This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

I figured you would be the authority on my question, so here it is...

I have been getting bad legs cramps at night time. The cramps start in my toes and work all the way up to my hamstrings. This usually happens after a physically demanding day, then I lay down to sleep, relax, and the cramping commences.
So, I went to the store today and picked up some potassium pills. I believe they are 525mg. My question is,
How much should I take?


Also, I have been reading the ccsvi thread, trying to understand it. so far, I understand that taking asprin once a day may help with body fatigue. So I picked up some of that to, figured it couldnt hurt.

hey there bubba, do you already take magnesium? refresh my memory.. what do you take altogether in a day right now?

to your question on potassium... the daily adequate intake is 4700mg.
so the question 'how many to take' involves how much you get from diet.

"Surveys show the normal adult dietary intake of potassium at between 1950-mg and 5900-mg per day 3400-mg/day is typical of the young adult age group and other age groups are generally below this amount."

"People who eat large amounts of fruit and vegetables may have potassium intakes as high as 8,000–11,000-mg per day"

i'd say start introducing it slowly, one a day, and building up over time. if you're not going to have bloodwork done, then just monitor how you feel.

suppose you're thinking you're at the low end of the scale. if you try to add 1000mg of food source potassium into your daily diet, and have one 525mg pill with each meal, you'll probaby be well up in the 4500 ballpark.

here are some foods in case you want or need to boost dietary intake:

excellent sources
yam, 1 cup - 900mg
chard, steamed, 1 cup - 960mg
spinach, steamed, 1 cup - 860mg
(chard and spinach are high in vitamin k though)

very good
cantaloupe, 1 cup - 500mg
tomato, 1 cup - 400mg
carrots, raw, 1 cup - 400mg

bananas are good sources - one provides 500mg (lower nutrient density though)

lots more sources here: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tnam ... nt&dbid=90 (near the bottom)

as for aspirin and blood thinning, you can also try a quarter cup of raw sunflower seeds per day - the natural vitamin e complex in that could help thin the blood too
hope that helps!
JL

Awesome, Thanks!!!

When it comes to potassium count on food, I need to look up stuff like:
Beer
Collard Greens
Cracklin Bread
BBQ Pork Shoulder
Beer
Vienna Sausages
Pork Rinds
Fried Catfish
French Fried Taters
Fried Chicken
ect....LOL

OH...And I almost forgot..... Whats a "chard"?

sweet the perfect ms diet!! oh no wait that's in bizarro land :S LOL

chard, or 'swiss' chard, is a dark leafy green not too diff from your collard greens.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Chard

collards are a very good source of potassium. 1 cup boiled ~ 500mg
baked potato with skin, ~ 500mg

halibut, tuna, snapper, 4oz, baked or broiled (not fried i'm afraid!), 500-600mg

so yea, you don't sound like much of a fruit and veggie guy, for sure! what about V8 and smoothies and that kind of thing. could help???

good luck, and let me know about your mag and the rest of the regimen. if i see anything else that might be contributing to your leg issues i will let you know.

cheers,
JL

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race u to publication

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i bet you're right, probably has more appeal than this

.

Bob, you oughta like this, my favorite day off lunch....
Beer and pickled eggs!
Ya poot so thick ya can almost taste'em and talk about "hang time"!