As people are becoming conscious about their health, they recognize the importance of exercise to maintain a healthy body. These exercises include skipping, jogging, brisk walking and running. Cramps are caused by excessive physical exertion that can strain muscles. Another reason that may cause cramps is dehydration. Cramps may occur due to a magnesium deficiency and possibly potassium. There are different theories attributed to the reason some get muscle cramps while running. Many people exercise on a regular basis to keep themselves fit and healthy. Some believe that cramps can occur when a person does not run on a regular basis. There are multi vitamins minerals that are known to sooth cramps.
Cramps can be related to other factors like what you eat and how you breathe when you run. Make sure that you drink plenty of water before you run and while you are running. Bananas are also a good fruit to eat before or during your run. As far as breathing goes, take good deep breaths as you run to allow plenty of oxygen to enter your runs. Run a course that you can handle. Don't overdo it. You can start slow and advance to miles, but overdoing it might prevent you from running at all. Also, make sure that you do a complete stretching program before you begin your run. This really helps to avoid cramping and serious injuries. Any cramping will usually subside on their own, but if you're having trouble, try massaging the cramping area or apply heat to the muscle that is bothering you.
Running provides detailed information on Running, Running Shoes, Running Of The Bulls, Free Running and more. Running is affiliated with Best Treadmills.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alison_Cole
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
Why Quinine Sulfate is a Treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome
Quinine sulfate is a known muscle relaxant that has been used for many years to help relax tense muscles and relieve muscle cramps. It also helps people who are suffering from involuntary muscle contractions. These attributes make it the perfect choice for treating the muscle cramps that affect many sufferers of restless leg syndrome.
There are a variety of symptoms that can occur with restless leg syndrome, but leg cramps can be the most annoying and painful. Waking up in the middle of the night with leg cramps is not anyone’s idea of fun. The pain of leg cramps can range from mild to excruciating and one of the most effective ways to deal with leg cramps is by taking quinine sulfate.
While full strength quinine sulfate must be prescribed by a licensed physician there are over the counter medications that have trace amounts quinine sulfate in them. These trace amounts of quinine sulfate are combined with vitamin to produce an over the counter supplement that can be used as a treatment for restless leg syndrome. The vitamin E is used to help promote oxygen flow to the leg muscles which also helps relieve muscle cramps and when combined with the quinine sulfate is quite effective at leg cramp relief and also helping to prevent future occurrences.
Another nice thing about using quinine sulfate as a treatment for restless leg syndrome is that it has few side affects. There are other drugs available that help relieve leg cramps but many of them have the side affect of loss of muscle control. While getting relief from muscle cramps is always welcome not being able to get up and move around because of loss of muscle control can be about as annoying as the cramps themselves. Quinine sulfate does not have this side affect and allows people who suffer from restless leg syndrome to retain their mobility and go about their daily lives.
If you or someone you know thinks they may suffer from restless leg syndrome it is important to visit your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. If you attempt to treat your symptoms without knowing what it is that is causing it you can end up doing more harm then good. This is particularly important when taking over the counter medications because while they may help relieve the symptoms, the symptoms may be a sign of any number of other conditions that may or may not be related to restless leg syndrome. A correct diagnosis will not only make sure that the treatment you are receiving is proper it will also allow your doctor to counter any adverse side affects you may have taking your medications.
If you think you have or currently suffer from restless leg syndrome and the leg cramps that can come with it see your doctor. They can provide a prescription for quinine sulfate and help effectively treat your restless leg syndrome.
To learn more about quinine sulfate and other treatments for restless leg syndrome, its causes and coping strategies click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Bicknell
There are a variety of symptoms that can occur with restless leg syndrome, but leg cramps can be the most annoying and painful. Waking up in the middle of the night with leg cramps is not anyone’s idea of fun. The pain of leg cramps can range from mild to excruciating and one of the most effective ways to deal with leg cramps is by taking quinine sulfate.
While full strength quinine sulfate must be prescribed by a licensed physician there are over the counter medications that have trace amounts quinine sulfate in them. These trace amounts of quinine sulfate are combined with vitamin to produce an over the counter supplement that can be used as a treatment for restless leg syndrome. The vitamin E is used to help promote oxygen flow to the leg muscles which also helps relieve muscle cramps and when combined with the quinine sulfate is quite effective at leg cramp relief and also helping to prevent future occurrences.
