| Muscle cramps caused by nutritional | | | | Organic minerals, especially potassium, |
| deficiencies can be treated successfully | | | | can be helpful in cases, where the |
| through diet. The patient should take a | | | | disease is caused by mental tension and |
| diet which contains liberal quantities | | | | nervous disorders. Elimination of |
| of all the essential nutrients. This | | | | contributory psychic causes are, |
| diet may consist of seeds, nuts and | | | | however, also essential in such cases. |
| whole grain, cereals, vegetables and | | | | Foot cramp may sometimes be caused by |
| fruits. The emphasis should be on | | | | deficiency of Vitamin B6. Even many |
| calcium and magnesium-rich foods, such | | | | strong persons suffer from foot cramps |
| as leafy green vegetables, fresh fruits, | | | | because of lack of this Vitamin. In such |
| particularly apricots, and soured milk | | | | cases, it is essential to take Vitamin |
| products. The best sources of calcium | | | | B6 on a regular basis. This vitamin can |
| are most vegetables, cereals like | | | | be taken up to 50 mg daily for months |
| millet, oats, rice, sesame seeds, beans, | | | | together without any ill effects. It is, |
| milk and homemade cottage cheese. | | | | however, essential that while taking |
| The patient should avoid excess of | | | | Vitamin B6, the whole family of Vitamin |
| citrus fruits, especially their juices, | | | | B complex should be taken |
| meats and excess of grains, especially | | | | simultaneously, as too much of one of |
| wheat, as all of them are deficient in | | | | the B vitamin may cause imbalance of the |
| calcium. Millets are the best cereals | | | | other Vitamins of the B group. |
| for relieving muscle cramps and they | | | | Cramps associated with menstrual cycle |
| should be consumed liberally by the | | | | and menopause can be treated |
| patient. Other foods which are valuable | | | | successfully by large doses of Vitamin |
| in this disease are sesame seeds and | | | | E, B6 and B12. |
| almond, especially in the form of milk. | | | | A useful method for relieving muscle |
| The use of Vitamin C and E in large | | | | cramps is to apply heating pad over the |
| doses has been found beneficial in the | | | | cramping area. Massaging the area will |
| treatment of muscle cramps caused by | | | | also be helpful. Persons suffering from |
| oxygen deficiency in the tissue. Vitamin | | | | leg cramps at night should keep bed |
| C has been found valuable in the | | | | covers loose, or use a foot cradle at |
| assimilation of calcium in the body and | | | | night to keep the weight of the covers |
| preventing it from piling in the joints. | | | | off the feet. Those sleeping on their |
| Vitamin E helps circulation in the legs. | | | | stomach may extend their feet over the |
| Leg cramps in some cases have responded | | | | edge of the mattress to maintain a |
| to adding vegetable oils, which is a | | | | neutral foot position. |
| rich source of Vitamin E, to the diet. | | | | |