Muscle cramps can occur for a variety of reasons due to a muscle injury, overuse of a muscle or they can occur if you're not getting the right amount of certain minerals. You can ensure that you receive an adequate amount of minerals in your diet by eating a variety of different foods. Some disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease, may make it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients.
Minerals and Muscle Cramps
If your diet lacks certain minerals or has problems absorbing nutrients from your diet, it could cause muscle cramps. If your muscles do not get enough calcium, potassium, sodium or magnesium, they could cramp, according to MedlinePlus. Your doctor may order blood testing to determine the cause of your muscle cramps and may recommend taking a supplement if your diet lacks one or more of these vital minerals that your muscles require, or if you have an underlying condition that prevents your body from absorbing nutrients. Certain medications may prevent your body from absorbing some nutrients as well as pregnancy and alcoholism.
Supplements
Do not take supplements unless directed by your health care provider. Some supplements can build up in your system, interact with other medications or have undesirable side effects. It's important to take supplements exactly as your physician orders to ensure that your body only receives an adequate amount to prevent side effects from occurring. Once your body begins to receive an appropriate amount of these minerals, your muscle cramps should subside.
Side Effects
Magnesium and calcium compete with each other for absorption by your body; taking magnesium supplements while your calcium levels are low could deplete your calcium levels even more, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Depending upon the mineral supplement, or supplements, that you take, you could experience side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain, slowed heart rate, mental confusion, dizziness, excessive sweating and irregular sinus rhythm.
Diet
Since there is a potential danger of receiving too much of one particular mineral while taking supplements, you may want to consider including more foods in your diet to include these minerals if your mineral levels are low. It's almost always better, when possible, to receive nutrients from food rather than taking a supplement. Include more dairy products, organ meats, bananas, spinach, whole grains, nuts, seeds and other leafy green vegetables in your diet to obtain minerals such as calcium, potassium, sodium and magnesium.