Another nice thing about using quinine sulfate as a treatment for restless leg syndrome is that it has few side affects. There are other drugs available that help relieve leg cramps but many of them have the side affect of loss of muscle control. While getting relief from muscle cramps is always welcome not being able to get up and move around because of loss of muscle control can be about as annoying as the cramps themselves. Quinine sulfate does not have this side affect and allows people who suffer from restless leg syndrome to retain their mobility and go about their daily lives.
If you or someone you know thinks they may suffer from restless leg syndrome it is important to visit your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. If you attempt to treat your symptoms without knowing what it is that is causing it you can end up doing more harm then good. This is particularly important when taking over the counter medications because while they may help relieve the symptoms, the symptoms may be a sign of any number of other conditions that may or may not be related to restless leg syndrome. A correct diagnosis will not only make sure that the treatment you are receiving is proper it will also allow your doctor to counter any adverse side affects you may have taking your medications.
If you think you have or currently suffer from restless leg syndrome and the leg cramps that can come with it see your doctor. They can provide a prescription for quinine sulfate and help effectively treat your restless leg syndrome.
To learn more about quinine sulfate and other treatments for restless leg syndrome, its causes and coping strategies click here.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Bicknell
Friday, January 18, 2008
Muscle Cramps
Muscles, the storehouse of energy in a living body, contract to help in the movement of different parts of the body. The general body composition consists largely of voluntary muscles. It is called voluntary because its contraction and movement is consciously controlled by the living being. Sometimes, these voluntary muscles contract involuntarily and refuse to relax and return to normalcy. This is called a Muscle Cramp. Muscle Cramps are forceful contractions that sustain for sometime and reappear, often till the muscles relax. Cramps can happen to any voluntary muscle, mostly bending or curling the affected muscle.
Muscle Cramps come from the vigorous use of muscles. Cramp can result when a muscle or group of muscles that acts together in the movement of a certain part of the body forcefully become involuntary. For instance, athletes often complain of Muscle Cramps in calf muscles. But when it affects the feet, the group of muscles in the fingers too gets cramps.
Muscle Cramps occur due to various reasons. These can be dehydration or excessive loss of body fluid due to vigorous exercise or activities of the muscle; or a muscle fatigue caused mostly from a long rest period for muscles in one position or exertion of muscles leading to injury. It may also happen from some kinds of muscle disease. It is not always necessary for the cramps to attack 'over activated' muscles. Muscle Cramps can attack even when the muscles are at rest or dormant for a very long time. For instance, sitting in the same position for a very long time can cause muscle fatigue and may later become a cramp. Most of the cramps come especially at night, like the cramps in the calf muscle. This last for some time till the bend muscles flex and relax.
Muscle spasm and Muscle Cramp may seem to be the same. But a Muscle Cramp, unlike a muscle spasm, affects only a certain muscle. The affected muscle bulges or rolls and hurts till it gets its normal shape. Cramps can thus affect anyone, anytime and anywhere. Muscle Cramps affect pregnant women too. Hence as a precaution, their diet is supplemented with calcium and magnesium. Cramps can be kept at bay through exercises, especially stretch exercises, a nutritious balanced diet and proper water intake.
Muscles provides detailed information about muscles, build muscles, muscle cramps, muscle diseases and more. Muscles is the sister site of Best Treadmills.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Romando
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Discover How To Stop and Prevent Muscle Cramps
No-One is Safe From Muscle Cramps
When you are training to get fit or build muscle you are going to get muscle cramps at some stage in your training program, it happens to everyone. Believe it or not people who don't train also get muscle cramps, so no-one is safe!
Simply, muscle cramps are just muscle contractions which happen completely involuntarily and usually occur in your leg and stomach muscles. Muscle cramps are a real pain, and can really disrupt your training workout, but there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the frequency and probability of muscle cramps.
Tips To Prevent Muscle Cramps
There are a number of reasons for muscle cramps; the main one is that they are induced by dehydration, low salt and ion levels in the body. So make sure that you carry a good energy drink with you to training, preferably an isotonic drink which has the correct composition of sugars, salts and other ions.
Make sure that you warm up properly before you start training, do at least five minutes of light jogging or skipping to get your blood flowing and cardiovascular system ready. Follow this with some dynamic and static stretching to loosen off your muscles before you do any lifting or intense exercise, as this will also help prevent injuries and allow you a full range of motion in your exercises.
If you have been out of training for a while make sure you place more emphasis on warming up and warming down than you would normally as you are more prone to getting muscle cramps when you've out for a while, the same applies to beginners. Gradually build up the intensity and ensure the muscle groups which you are training have 48 hours to recover before working them again especially if you are doing weights.
