Cramps and muscle spasms tend to hit you all of a sudden, and when they do it’s hard to focus on anything but the discomfort you feel at that moment. This often painful condition is the result of muscles tightening up due to physical overexertion, dehydration, or a chronic medical condition. Even when muscle spasms aren’t painful, those jerky, involuntary movements often cause mental distress and fatigue due to a lack of sleep.
When cramps or spasms become an ongoing struggle all you want to do is find a way to make them go away. Taking muscle relaxant medications is one solution. However, there’s a natural solution that doesn’t make you dizzy or foggy. Several types of foods contain natural antioxidants and chemical components that help your body and mind relax. You can find these foods at your local grocery store, and then find tasty ways to enjoy them.
1.Cayenne Pepper. You don’t have to be a big fan of spicy foods to appreciate the healing benefits of cayenne pepper. This fire engine red pepper contains capsaicin, a substance already used in some natural pain relief products. Many people dealing with conditions such as fibromyalgia apply creams containing capsaicin on areas prone to jittery muscles. You can also sprinkle cayenne pepper onto savory dishes for general relief.
2. Cherries. Dark cherries are a known natural remedy for gout, but you can also eat them to reduce inflammation of joints and muscles. Drinking a glass of tart cherry juice before bed is a great way to increase melatonin levels, which help you drift off to a good night’s sleep.
3. Spinach. Packed with the muscle-friendly mineral magnesium, spinach is a muscle relaxing powerhouse. The dark green leaves of this plant can be enjoyed raw or cooked, and it also contains energy-boosting iron.
4. Almonds. Almonds are one of the tastiest natural snack foods around, and besides being tasty, they contain selenium, a mineral that’s great for muscles. Sometimes not having enough selenium in the body leads to increased muscle pain and discomfort. Snacking on a handful of almonds helps keep nerves and muscles functioning normally.
5. Celery. Extreme physical exertion such as running long distances can lead to a sudden bout of muscle cramps due to the depletion of electrolytes. It’s common to crave salt when this happens, and celery has an ample amount of natural sodium. Make a smoothie with celery, enjoy raw celery with a vegetable spread, or eat it plain to replenish lost sodium.