<p>DH eats a banana a day for the same reason, to prevent leg/foot cramps. This is my mother’s remedy from years ago. </p>
<p>worknprogress, what are your protein sources? (Apologies if you’ve already posted this, but information comes fast and furious around here.)</p>
<p>Coconut water is actually better than bananas for preventing leg/foot cramps.</p>
<p>My sources of protein are beans (all kinds, just about every day. I make spreads, use them in salads and soups & have a soy smoothie every morning). I usually have a tablespoon of PB on celery at some point each day or I throw that in my smoothie. I use quinoa and barley for grains, and I go wild and use Barilla’s high protein pasta once a week for spaghetti. I am not a strict vegetarian (DH is) and so I eat fish (sardines in salad dressing is really good, no kidding!) and occasionally cheese or eggs.</p>
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<p>Well, I’ll let you know!</p>
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<p>Interesting…I had no idea that coconut water was high in potassium.</p>
<p>Ellemenope - please report. DH loves broccoli, I don’t like it that much. I use it with other veggies for stirfrys and such, but that is the vegetable most likely to go brown in the frig. </p>
<p>MoWC - based on your recommendation earlier, I tried the coconut water and loved it. </p>
<p>Ok - my tip for the day. I bought a nice Bodum pitcher for making tea. I have found that if I make a nice pitcher of flavorful tea, something a little extravagant like Youthberry from Teavana, I feel indulged and less likely to want a glass of wine to make dinner.</p>
<p>MomofWildChild,
What is "Coconut water’? I am very interested. I did not eliminate my cramps, but they got much better with religious consumption of at least one banana and some unreleated to problem vitamins that seem to affect cramps positively. Actually any muscle on my body may cramp up, not only feet, but feet are more prone to cramps, especially when I swim. The second most often are belly muscles.</p>
<p>Miami, coconut water is the “juice” inside green coconuts (that is not milky). It is very high in potassium and tastes heavenly after a long workout. :)</p>
<p>Trader Joe’s sells coconut water in large and small boxes, including some flavored varieties (including mango). S2 loves it. Thanks for the tip, MOWC. I’ll mention it to DH. </p>
<p>Funny thing, Miami - DH does not swim at all because his feet instantly cramp if he goes into the water. He hasn’t tried swimming in years, since this happened a couple of times. Maybe if he goes on a coconut water/banana regimen he would be able to do it again?</p>
<p>My feet were cramping really badly (I think my calfs were, too) when I tried Pilates this past winter. I think it was before I discovered coconut water, but the cramping was a pretty new problem for me. I got to where I just quit Pilates.</p>
<p>Is taking Potassium vitamin better than coconut water?</p>
<p>^Oh, coconut is beyond my ability of dealing with food preparation. I am stuck peeling bananas every morning. It takes much shorter time and I can have it while still in bed in a dark. I love coconuts as I love all nuts and consume ton of various nuts with no preparation time required. Unfortunately coconuts are too much. I also think that potassium is not the only reason for my cramps. I have checked the vitamins that coincidently are helping also, they have no potassium. There is something else, not just potassium.
Everything tastes heavenly after workout, I am really hungry and mad if I cannot eat after I exersice, basically you better get out of my way, I am desparate.</p>
<p>NYMomof2,
“Funny thing, Miami - DH does not swim at all because his feet instantly cramp if he goes into the water.”
-Tell him to try Breast stroke - the easiest to avoid cramps. Pointing toes create my feet cramps, you do not need to point toes in Breast Stroke, although it might be faster while gliding. </p>
<p>I also will look for Coconut Water in boxes. This sounds very doable. We do not have Trader Joe’s, but some other places might sell it also. Thanks!!</p>
<p>"Is taking Potassium vitamin better than coconut water? "</p>
<p>DrGoogle, Potassium is not a vitamin, it is a chemical element which exists in the form of potassium plus ions in nature. Your body needs both potassium and sodium for its cells to function properly, but too much of one thing or the other can cause a lot of harm. Most people eating a balanced diet get enough potassium from foods (veggies, fruit, meat), but in some cases extra potassium is recommended (if one exercises a lot, minerals are lost through sweat). What is great about coconut water is that this natural drink provides a balanced mixture of electrolytes, carbs, and water - a perfect sports recovery drink which is not loaded with as much sugar as Gatorade, etc.</p>
<p>I know you are not suppose to take too much Potassium but I thought banana has a lot of Potassium.</p>
<p>Coconut water is now readily available in most grocery stores, Costco etc. We get ours at Costco. I have also ordered it from amazon. I assure you that I did NOT stand in the kitchen and drain the coconuts!</p>
<p>New afternoon snack idea – fresh, raw sugar snap peas. Great crunch, sweet taste and they fill you up. About 3/4 cup = 35 calories and 6 carbs. I just washed them and put a handful in a sandwich bag for the commute home at the end of the day. Yum.</p>
<p>A banana has more potassium than many other fruits, but it does not have enough of it to cause harm. An average person needs about 4.5 grams of potassium a day, and an average banana has about 1/10th of that amount. So even if you eat two bananas a day in addition to your normal diet, you are not going to OD on potassium.</p>
<p>LOL, MOfWC, about draining coconuts.</p>
<p>This is what they sell at Trader Joe’s, Miami:</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Coconut-Water-Natural-11-2-Ounce/dp/B000CN7BMA/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1309381412&sr=1-1[/url]”>http://www.amazon.com/Premium-Coconut-Water-Natural-11-2-Ounce/dp/B000CN7BMA/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1309381412&sr=1-1</a></p>
<p>I am not a fan of the taste of coconut water.
I love beets. The first time I made beets I boiled them. The skins come right off and I use them in salads. I know many prefer roasting but I am happy with the taste of them boiled and it is easier. My H will eat beets but he doesn’t love them. My kids don’t like them.</p>
<p>My daughters and i all suffer from restless legs and my youngest D and I suffer from achy legs. They don’t generally ache from exercise. It’s weird. We always called them growing pains. Would banana’s or coconut water help that?</p>