The most important thing that you can do to reduce muscle cramps is to stay well hydrated, sip water or your energy drink regularly throughout your training session to keep on top of it. If it is hotter or more humid than normal, drink more as you will lose extra fluid through sweat, so it's important that you constantly replace it.
Key Points:
-Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
-Carry a sports drink to replace ions and nutrients lost through sweat
-Warm up and warm down properly
Muscle cramps are normal, every athlete gets them at some point, they usually go away after a minute of so, or quicker if you can stretch the muscle out, however the muscle may remain painful afterwards. If it does, softly massage and stretch the muscle to help it relax, then ice it and rest it for a few days.
Do you want to learn how to pack on massive muscle, melt away fat and get the body of your dreams? If so, get your hands on free bodybuilding training tips for beginner bodybuilders by clicking the following link: http://teenbodybuildingtips.info/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Giddy
When you are training to get fit or build muscle you are going to get muscle cramps at some stage in your training program, it happens to everyone. Believe it or not people who don't train also get muscle cramps, so no-one is safe!
Simply, muscle cramps are just muscle contractions which happen completely involuntarily and usually occur in your leg and stomach muscles. Muscle cramps are a real pain, and can really disrupt your training workout, but there are a number of things you can do to help reduce the frequency and probability of muscle cramps.
Tips To Prevent Muscle Cramps
There are a number of reasons for muscle cramps; the main one is that they are induced by dehydration, low salt and ion levels in the body. So make sure that you carry a good energy drink with you to training, preferably an isotonic drink which has the correct composition of sugars, salts and other ions.
Make sure that you warm up properly before you start training, do at least five minutes of light jogging or skipping to get your blood flowing and cardiovascular system ready. Follow this with some dynamic and static stretching to loosen off your muscles before you do any lifting or intense exercise, as this will also help prevent injuries and allow you a full range of motion in your exercises.
If you have been out of training for a while make sure you place more emphasis on warming up and warming down than you would normally as you are more prone to getting muscle cramps when you've out for a while, the same applies to beginners. Gradually build up the intensity and ensure the muscle groups which you are training have 48 hours to recover before working them again especially if you are doing weights.
The most important thing that you can do to reduce muscle cramps is to stay well hydrated, sip water or your energy drink regularly throughout your training session to keep on top of it. If it is hotter or more humid than normal, drink more as you will lose extra fluid through sweat, so it's important that you constantly replace it.
Key Points:
-Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
-Carry a sports drink to replace ions and nutrients lost through sweat
-Warm up and warm down properly
Muscle cramps are normal, every athlete gets them at some point, they usually go away after a minute of so, or quicker if you can stretch the muscle out, however the muscle may remain painful afterwards. If it does, softly massage and stretch the muscle to help it relax, then ice it and rest it for a few days.
Do you want to learn how to pack on massive muscle, melt away fat and get the body of your dreams? If so, get your hands on free bodybuilding training tips for beginner bodybuilders by clicking the following link: http://teenbodybuildingtips.info/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Giddy
Monday, January 14, 2008
Muscle Cramps: Understanding Some of the Causes and Ways to Pain Relief
If you've ever experienced the excruciating pain of muscle cramps, then understanding some of the causes and ways to relief can go a long way towards being more comfortable and pain free. I speak from the experience of muscle cramps so I investigated the causes and what could be done to relieve this terrible pain.
For some people muscle spasms are so frequent that it’s impossible to sleep until the pain can be relieved as they can come on during the night. For others they can be less frequent but just as painful. Traveling by car, bus, airline or other means for extended periods without a “walking” break, can results in the leg muscles contracting into painful spasms which are very difficult to relieve. Ensure you get up and move around regularly when traveling.
Many women experience abdominal cramping ranging from discomfort to absolutely excruciating pain that drains all the energy from your body during menstruation. To understand what is happening here the uterus lining thickens during the early part of the menstrual cycle. The lining then breaks down and is expelled which is part of the normal monthly menstrual cycle.
During this process prostaglandins (which are unsaturated carboxylic acids that act as chemical messengers) are released and send a message to the uterus to contract. These contractions help to expel the uterus lining but they can also cause severe pain, and are sometimes so intense they momentarily cut off the blood supply.
My experience has been with leg, back and abdominal cramps but the leg cramps were the absolute worst. Cramps can start in your toes, distorting the shape, and moving up into the calf muscles, tightening into painful knots where it is impossible to lie still or to walk. Some muscle spasms can come from injured muscles particularly in the back where they try to protect themselves from further damage.
