HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Leg cramps and Potassium

Support Forums
>
Diabetes
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/7/2008 3:09 AM (GMT -5)
I am having Cramps in my Legs,so am probably not getting enough Potassium in my quest to cut a lot of Foods from my Diet.I read that Baked Potatoes contain 1,081 MG's of Potassium and Raisins contain 1,089,but both are BIG BIG BIG no-no's..
Posted 8/7/2008 9:45 AM (GMT -5)
I found a great link with food sources that you can choose from. Excellent sources of potassium include chard, mushrooms, and spinach. Very good sources of potassium include fennel, kale, mustard greens, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, winter squash, eggplant, cantaloupe, and tomatoes. Good sources of potassium include parsley, romaine, cucumber, bell pepper, turmeric, apricots, ginger root, strawberries, avocado, banana, tuna, halibut, cauliflower and cabbage.

Food sources of potassium

I mostly have the salad greens listed along with tomatoes and bananas but as the weather has heated up and I'm perspiring more I've noticed the leg cramps, too. Your post made me realize I need to up my tomato intake. Low cal and high potassium.
Posted 8/7/2008 9:53 AM (GMT -5)

Jeannie,

Thanks for the reply.I don't eat Cantaloupe or Bananas anymore..overripe Bananas are consider High-Glycemic and underripe are Medium (off top of my Head)..

Posted 8/7/2008 10:04 AM (GMT -5)
Other good sources of potassium are pork chops, spinach, soybeans, lentils, kidney beans and yogurt.  If you eat the beans and lentils in moderation, you should not have a blood sugar spike.  It's helpful to have some protein and fats along with them for that reason.  And it might be helpful to take a multivitamin.

Posted 8/7/2008 10:09 AM (GMT -5)
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE bananas with peanut butter. And this evening snack only gives me a 74 reading after two hours! I'm so lucky! (Jeannie just glows with happiness!)
Posted 8/7/2008 3:27 PM (GMT -5)

Just a little Info that might help.

Leg Cramps or Charlie Horses as some people call them can be caused by low potasium.  They can also be a sign that you have not drank enough WATER and become dehydrated.  This is a very good possibility if you spend a lot of time either working or just being out on a hot day. Pop, coffee, things with caffine don't help like WATER does.  My husband has had trouble with these for the last couple of years, off and on in the Summer months.  His doctor told him to make sure he drinks lots of water when he's been working outside or when he's been playing golf and sweated alot.  He also said three or four bannanas a week would help with his potasium leval.  Now I'm not sure how the bannana's would afftect your sugars? my husband doesn't have diabetus so it's not a concern.   Since he had been drinking more water and eating the bannanas his muscle cramps or charlie horses have been cut alot.

Hope this helps yeah

Wheelchair Bound

Linda

Posted 8/7/2008 4:54 PM (GMT -5)

Linda,

I've had Charlie Horses before.These are just Leg cramps or more like sore Muscles.I've been doing a lot more walking lately,so if it isn't Low-Potassium then it's probably working Muscles I haven't used in a long time.

The Water thing could be possible as I ran out of Bottled Water and refuse to drink Tap Water at my place..hopefully can get more Water soon..

I don't eat Bananas anymore.They are a Medium and High-Glycemic Food.

Miss HA (Health Anxiety) here worries about Blood Clots.Both Parents died from Pulmonary Embolism,so next Doctor's appointment I'm going to try and fit my concerns in.

Thank you Linda,I gratefully appreciate your thoughts and reply.

Have a blessed late Afternoon


Posted 8/8/2008 4:17 AM (GMT -5)

Lanie,

I don't eat Pork,but will eat more Spinach,Yogurt,Kidney Beans and will try the Soybeans and Lentils.Am trying to "rake" Money together to buy a Multi-Vitamin.


Posted 8/8/2008 4:19 AM (GMT -5)

Jeannie,

If I may ask do you follow a Low-Glycemic Index Diet?I don't eat Bananas or Peanut Butter.I read that Peanuts are classed as a Mold and I gave my last Jar away due to the Mold and Hydrogenated Oils..am happy your having good readings! :-)

Posted 8/10/2008 3:57 PM (GMT -5)

Sydnee,

I think you read to much and you are overwhelming yourself.  Make sure what your reading is from a reliable source.

Morton Lite Salt = 350 mg of Potassium per 1/4 teaspoon.  My husband uses this product as his BP is high and he has Crohns so it helps him get some K+ as well as dump some of the sodium he used to use.

