Pains

[Dippydolly]

Hi I have been on the lchf diet for a week and I have been getting cramp like pains in my lower legs and feet mainly at night, is this due to being on the diet ?

 

[Resurgam]

Possibly.
I keep a bottle of water by the bed and find that taking a small amount of it - about a cup full, possibly more in the hotter times of year, will reduce the cramps.
I tried all sorts of additives to get rid of them, thinking it was a lack of some mineral or vitamin even, but found it was water I needed.

 

[Art Of Flowers]

If you get cramps on LCHF then you need to eat more salt.

 

[daisyduck]

Agree with both of the above. Make sure you are well hydrated . The salt is needed because you are probably removing a lot of the salt in processed food on the LCHF diet

 

[Bluetit1802]

I agree with everyone above. Hydration is important. It could also be lack of salt in your diet, and also potassium and magnesium deficiencies, but if you haven't experienced these cramps previously it is more likely dehydration or salt. Certain medications can also cause it.

 

[JillCoulter-King]

Hi I have been on the lchf diet for a week and I have been getting cramp like pains in my lower legs and feet mainly at night, is this due to being on the diet ?

have a banana

 

[Beagler]

Water first, then salt...but you might also try Epsom salts to up your magnesium - very cheap, no side effects. Dose is between one pinch up to half a teaspoonful, once a day. My sister just chucks it down her throat but I think it tastes DISGUSTING so drop it in my morning coffee when I can't taste it at all. Don't go over the half teaspoon or you will trigger the laxative effects. Take a gradually increasing dose for a week, and if there is no improvement, forget it, magnesium is not the problem for you!

 

[Bluetit1802]

have a banana

I'm not sure that is a good idea! Fast acting, almost all sugar, they will spike most people. There are other foods that contain potassium. There must be because my potassium levels are ideal and I don't eat bananas.

 

[lovinglife]

have a banana

There are far better foods for someone with diabetes- leafy greens, avocado, fish, mushrooms, small portions of tomato are all great sources of potassium and magnesium - for salt try a drink of bovril and as others have said keep hydrated

 

[Robbity]

have a banana

Bananas are definitely not a good idea on an LCHF diet as they're rather too high carb. They used to be my go to potassium solution for leg cramps when I was on diuretics well before I became diabetic. But there are plenty of vegetables (and other foods) that are rich in potassium and magnesium that will work equally well (see https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=vegetables+high+in+magnesium+and+potassium), and many of them are low carb and also recommended anyway as part of our LCHF diet.

Bone broth is another recommended addition to this diet, to keep up the minerals, etc, that our kidneys may be flushing out when we wee.

Robbity

 

[ExChocoholic]

Is this a special type of Epsom salt. Surely not same as ones to add to bath etc?