Why You Have Night-Time Leg Cramps And How To STOP It From Recurring With This ONE Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why You Have Night-Time Leg Cramps And How To STOP It From Recurring With This ONE Recipe!? ›

Nighttime leg cramps are sudden, painful muscle contractions. Common causes include medications, pregnancy, dehydration, and exercise. Prevent cramps by staying hydrated and stretching or massaging your legs before bed.

It's been suggested that drinking 2 to 3 ounces of tonic water before bedtime can prevent leg cramps at night.

Vitamin B complex: There's preliminary evidence from one small study of older adults that vitamin B complex can reduce the frequency and duration of leg cramps at night.

Too little potassium, calcium or magnesium in the diet can cause leg cramps. Medicines often prescribed for high blood pressure can cause increased urination, which may drain the body of these minerals.

In general, they're likely the result of tired muscles and nerve problems. The risk of having night leg cramps increases with age. Pregnant people also are more likely to have night leg cramps. Kidney failure, diabetic nerve damage and problems with blood flow are known to cause night leg cramps.

Avoid processed foods, added sugar, salt, fatty meats, and alcohol. Essentially, you want a heart-healthy diet low in fat and rich in healthy carbohydrates, fiber, and lean proteins.

Treating muscle cramps

Massaging or gently stretching the muscle will help it relax. If the cramp begins while lying or sitting, standing up may be all that is needed. Heat is soothing to tense muscles. Apply a heating pad or warm wet washcloth to help loosen up the muscle.

What drink stops leg cramps? ›

Coconut water contains more potassium than commercial sports drinks. Since low potassium is associated with leg cramps, coconut water may help prevent leg cramps caused by exercise and sweating. Researchers believe that drinking coconut water can give your muscles extra potassium before you start working out.

The best way to reduce muscle cramps is to stay well hydrated. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is important, but if you sweat excessively during work or exercise, consider adding another source of electrolytes, such as broth or an electrolyte drink.

A potential cause of leg cramps is a vitamin deficiency, though research into this is ongoing. Vitamins B1, B12, and D may help relieve them, along with potassium and magnesium.

Additionally, certain vitamins and minerals impact muscle function, particularly potassium and magnesium. A significant body of research has found that increasing your magnesium intake can help with the frequency of night time leg cramps, especially for pregnant women.

The body uses acetic acid to produce acetylcholine, which is essential for leg muscle contractions. This is why mustard is effective for leg cramp relief. Mustard contains acetic acid. Yellow Mustard is the only kind of mustard documented to relieve nighttime leg cramps.

The authors reported that those who took 300 mg of magnesium daily experienced less frequent and less intense leg cramps, compared with those who took a placebo. Still, more research is needed. A 2021 review didn't find conclusive evidence that magnesium helps reduce muscle cramps.

For cramping, athletes have long sworn by pickle juice (strained from jars of dill or kosher pickles) and other acidic substances such as mustard or apple cider vinegar. Experimental data in healthy college-aged men suggests that pickle juice inhibits muscle cramps through a reflex involving a nerve in our throats.

Leg cramps: ACV is one of the most renowned and effective remedies for healing leg cramps that are due to dehydration, low potassium levels, and overused or stressed muscles. Used as both a preventive and a curative, ACV has been helpful to hundreds of people. Take 1 to 2 tablespoons in ¼ cup warm water daily.