Muscle cramps can be an uncomfortable and painful symptom, but luckily there are a few things you can do to help prevent and relieve them. Using a warm towel or heating pad on tense muscles, taking a warm bath or shower, or massaging the tight muscle with ice can all help ease the pain. Eating certain foods that are rich in electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium, can also help prevent muscle cramps. Here are 12 foods that can help with muscle cramps.
Avocados
are creamy, delicious fruits that are packed with nutrients that can help prevent muscle cramps.Eating lots of electrolyte-rich foods, such as avocados, may help.
Watermelon
is a fruit that has an exceptionally high water content. It contains almost 92% water, making it an excellent choice as a hydrating snack.Sweet potatoes
are a great source of potassium and magnesium. In fact, 1 cup (200 grams) of sweet potato puree provides more than 20% of the recommended intake of potassium and almost 13% of the recommended intake of magnesium.Greek yogurt
is a great source of calcium and other nutrients that can help prevent exercise-related muscle cramps. Eating Greek yogurt after an intense workout can help to replenish certain nutrients that can prevent muscle cramps, as well as boost muscle recovery.Bone broth
is rich in calcium and magnesium.Research shows that lowering the pH of bone broth by increasing acidity and cooking the broth for more than 8 hours results in significantly higher concentrations of calcium and magnesium in the finished product.
Papayas
are tasty tropical fruits high in potassium and magnesium. An 11-ounce (310 grams) papaya provides approximately 15% and 19% of the recommended intake of potassium and magnesium, respectively.Salmon
is a rich source of protein, healthy anti-inflammatory fats and other nutrients that can help prevent muscle cramps, such as B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus. It is also a good source of vitamin D.Sardines
are small fish that are especially rich in nutrients that can help prevent and relieve muscle cramps, such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, vitamin D and magnesium.Interrupt any activity
that may have induced cramps and stretch the muscle slightly, gently holding the stretch. You can even massage the muscle as it stretches or after you finish.Pickle juice
has been found to be effective in relieving muscle cramps.It contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium which helps to reduce the intensity of the cramp.
