Ever get a really bad leg cramp? I mean one of those cramps where you can actually see the twisted muscle in your leg and the pain is so unbearable that you start to cry and wish you were dead? Muscle cramps are usually the result of a deficiency in the supply of blood to the muscle. Everybody is subject to the imposition of painful muscle cramps, but there is a reason that athletes are affected more often. This is because athletes are more likely to deplete their glycogen reserves through hyperactivity and as a result they lose potassium and salt through sweating. For this reason, one perfectly good way to reduce the potential for muscle cramping is through a healthy consumption of foods high in potassium.

Your first thought may be to increase your ingestion of bananas. That is a good idea because bananas are notoriously great resources for potassium. In addition to bananas, other great foods high in potassium are sunflower seeds, pecans, walnuts and apricots. And while you're at it, why not toss back a glass of tomato juice or, if that is as distinctly unappealing to you as it is to me, citrus juice. Getting enough potassium in your daily diet can significantly reduce the number and intensity of muscle cramps you may experience. As with almost every kind of health problem, one very simple way to abandon the world of knotted muscles is to quit smoking. There are at least six million reasons to quit smoking and now you have another one. In addition to giving up nicotine, you might also want to cut back on your intake of caffeine. Caffeine serves to constrict blood vessels which negatively affects circulation, making it a primary contributor to regular bouts of muscle cramping.

In addition to athletes who overexercise, people who don't get enough exercise are equally prone to suffering leg cramps. Taking the advice of cutting down on caffeine, giving up smoking, and increasing the amount of potassium in the diet is also helpful to these, but in addition to dietary changes it is also important for people who are confined to one position for extended periods to get some exercise. This applies not just to those who are confined to beds or chair rest for health reasons, but also those who may be required to sit in a chair at work for hours at a time. If this describes you and you find yourself subject to cramping, make a concerted effort to engage in such simple activities as curling your toes several times a day, straightening your legs and, if possible, actually getting up and stretching or walking for a few minutes ever hour or two.

As stated, everybody experiences muscle cramping now and then, but if you find yourself subject frequent bouts or your cramps are accompanies by uncomfortable spasms or other symptoms, it is time to make an appointment with your doctor as your cramps may possibly be a sign of a condition that is more serious.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/865787/dietary_advice_to_reduce...