There is nothing worse than waking up with a “charlie horse”. This may be a sign of low minerals –magnesium, potassium and/or calcium. Many of our patients report resolution of the problem when they supplement with magnesium and/or calcium, Vegetable juice and apple cider vinegar are good sources of potassium that we recommend. The bottom line is that blood tests and medical histories are the most accurate way to determine individual mineral needs that will help with muscle cramps.
Drink Half Your Weight in Ounces Daily
Stay hydrated to feel good and function well!
Good digestion and bowel elimination depend on good hydration–so does clear thinking! We often loose the sense of thirst as we age and many people mistake thirst for hunger and then eat instead of drink. Therefore, it is important to form the habit of drinking enough fluids whether thirsty or not. The rule of thumb is to drink daily half your weight in ounces. If you weigh 160 pounds that would be 80 ounces or about 10 cups. Make it a rule to drink 2 cups of water or herb tea first thing in the morning before eating. That way you have already had a quarter of the approximate recommendation of 8 cups of fluids a day before you start eating. If you have problems with constipation, add the juice of a half lemon to 2 cups of warm water and have that instead of tea or plain water first thing in the morning.
Making delicious drinks is a healthy way for you to want to drink–the bonus is a daily supply of minerals and antioxidants! If you have a juicer, freshly made vegetable juice on a daily basis is an excellent nutritious beverage. Herb teas are another good choice. Obviously, the quality of the water is very important. Ask us for more information about how to improve the quality of your water. Generally, stevia is used as a safe, no-calorie sweetener–most people need to avoid drinking calories (drinks with added sugars such as high fructose corn syrup, sugar, honey, agave).
