Leg cramps are common and can happen with anyone and at any time.1 It is difficult to say why exactly these cramps develop. Leg muscles are more prone to the cramps and thus most often we experience leg cramps. Leg cramps are usually painful and tight involuntary muscle contractions. There are several remedies to treat leg cramps, however; there are many people who believe that eating bananas would help you with leg cramps. But is it really true? Read below and find out by yourself.
Do Bananas Help With Leg Cramps?
It is true that if you are more prone to leg cramps then most of your known ones must have advised you to eat more bananas to get rid of the cramps. In fact it is one of the most common advises given in the United States of America. This is because bananas are rich in potassium and muscle cramps are known to be a symptom of an imbalance in electrolyte, especially the low levels of potassium or magnesium. However, it can be said that though bananas help you in preventing the leg cramps or any other muscle cramps, they might not help you in releasing leg cramps when they occur.
If you are prone to leg cramps you can eat bananas on a daily basis for getting the potassium supplements from it.2 However, bananas are not the best source of potassium.
So, you also need to go beyond just bananas and simply follow a diet that is rich in potassium. Some of the excellent foods that are loaded with enough of potassium; include the raisins, sweet potatoes, dried beans, peas and lentil and also dried plums, cooked spinach and winter squash. You can include all these in your regular diet to protect yourself from leg cramps.
Conclusion:
Though eating bananas or a potassium-rich diet can help you in preventing leg cramps, you won’t get immediate relief from the cramps by eating them when they strike.
So, you must go for some stretching and massaging of the affected leg muscles that would provide you with immediate relief. Moreover, just walking can also help you in getting relief and the cramps go away quickly when you put your body weight on the cramped leg.
Finally we must also let you know that leg cramps are known to be associated with a lot of serious health conditions, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism and Parkinson’s disease. So, you need to talk to your doctor if you regularly suffer from leg cramps.
Also Read:
- Banana: 11 Essential Health Benefits of Bananas- Rich in Potassium, Vitamin C, B6
- Can You Eat Banana Peel?
- Benefits of Banana Peels in Teeth Whitening
- Nutritional Facts of Banana Peel and its Health Benefits
- Do Bananas Lower Your Blood Pressure?
- Are Bananas Good For Your Liver?
- Is Banana Good For High Cholesterol?
