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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Wildflower on December 4, 2006, at 19:38:12
Does anyone know the cause of foot cramps? I seem to get them every time I workout. I even bought new tennis shoes trying to avoid them. I've heard that it could be dehydration, potassium or ill-fitting shoes but I still can't figure this out. Any suggestions?
Posted by JLx on December 9, 2006, at 15:17:21
In reply to Foot cramps, posted by Wildflower on December 4, 2006, at 19:38:12
> Does anyone know the cause of foot cramps? I seem to get them every time I workout. I even bought new tennis shoes trying to avoid them. I've heard that it could be dehydration, potassium or ill-fitting shoes but I still can't figure this out. Any suggestions?
I get foot cramps when I need more magnesium. I also get foot cramps when I am taking a lot of magnesium and then need more calcium.
In your case if you're not already taking magnesium, I'd try that first because exercise depletes magnesium. If that doesn't help, try experimenting a little with different magnesium, calcium ratios. Potassium can enter in too, but magnesium and/or calcium are more likely the culprits.
Magnesium oxide is what you will find most commonly in multis or grocery store supplements, but magnesium oxide is poorly absorbed by many people. Magnesium citrate, magnesium taurate, magnesium glycinate, magnesium orotate, magnesium malate are all good well absorbed magnesium sources. Epsom Salts are magnesium sulphate and one reason why soaking sore muscles in an Epsom Salt bath is so relaxing is because magnesium is absorbed through the skin, dilates blood vessels and has to do with the relaxant mechanism in muscle (calcium is contracting).
This nutritionist's site has a good formula for calculating magnesium supplement needs: http://www.krispin.com/magnes.html#Formula
There's also magnesium rich foods: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=75
JL
Posted by Wildflower on December 9, 2006, at 19:31:58
In reply to Re: Foot cramps » Wildflower, posted by JLx on December 9, 2006, at 15:17:21
Thank you so much for the information! I'll try the supplements and see if the problem is fixed.
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 12, 2007, at 16:01:46
In reply to Re: Foot cramps » JLx, posted by Wildflower on December 9, 2006, at 19:31:58
Wow!
Thanks for the links.
I particulary liked the Mg-rich foods one.
So I'd better get munching on those pumpkin seeds!
It surely can't be right that for 0.25 of cup of pumpkin seed, you are getting 184.58mg of Mg??? Thats alot of Mg for your seed! I'm going to go out and buy some straight away! Along with some almonds, hmmm I can just munch away on those forever....
By the way, how much is 0.25 of a cup in grams anyway? I'm British and I've never really understood the American cup system. I only do metric I'm afraid.
M
Posted by JLx on January 12, 2007, at 17:16:34
In reply to Re: Foot cramps, posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 12, 2007, at 16:01:46
> Wow!
>
> Thanks for the links.
>
> I particulary liked the Mg-rich foods one.
>
> So I'd better get munching on those pumpkin seeds!
>
> It surely can't be right that for 0.25 of cup of pumpkin seed, you are getting 184.58mg of Mg??? Thats alot of Mg for your seed! I'm going to go out and buy some straight away! Along with some almonds, hmmm I can just munch away on those forever....
>
> By the way, how much is 0.25 of a cup in grams anyway? I'm British and I've never really understood the American cup system. I only do metric I'm afraid.
>
> M
>
>According to this calculator, http://www.ez-calculators.com/measurement-conversion-calculator.htm, a quarter cup is 57 grams.
I have no reason to not believe that magnesium content in pumpkin seeds, which I have read elsewhere as being very high in magnesium.
JL
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 13, 2007, at 10:48:58
In reply to Re: Foot cramps » Meri-Tuuli, posted by JLx on January 12, 2007, at 17:16:34
Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.
Thanks for the conversion. Its very good to know.
Posted by JLx on January 13, 2007, at 11:03:33
In reply to Re: Foot cramps, posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 13, 2007, at 10:48:58
people would follow up with posting on recommendations sometimes. There are so many old threads that seem to just stop, where I wonder, what happened? Did that person try that? Did it work?
I don't know if I like pumpkin seeds. I can't seem to bring myself to try them, which is really stupid, isn't it? ;) I'm trying to expand my nuts and seeds eating, and now eat Brazil nuts, which I used to avoid -- as long as they're roasted and salted. But there are others I drag my feet on trying for some reason.
Let us know if pumpkin seeds feel good.
JL
> Thanks for the reply, I appreciate it.
>
> Thanks for the conversion. Its very good to know.
>
Posted by Meri-Tuuli on January 13, 2007, at 12:04:23
In reply to I wish...., posted by JLx on January 13, 2007, at 11:03:33
Hey, yes I share your sentiments on threads. Trouble is, I'm like a squirrel, and I always forget where I posted things. But I do try!
I'm actually munching on almonds at the moment, I chickened out of buying the pumpkin seeds today. Well the thing is, I'm slightly paranoid about poisening myself for some completely crazy reason and the packet of pumpkin seeds didn't look right somehow. Plus I live in Finland and the writing on the packet was only in finnish and whilst my Finnish is umm coming along nicely there were a few words on there and I couldn't understand. And I didn't want to end up eating pot pourri or something. So almonds it was.
I actually have no problems eating nuts and seeds whatsoever (being from a reputable source that is!) they're pretty good for you.
You can get pumpkin seed butter, you know, abit like peanut butter but with pumpkin seeds! Yes, I know what you mean about pumpkin seeds, they're abit bitter and somehow slightly strange. Like you're eating wood or something.
Kind regards
Meri
Posted by Wildflower on January 15, 2007, at 22:31:47
In reply to I wish...., posted by JLx on January 13, 2007, at 11:03:33
> people would follow up with posting on recommendations sometimes. There are so many old threads that seem to just stop, where I wonder, what happened? Did that person try that? Did it work?
Sorry I haven't given you the results... I ended up fracturing one of my toes and have been unable to workout. I'm going to try a class this Wednesday and see how I feel. :-)
By the way, I did see a commercial for a birth control pill that said that it may raise potassium levels. Wonder if this could be affecting my ratio?
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