If you get muscle cramps it's most likely due to low Magnesium levels
Magnesium is one of the underrated minerals and is often overlooked by medical professionals because there is very little of it in serum so blood tests can't determine if you are getting an adequate amount of it. Magnesium resides inside all of our cells and its function is to calm muscles (including the heart), nerves and the brain. If you stress these systems with intense exercise, sleep deprivation or not enough fuel (food) muscle cramps can be the result. Meat and dark leafy greens are naturally high in Magnesium but as you cook these foods the magnesium is stripped out of the food. Avoid boiling vegetables and opt to steam them instead. When cooking meat capture the drippings and add it back as sauce or gravy. I am a mountain climber and ultra runner with a heavy training schedule. Since it is difficult to acquire the magnesium I need to fuel my activity level through food I add in a magnesium chloride supplement every fourth month. I take 3 capsules for 20 days as recommended by Dr. Volek in his book &#34;The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance&#34;. There are many different types of magnesium supplements out there but NOT all are created equal! Avoid magnesium oxide as this causes diarrhea and only a small amount is absorbed by the body because it passes right through you. Magnesium gluconate is made up of mostly 'gluconate' which is a form of sugar so these pills do not actually contain as much magnesium as they do carbohydrate. Magnesium chloride (found in this supplement) is the form you want because it is a slow release capsule increasing the amount of absorption of the supplement by your body. As a Sports Nutritionist and Personal Trainer I recommend all my clients run a magnesium protocol at least once a year.
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