bananas. I thought juiced greens are enough. I will take a supplement for the acute problem and increase my greens, but I thought I'm taking already a lot.

Thanks!

Saludos,

Marcel :cool:

[streetsurfer]

Hi Marcel. I agree with all the nutritional advice. Ever since a short period of medication, under which I suffered dehydration and a possible heat stroke or heat exhaustion, I have been prone to cramping. I try to take some salt in with plenty of water and of course maintain the postassium.
I was taught in knee rehab to work toward a natural stretch, accomplished by the bodies own recovery/repair of worked muscles. It involves building up the opposing muscles (the ones on the opposite side of the bone or body area, to those that are strung tight or cramping). Your calves may be tight from an excess of straightline type of exercises you mentioned, without movements that serve to build the opposing muscles. I would do toe raises, and maybe mix in some backwards, sideways, or hill running into your workouts, to work the muscles wrapping your shin, and in the original posters case, on the top of the foot. As they recover and rebuild tissue, placing stress on that side of the bone, it will lead to a safe natural stretch on the tight side, that will be longer lasting, with less chance of injury from overstretching, and also lead to more even muscular balance and support of the area. I grasp the concept but may not be explaining it very well. For a tight hamstring, work the quad, for a tight bicep, work the tricep. The therapist that taught me this was a triple crown winner in the body building world, back in the day.

[Wille]

Has anyone come up with any new information about leg cramps?

That opposing muscle building method is really good, but hasn't been the solution to my problem.

My problem with leg cramps has been a long one and I've tried a lot of things. Lots of doctors just recommend supplementing with magnesium and that was the first thing I tried. Also, I've always done lots of stretching (active, passive, dynamic, etc.). I've found that if don't stretch, I've more cramps, but stretching doesn't completely eliminate them.

I've been experimenting with a lot of different hydration methods also, adding sea salt to my water has been quite good one. But still I haven't found a complete solution.

The main problem is that the cramps occur during night, so they affect my sleep quality.

[sport]

I've been experimenting with a lot of different hydration methods also, adding sea salt to my water has been quite good one. But still I haven't found a complete solution.

The main problem is that the cramps occur during night, so they affect my sleep quality.

Have you tried supplementing with omega 3. I found that when my omega balance was out I would get leg cramps unless I took some ground flax seeds a couple of times a week.
I was aware of this long before I went raw.

[k8sl8]

Interestingly, I get leg cramps when I AM 100% (or close) and NOT when I'm eating SAD. I had a recent period of poor eating habits due to a number of reasons, the most of which were environmental (Live in a 55+ communmity with LOTS OF FOOD social activities) and thinking back I have had virtually NO leg cramps. I've been 'back on the wagon' so to speak for the week + and have had cramps starting again.

I have green smoothies every day, almost always with banana - add flax meal - get lots of green leafies... as well as other veggies from my garden and still have problems. There may just be something in some of us that makes eating RAW a problem for this. LOTS of water, helps, but does not alleviate the problem for me.

[streetsurfer]

Have you considered food sensitivities as a possible cause?

[Wille]

Yes, I'm also consuming omega 3 from hemp seeds and oil.

As a man, I don't recommend flax seeds because they contain a high amount of phytoestrogen. We (men in general) have already enough problems with excess estrogen.

I have been testing with food sensitivities also, but it's a long road. Cramp thing has been a problem for over ten years and during that time my diet has changed hugely many times. There has been some short term reliefs, but nothing long term.

[Danny89]

Nice discussion, can anyone tell me that what is the role of bananas in bodybuilding.
I'm curious about that. Help!!