Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

2

I have been "Paleo" for the past 5 months. Typical diet is eggs/meat for breakfast, banana, occasional green smoothie= Lunch - Meat/salad - Dinner/ Grass Fed Meat or Fish with Veggies. Snacks: Nuts or apples

My feet have been cramping for weeks now.

Any ideas as to what may be causing this? I supplement with Fish Oil, Vit D.

Thanks!

flag	asked Mar 4 2012 at 13:30 Feet Cramping 21●3

mindi · Answer 1 · 2012-03-04 13:38:02Z UTC

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Try adding more salt to your food. I was having calf cramps, and salt helped a lot.

answered Mar 4 2012 at 13:38

mindi
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That's exactly what my husband said to do, however, when I eat out and consume a high salt meal, my hands and face swell. (I really don't notice the foot cramping easing off much after this either) – Feet Cramping Mar 4 2012 at 13:40

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I think it's more helpful to consistently up it some, rather than a high amount at one meal. – mindi Mar 4 2012 at 14:30

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FC, the salt used in packaged foods and at restaurants is of very low quality and can have things in it other than salt. The coarse, wet, French sea salt is delicious and smooth-tasting. – PaleoGran Mar 4 2012 at 18:40

PaleoGran · Answer 2 · 2012-03-04 13:38:14Z UTC

FC, Dr. Michael Eades gives some good suggestions for bone and meat broths, magnesium, potassium, tonic water (the quinine).

http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/saturated-fat/tips-tricks-for-starting-or-restarting-low-carb-pt-ii/

Also, using a tennis ball underneath your foot can help stretch out the cramp, so that it lets go.

henny · Answer 3 · 2012-03-04 13:56:15Z UTC

1

Not to cure it but to temporarily ease it, I roll my foot arch over a wine bottle on the floor. (I always have a wine bottle around!).

I think it is caused by a mineral imbalance- sometimes magnesium, sometimes calcium.

answered Mar 4 2012 at 13:56

henny

Dragonfly · Answer 4 · 2012-03-04 15:03:13Z UTC

3

Magnesium. Try 200-600 mg Magnesium Glycinate before bed. Solved all my muscle cramping issues!

If you are dairy-free, then 500 mg Calcium Citrate may be helpful.

answered Mar 4 2012 at 15:03

Dragonfly
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Bri · Answer 5 · 2012-03-04 15:13:53Z UTC

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My feet were doing that too. Turns out I was low in potassium, magnesium and calcium! I took Natural Calm, calcium-magnesium supplements, and potassium supplements and drank lots of water. No problems since!

answered Mar 4 2012 at 15:13

Bri
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	Thanks! Drinking lots of water today and will start with the Cal/Mag supplements. I eat a banana once a day, at least. – Feet Cramping Mar 4 2012 at 16:24
	I've had pretty bad foot and calf cramps, and restless legs at times, my ND recommended Thorne CalMag Citrate. It provides relief almost immediately. – Happy Now Mar 5 2012 at 10:52

Deb · Answer 6 · 2012-03-04 15:28:22Z UTC

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Magnesium via Natural Calm keeps cramps from my legs and feet.

answered Mar 4 2012 at 15:28

Deb
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Phoenix · Answer 7 · 2012-03-04 15:46:01Z UTC

When you start eating lower carbohydrate food, you body no longer holds on to the water. (think Carbo-"hydrate"). When the water leaves, so do some of the electrolytes. This will cause some muscle cramping.

One thing you can do is supplement with potassium. Or better yet, find some Morton's Lite Salt and use about a teaspoon full a day on your food. Morton's Lite is made with 1/2 Potassium Chloride.

Help! My feet are cramping!

7 Answers