leg cramps?

[sunny37ns]

Is this normal...I'm taking a multi-vitamin and calcium and chromium....anything I'm missing?

Edwina

[alto]

Try adding potassium supplements. (You might do a search on this forum, too, as this question comes up a lot. There are probably more detailed answers.)

Good luck! :)

[Natrushka]

The supplement that will help with leg cramping is actually magnesium. Potassium will help with muscle fatigue and headaches that often accompany this WOL; but it is the mag and the calcium that will work for the cramps, especially the night cramps. Magnesium is what lets the potassium and calcium do their jobs. Best bet is to get a supplement with mag and cal in one pill (usually in a ratio of 2:1 - 333mg cal and 167 mg magnesium) Take one with your meals (for a total of 3) and one an hour before bed. Magnesium has a soothing effect and will greatly improve the quality of your sleep. Be sure to get the chelated kind as it is more easily apsorbed by your body. You do not want Calcium carbonate from osyter shells.

Potassium: try a product called 'nusalt' 1/8th tsp in a very large glass of water will give you over 500 mg of potassium. Be sure that you are well hydrated when taking potassium, you should be drinking a minimum 64 oz of water a day (8 glasses).

Nat

[patfromLI]

I thought it was just me. The pain is excrusiating!!! I can barely sleep at night. I was almost in tears last night. I finally was able to get up and eat 2 cheddar cheese sticks. And I took 2 Execedrins. Thanks for the advice.
Big hug I will definitely go and get the supplements today!

[Batipton]

Potassium: try a product called 'nusalt' 1/8th tsp in a very large glass of water will give you over 500 mg of potassium. Be sure that you are well hydrated when taking potassium, you should be drinking a minimum 64 oz of water a day (8 glasses).
Nat

Just a word of warning. I am not sure, but this sounds like a potassium-based salt substitute. Be very careful adding too much potassium to the diet. The kidneys are designed to get rid of excess sodium, but not excess potassium. I have heard of people having severe health problems (even death) due to using potassium-based salt substitutes. I do not think this problems happens with potassium that naturally occurs in foods, but you need to be very careful adding too much potassium to the diet.

Another possible cause of leg cramps is overtraining. Basically if you are exercising too much or not giving your body enough rest you can have problems.

[Dodger]

Unless you have damaged kidneys or on some blood pressure lowering medicines, the kidneys easily remove excess potassium.

[Rosebud]

Just a word of warning. I am not sure, but this sounds like a potassium-based salt substitute. Be very careful adding too much potassium to the diet. The kidneys are designed to get rid of excess sodium, but not excess potassium. I have heard of people having severe health problems (even death) due to using potassium-based salt substitutes. I do not think this problems happens with potassium that naturally occurs in foods, but you need to be very careful adding too much potassium to the diet.

Another possible cause of leg cramps is overtraining. Basically if you are exercising too much or not giving your body enough rest you can have problems.
Let me reassure you that potassium is potassium, the body doesn't care where it comes from. And as a matter of solid medical fact, normal kidneys have no difficulty at all excreting excess potassium. ;)

The only time potassium causes (major!) problems to the heart in a person with normal kidney function is if the potassium is given as a "push" dose IV.

You'll find more info about the safety of oral potassium in folk with healthy kidneys in this post from Doreen T. :)

Rosebud:rose:

[Batipton]

The stories I heard probably had to do with people who either had some sort of kidney malfunction or really overdid the potassium. However, not knowing the physical condition of the person needing the potassium, I think they should make sure they do some research and be careful not to overdo things.