Cramping Prevention?

[Spínola]

One Banana a day should make a huge difference.

[Mark Holloway]

Coconut Water, really? My wife's Brazilian and loves it. I'll ask her to double up on her next purchase.

[Kyle Spalla]

Drink tons of coconut water. Most cramping is caused by dehydration, and not only is coconut water a liquid(lol) but its isotonic so your bodys cells will actually absorb it much better than water and it will hydrate you realistically, and as far as how you feel much better. Also: coconut water has more potassium than a banana, and training rapidly depletes your potassium levels, so eat some bananas or like said above just drink coconut water

Pretty much these are all the benefits of coconut water. They really make the difference after hard training and weight cutting especially.

[DavidHamp]

I seen something about the coconut water in a gracie breakdown awhile ago have to check into it, any place good to buy it besides like a GNC as that there over priced. And the comment bout lifetime was +1 lol.

[DanConway]

I seen something about the coconut water in a gracie breakdown awhile ago have to check into it, any place good to buy it besides like a GNC as that there over priced. And the comment bout lifetime was +1 lol.

Yeah, whole foods is the best place to get it locally in most cases, amazon.com for online. But take note: Not all coconut waters are created equal. Firsts make sure its Coconut WATER not coconut MILK or JUICE. Most things labeled coconut juice etc are not just pure raw baby coconut water. Also make sure theres NO preservatives etc, coconut water doesn't really need one and the good brands have NOTHING but coconut water in them, period. Alot of brands put sulfuric smelling/tasting preservatives in, especially the ones that contain pulp, which is a deal breaker. I suspect these kinds of brands are what result in most people who 'tried coconut water once didnt like it, but do now that they have again'.

Also, the location of the coconuts makes a differnce, thai coconuts are reputably sweeter than brazilian, and even with the same sugar levels taste sweeter so brands sourcing from south america are typically not as tasty as the ones from thailand. Even in thailand, the taste between differnt coconut farms can be pretty wide. The Top brands reviewed by trusted users such as Joe Rogan and the general top ratings on amazon:

C20 Coconut Water
Taste Nirvana Coconut Water
Amy and Brians Coconut Water

These are all sourced from thailand, and taste MUCH better than vitacoco or zico. I find taste nirvana to be the sweetest of the three, but C20 is close and is the most affordable. At Whole Foods you can get a large can, i think 17.5 FL, for like 2$, which is better than the 3$ for a smaller vitacoco from elsewhere.

[DavidHamp]

Awesome online is deff going to be my choice I live in no where Michigan which means no Whole Foods or anything like that anywhere close by.

[VicDorfman]

I still have this issue with my calves but I've cut it down a good bit thanks to some knowledge from Mr. Pavel Tsatsouline.

Most of the time, the reason muscles cramp isn't because of some acute electrolyte deficiency, but because the muscle is stretching beyond what it "considers" safe, and contracts painfully to reign it back in.

The solution is to gradually "convince" your muscles that stretching that far is safe. And it is. Your muscles are already capable of full splits and other freaky things. They are inherently long enough. In other words, stretch the problem muscle and CONTRACT it during the stretch. Then as you release the contraction, immediately stretch a bit further. This is Pavel's "relax into stretch" protocol. (Awesome book by the way, available online)

I suspect what's behind the banana eating craze is the addictive insulin spike that comes from eating such a starchy fruit. Avocados have more potassium than bananas and are way healthier...

[DavidHamp]

I almost guarantee that it wasnt a stretching issue, i wake up and stretch i do yoga(at home) stretch before and after practice. Havent had an issue til the warmer practices were i'm prolly losing 5lbs on average of water weight per practice. Also my cramping didnt hit til about an hour after practice then it was full body legs by my ribs triceps chest. It was prolly the worst thing ever.

[waltsettlemyre]

Ill throw my paramedic 2 cents in. The coconut water and the electrolytes are all excellent advice. The only thing I would add is that dehydration dosent start the day you have symptoms. It started a couple days before just not keeping ahead of the curve with the electrolytes and fluids. If you're training in a gym thats hot like you said you'll lose water/ fluids super quick, coupled with the weather getting hotter, you gotta hammer the fluids! If you're properly hydrated your urine will be clear and you should be peeing about once every 45 minutes to an hour. I know its alot! But believe me. I live in central Texas and its ungodly hot. I run this type of environmental emergency all the time. Also you lose fluid over night as well so I would say start hitting the fluids first thing in the morning. As a side note if the cramps come back, get the electrolytes on board and a little Ibuprofen because unlike Tylenol, Ibuprofen is an anti inflamitory. Also I would be more than happy to come up and place a 14 guage IV cath in your AC and rehydrate you that way! Who dosent love having a McDonalds straw stabbed in their arm??!!

[DavidHamp]

Much respect Sir I had my EMT-B lisence but let it expire as i could not find a job in the area but yea I deff have up'd my intakes feeling good and ready to do some work on the mats