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Leg Cramps
One of the questions I get asked regularly is, “What can I do about my leg cramps or restless leg at night?”
Here are some answers that have been shown to work:
The top 3 reasons for leg cramps are:
- Not drinking enough water
- Not having enough minerals
- Not stretching enough
Let’s look at these first:
1. Drink enough water! This is so crucial, the benefits of drinking enough water is a long list. We want 1/2 our body weight in ounces. So if you weigh 150 pounds, 1/2 that is 75, so 75 ounces of water daily. This equates to a little more than 9 glasses of water daily, 8 ounces per glass.
Here are 2 possible ways to track this:
Take pennies, the same number as the number of glasses you need to drink, and move them from one pocket to another for each glass you drink. By the end of the day, all the pennies should have moved over.
Line up your daily allotment on the counter in the morning. This is my preferred method. Then all day I can see my progress and by the end of the day, my daily allotment, in theory, is gone.
2. Take more minerals. For many people this means taking a Magnesium Supplement. We tend to take calcium without magnesium and this upsets the balance. Most of us need more magnesium than we are getting. Start with 250 mg.
One of the best mineral supplements I know is made by USANA. 12 years ago, one of my students had horrible leg cramps and she decided to take USANA minerals. She still takes them, no more leg cramps. They are reasonable at approximately $15 per bottle, a one to two month supply. USANA must be acquired through a representative. If you are interested, I have a contact.
3. Try stretching your leg muscles before going to bed.
Other things to try with proven track records:
4. There is a homeopathic product called “Leg Cramps” available at most drug stores. Some of my clients swear by this.
5. Put a bar of soap into the bed. Unwrap the bar of soap; put it down near your feet. This is believed to work due to the alkalinity of soap. Any brand will do except DIAL due to its hexachlorophene.
6. Pickle juice has a reputation for taking care of leg cramps. I’m assuming once again, it’s the mineral content. We like Bubba’s.
7. I know people who keep mustard next to the bed, especially the small packets. Again, I believe it’s the vinegar that’s making the difference.
8. Apple Cider Vinegar. If you haven’t been made aware of the many wonderful properties of Apple Cider Vinegar or ACV as it’s known, now is a good time. Try putting between a teaspoon and a tablespoon in water and drinking it shortly before bed.
These ideas all work for some people and not others. Give them a try. In this case, really the only thing you have to lose is some leg cramps!
Call or email self-help back pain specialist Dot Spaet for a free Get Out of Pain phone consultation:
415 892-6605 | Contact Dot