Dietary deficiencies in magnesium and calcium (which work in synergy) can also be a cause of some cramps, muscle weakness, leg tremors and muscle spasms. These minerals play an important role in controlling contraction and relaxation of muscles on signals from the brain. This was my own problem and I found powdered magnesium with calcium had a faster absorption rate and was a more efficient means of preventing cramps.
Insufficient intake of water and other fluids, resulting in dehydration, is also another cause of cramping and spasms. Athletes are painfully aware of this and the need for keeping up fluid intake. As our bodies are made up of a massive amount of water, it is important for all of us, not just athletes, to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day – a glass being 8 oz. It is also important to be aware of dehydrating and this can be simply tested by noting if there’s color in the urine, drink more water – coffee and alcohol dehydrate, so when partaking of either of these have water at the same time. The same applies if diarrhea is present, during hot weather, or if using diuretics.
What to do to relieve cramping. Gently stretch the muscle to attempt to relax it. Then gently and carefully massage the affected areas. Don’t overdo stretching or the massage as this could cause more pain or damage to the muscles. I have found when leg cramps leave soreness in the muscles, a hot pack or wheat bag heated in the microwave and applied to those parts will loosen up the muscles and relieve the soreness.
Author: Carmel Muggeridge. Carmel is an online publisher, and owner of a website offering a wide range of the credit card options - http://www.creditcard-library.com, and passionate about good health.
All Rights Reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as the content remains intact and unchanged and links remain active.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carmel_Muggeridge
For some people muscle spasms are so frequent that it’s impossible to sleep until the pain can be relieved as they can come on during the night. For others they can be less frequent but just as painful. Traveling by car, bus, airline or other means for extended periods without a “walking” break, can results in the leg muscles contracting into painful spasms which are very difficult to relieve. Ensure you get up and move around regularly when traveling.
Many women experience abdominal cramping ranging from discomfort to absolutely excruciating pain that drains all the energy from your body during menstruation. To understand what is happening here the uterus lining thickens during the early part of the menstrual cycle. The lining then breaks down and is expelled which is part of the normal monthly menstrual cycle.
During this process prostaglandins (which are unsaturated carboxylic acids that act as chemical messengers) are released and send a message to the uterus to contract. These contractions help to expel the uterus lining but they can also cause severe pain, and are sometimes so intense they momentarily cut off the blood supply.
My experience has been with leg, back and abdominal cramps but the leg cramps were the absolute worst. Cramps can start in your toes, distorting the shape, and moving up into the calf muscles, tightening into painful knots where it is impossible to lie still or to walk. Some muscle spasms can come from injured muscles particularly in the back where they try to protect themselves from further damage.
Dietary deficiencies in magnesium and calcium (which work in synergy) can also be a cause of some cramps, muscle weakness, leg tremors and muscle spasms. These minerals play an important role in controlling contraction and relaxation of muscles on signals from the brain. This was my own problem and I found powdered magnesium with calcium had a faster absorption rate and was a more efficient means of preventing cramps.
Insufficient intake of water and other fluids, resulting in dehydration, is also another cause of cramping and spasms. Athletes are painfully aware of this and the need for keeping up fluid intake. As our bodies are made up of a massive amount of water, it is important for all of us, not just athletes, to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day – a glass being 8 oz. It is also important to be aware of dehydrating and this can be simply tested by noting if there’s color in the urine, drink more water – coffee and alcohol dehydrate, so when partaking of either of these have water at the same time. The same applies if diarrhea is present, during hot weather, or if using diuretics.
What to do to relieve cramping. Gently stretch the muscle to attempt to relax it. Then gently and carefully massage the affected areas. Don’t overdo stretching or the massage as this could cause more pain or damage to the muscles. I have found when leg cramps leave soreness in the muscles, a hot pack or wheat bag heated in the microwave and applied to those parts will loosen up the muscles and relieve the soreness.
Author: Carmel Muggeridge. Carmel is an online publisher, and owner of a website offering a wide range of the credit card options - http://www.creditcard-library.com, and passionate about good health.
All Rights Reserved. Article may be reprinted as long as the content remains intact and unchanged and links remain active.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carmel_Muggeridge
Friday, January 11, 2008
Constipation and Leg Pain
Although constipation and leg pain are different conditions and occur in different parts of the body, they may be interconnected and can have a common origin. In most cases, the origin is related to nerve damage or dysfunction. It is also seen that people with leg pain have a greater chance of constipation and vice versa. In fact, constipation is one of the major symptoms of leg pain along with sharp or shooting pain and weakness or sensory disturbance of legs.