Kitt


Posted 8/10/2008 5:21 PM (GMT -5)

Sydnee,

Have you tested the effect of bananas or peanut butter on YOUR blood sugar readings? Sometimes, your metabolism fails to read the same books you are reading (joke) and doesn't regard the actual food they way you read in the book.

If you are worried about peanut butter- go to a garage sale and buy a cheap coffee grinder- then grind your own nuts. I make all of my own nut butters from scratch- they are cheap and delicious. I know what's in them. Tree nuts are great sources of omega 3 fats, protein and fiber. Peanuts are legumes and should be treated as a legume.

sandy

Posted 8/11/2008 9:00 AM (GMT -5)
Hi all, I would just like to add two very good sources of potassium are Chia seeds and Apple Cider Vinegar. Having lyme disease, I need to keep my potassium levels up.

By the way, Peanut Butter used to be ADDICTION, I love it., but I had to cease use due to it's high fungal content
Posted 8/11/2008 9:18 AM (GMT -5)
Peacesoul, I don't know about chia seeds but apple cider vinegar does not seem to be a good source of potassium according to all the literature I've read.  It has 15 mg per tablespoon, whereas food such as sweet potatoes, tomato paste, potatoes, white beans, yogurt, and soybeans have around 400 mg or more.  A banana has about the same amount of potassium as a cup of spinach, about 420 mg.  As diabetics, though, some of this food will cause high blood sugar, so when choosing food for potassium, we have to be careful of sweet potatoes or white potatoes, for example.  Google "potassium sources" and that will give you lots of better options for potassium than the vinegar. 

Posted 8/11/2008 10:24 AM (GMT -5)
Lanie, the source of the ACV needs to be organic with "mother' in it. The Mother is where all the potassium is. Of course a good diet along with the acv is a good plan

I made a thread on my lyme site about chia
check it out

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1201952

Posted 8/14/2008 5:18 PM (GMT -5)

I have found that I can get a  leg cramp when I overeat carbs, but taking a potassium citrate supplement either at bedtime or when the cramp comes on, provides almost immediate relief.

Posted 8/17/2008 9:07 PM (GMT -5)

Kitt,

I may Read to much,but consider it a good thing!I read in my Book Women's Body's Women's Wisdom Authored by Dr.Christiane Northrup MD that Peanuts are classed a Mold,so ever since I cut out Peanuts.

I don't use Morton Salt Period.It is processed..

Posted 8/18/2008 12:24 AM (GMT -5)

Gelchick,

To answer your question..no I haven't.Last Week I received a free One Touch Ultra Mini Meter with 10 test Strips.I read Bananas (overripe and underripe) are High and Mid Glycemic Foods,so don't eat.I don't eat Peanuts or Peanut Butter because of Mold and the fact they don't digest well.I prefer Almonds and Walnuts.

I have a Coffee Grinder just don't have a Recipe to make my own Nut Butters from scratch..


Posted 8/18/2008 12:28 AM (GMT -5)

Peacesoul,

I use Bragg Organic raw and unfilted ACV containing the Mother and aged in Wood.I buy a pint at my local HFS for a little over $2-$3.I love drinking ACV and Water.There is a Recipe on the side of the Bottle,but I don't add the Grade B Kosher Maple Syrup.If I have Stevia Herb on Hand,I sweeten with that.My late Step-Mother told me that ACV aids in burning Fat and helps to lose weight.Thanks for the link on Chia.A Friend recently mentioned Chia.

Posted 8/19/2008 3:40 PM (GMT -5)
Linda is very correct about the cramps being a sign of not drinking enough water. The way my doctor put it, even if you drink tea, coffee, or diet soda they are not substitutes for plain, unflavored, uncolored water. She said that some anti-diabetes meds (as well as meds for hypertension) can deplete your potassium and vitamin B so you need to replenish it.

As for potassium, another source is sweet potato (baked plain) if you can eat it. For some diabetics it will skyrocket your bs like a regular potato, for others it won't. I'm lucky--I can eat a small sweet potato with little effect.

Also, if you are willing to dry soybeans-you can buy them in the local grocery store (edamame)-try boiling them, peel the bean out of the husk, then lightly salt and add to your salad or eat like nuts. Do not eat the shell or husk as it is indigestible and tastes nasty.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply