by Back To Health Clinic | Jul 15, 2015 | Blog
Almost on a daily basis I hear people complaining about waking up in the middle of the night with severe muscles cramps, most commonly in the calf muscles. Staying hydrated, daily exercise and stretches can help alleviate these symptoms, however there is an even easier way of saying goodbye to the cramps forever and getting a peaceful nights sleep! It is a mineral called ‘Magnesium’ which is mostly found in our muscles and bones. The main role magnesium plays in our body is in creating new proteins, stabilising blood pressure and maintaining optimal nerve and muscle function. So when our levels start to decrease, it’s our muscles and nerves that notice it the most which results in those dreaded muscle cramps! The best ways to top up your magnesium levels is to eat plenty of non refined foods such as green leafy vegetables, mushrooms, legumes, nuts, wholegrains and bananas. So why not top up your magnesium levels by having a banana everyday! Managing muscle cramps through magnesium supplements is also an option. I recommended taking magnesium before bed as it will help your body and mind relax before sleeping. However if you are on medication, particularly for high blood pressure, it is best to get magnesium from dietary sources. Finally, performing daily calve and hamstring stretches once or twice per day as well as walking daily will help improve the muscle strength and reduce the chance of cramping for good! All muscular stretching exercises should be held for 20 seconds to obtain best results and also try not to shorten your walking time, those people that walk for 45...