Many inflammations, diseases or conditions in the lower part of the nervous system can result in constipation and leg pain. Lumbar nerve root inflammations due to disk herniation, burst fractures, spondylolisthesis, foramina, and abnormal bone formation can lead to both conditions. Arachnoiditis, which causes spinal covering damage, can also result in constipation and leg pain.
The loosening of muscles and deficiency of calcium can result in malfunctioning or deterioration of the muscles which aid peristaltic actions and standing. The damages to these muscles result in diseases such as constipation, leg pain, frequent/uncontrolled urination, and diarrhea. Constipation and leg pain may also arise as a result of the diseases affecting the urinary system such as uterine fibroids.
Many pain relieving drugs such as morphine and aspirin used for curing leg pain can cause constipation. This is because all the pain killing drugs act on the central nervous system which causes a decrease in nerve impulse traffic. The result is the reduced functioning of all body muscles including that of the bowel wall. The frequent use of these drugs can result in severe constipation.
Overweight persons are the most prone to constipation and leg pain. Pregnant ladies are also more prone to have both conditions at the same time. Menstrual cramps and the use of some unnatural drugs which irritate the lower nerves can also result in constipation and leg pain. Pelvic bone dysfunctions are another common cause.
Drinking plenty of water and eating fruits can help in good functioning of the muscles, which in turn helps to manage both constipation and leg pain.
Constipation provides detailed information on constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is affiliated with Are Cold Sores Contagious? .
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Annely
Many inflammations, diseases or conditions in the lower part of the nervous system can result in constipation and leg pain. Lumbar nerve root inflammations due to disk herniation, burst fractures, spondylolisthesis, foramina, and abnormal bone formation can lead to both conditions. Arachnoiditis, which causes spinal covering damage, can also result in constipation and leg pain.
The loosening of muscles and deficiency of calcium can result in malfunctioning or deterioration of the muscles which aid peristaltic actions and standing. The damages to these muscles result in diseases such as constipation, leg pain, frequent/uncontrolled urination, and diarrhea. Constipation and leg pain may also arise as a result of the diseases affecting the urinary system such as uterine fibroids.
Many pain relieving drugs such as morphine and aspirin used for curing leg pain can cause constipation. This is because all the pain killing drugs act on the central nervous system which causes a decrease in nerve impulse traffic. The result is the reduced functioning of all body muscles including that of the bowel wall. The frequent use of these drugs can result in severe constipation.
Overweight persons are the most prone to constipation and leg pain. Pregnant ladies are also more prone to have both conditions at the same time. Menstrual cramps and the use of some unnatural drugs which irritate the lower nerves can also result in constipation and leg pain. Pelvic bone dysfunctions are another common cause.
Drinking plenty of water and eating fruits can help in good functioning of the muscles, which in turn helps to manage both constipation and leg pain.
Constipation provides detailed information on constipation, cat constipation, causes of constipation, chronic constipation and more. Constipation is affiliated with Are Cold Sores Contagious? .
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kristy_Annely
Friday, January 4, 2008
Leg Cramps and a Bad Diet – The Elastic Band Theory
You never used to get leg cramps (until recently), you run regularly and exercise for two hours a day or more, you’re fit, you’ve got a ‘6 pack stomach’ – so you can eat anything you like, within reason, right?
It just doesn’t work like that – let me explain using the ‘elastic band theory of health and longevity’ to explain why you’re starting to get leg cramps, muscle cramps and other health problems that are sure to follow.
The body is just like a wonderful machine – so good in fact that for over 30 to 40 years, no matter how ‘low grade’ the ‘fuel’ you put in, your body just works and works and works. In fact, some people find that as they hit their mid thirties, that they’re just as fast as in their early twenties. Sure, you’re putting on a little weight, that’s normal, but overall you find that you’re just as fast and don’t need to train as often or as hard.
That is until one day you start getting cramps that won’t go away, or you can’t put up with that joint pain like you used to or your blood pressure starts to rise, or you need glasses or your hair starts going grey – fast.
Just like a thick elastic band, from a health point of view, the body can just keep stretching and stretching and stretching until one day it just ‘snaps’.
That’s when professional athletes just ‘drop dead’ from cardiovascular disease and that’s when you find out you have diabetes, cancer, or arthritis or you're told by your doctor that you have a 'problem heart' and you're professional sporting career is over.
