As a chiropractor I’m dealing with spasm all the time. A lot of the time it is because of a dysfunctional joint. That said though we can do a lot to help our muscles relax while we heal. The adjustment will help it relax, but what you do at home can be the difference between seeing me 1-3 times or many times for the same problem. If the muscles are more likely to spasm then the joint is likely to lock up again and you end up back in my office.
While it may sound obvious because everyone knows to eat a banana if you have a cramp there is a little more too it. You would need to eat 10 bananas to get the 4 grams of potassium you need in a day. This isn’t our only electrolyte either.
There are lots of lists of potassium rich foods. Here is one. Try to get in that 3-4 grams a day. Don’t forget to salt your food. Sodium and chloride are electrolytes to!
Magnesium is often not in the foods we eat in the levels we think. Pesticides prevent the uptake from soil that is often depleted already. If your muscles spasm when you rest or things are tighter in the morning this electrolyte could be running on empty in your body.
I always prefer to get nutrients from food when I can. If there is one I often suggest to people to supplement it is magnesium.
Special considerations
Exercising a lot: Try putting some of this in your water. It will compensate for what you loose and has no sugar in it. Doesn’t taste great, but if you need it you won’t notice as much.
Low Carb Diet (any of them): You will need more salt in your food and you will dump potassium at first. Plus if you notice the potassium rich foods aren’t low carb… That said Pills don’t do it because they don’t have enough in them. We carry a this powder at the office you can get. Bonus, it has some magnesium in it to.
Cramps even though you have plenty of electrolytes: You could have a PH problem that is preventing the use of the electrolytes you have. Try taking 2 table spoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in 10 ounces of water in the morning. This has also been shown to help with weight loss!