It is really a ‘no-brainer’ that an unhealthy diet will contribute towards muscle cramps or other health problems and that these conditions are really just early warning signs or worse things to come.
Prevention of cramps and other health challenges from a nutrition point of view comes down to consuming a mostly fresh food diet that is high in minerals, avoiding ‘empty’ foods that are high in sugar and low in minerals and which also introduce toxins and antibiotics into our systems.
Fast foods of any type, fried food, processed or refined carbohydrates (such as cakes, biscuits and most types of bread), alcohol and excessive amounts of caffeine are all examples of foods to avoid.
In terms of cramping, eating the wrong food does the following:
1. Reduces our muscles’ energy reserves and makes cramping more likely.
2. Deprives the muscles of minerals required to relax and contract the muscles.
3. Introduces toxins (preservatives, food colouring and flavour enhancers) that have a stimulatory effect on the muscles that induce cramping and tend to inhibit the relaxation response that prevents cramping.
And while muscle cramps, running cramps you suffer during exercise and leg cramps at night are the end result of these nutritional problems, it’s the other lifestyle-threatening and life-threatening conditions you should be worried about.
My advice – cramps are just indicators of potentially more serious health problems. Fix the cramps from a nutritional point of view and you’re taking positive action from a long term health and longevity perspective.
Copyright - http://www.running-cramp-relief.com/
Paul Newland is a health and nutrition consultant, trainer, martial arts instructor, commercial helicopter pilot and author. His Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide is one of the internet's leading health information books and is the definitive guide to preventing, treating and curing cramps associated with exercise. In the Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide Newland speaks with 6 health, sports, nutrition, medical and complimentary health care professionals and explains why you get cramps, the best ways to treat them and how to prevent them from happening again.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Newland
It just doesn’t work like that – let me explain using the ‘elastic band theory of health and longevity’ to explain why you’re starting to get leg cramps, muscle cramps and other health problems that are sure to follow.
The body is just like a wonderful machine – so good in fact that for over 30 to 40 years, no matter how ‘low grade’ the ‘fuel’ you put in, your body just works and works and works. In fact, some people find that as they hit their mid thirties, that they’re just as fast as in their early twenties. Sure, you’re putting on a little weight, that’s normal, but overall you find that you’re just as fast and don’t need to train as often or as hard.
That is until one day you start getting cramps that won’t go away, or you can’t put up with that joint pain like you used to or your blood pressure starts to rise, or you need glasses or your hair starts going grey – fast.
Just like a thick elastic band, from a health point of view, the body can just keep stretching and stretching and stretching until one day it just ‘snaps’.
That’s when professional athletes just ‘drop dead’ from cardiovascular disease and that’s when you find out you have diabetes, cancer, or arthritis or you're told by your doctor that you have a 'problem heart' and you're professional sporting career is over.
It is really a ‘no-brainer’ that an unhealthy diet will contribute towards muscle cramps or other health problems and that these conditions are really just early warning signs or worse things to come.
Prevention of cramps and other health challenges from a nutrition point of view comes down to consuming a mostly fresh food diet that is high in minerals, avoiding ‘empty’ foods that are high in sugar and low in minerals and which also introduce toxins and antibiotics into our systems.
Fast foods of any type, fried food, processed or refined carbohydrates (such as cakes, biscuits and most types of bread), alcohol and excessive amounts of caffeine are all examples of foods to avoid.
In terms of cramping, eating the wrong food does the following:
1. Reduces our muscles’ energy reserves and makes cramping more likely.
2. Deprives the muscles of minerals required to relax and contract the muscles.
3. Introduces toxins (preservatives, food colouring and flavour enhancers) that have a stimulatory effect on the muscles that induce cramping and tend to inhibit the relaxation response that prevents cramping.
And while muscle cramps, running cramps you suffer during exercise and leg cramps at night are the end result of these nutritional problems, it’s the other lifestyle-threatening and life-threatening conditions you should be worried about.
My advice – cramps are just indicators of potentially more serious health problems. Fix the cramps from a nutritional point of view and you’re taking positive action from a long term health and longevity perspective.
Copyright - http://www.running-cramp-relief.com/
Paul Newland is a health and nutrition consultant, trainer, martial arts instructor, commercial helicopter pilot and author. His Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide is one of the internet's leading health information books and is the definitive guide to preventing, treating and curing cramps associated with exercise. In the Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide Newland speaks with 6 health, sports, nutrition, medical and complimentary health care professionals and explains why you get cramps, the best ways to treat them and how to prevent them from happening again.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Newland
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