Finally! Something That Works For Leg Cramps!

What can I do for leg cramps?!"

I've heard that question a lot through the years and heard a lot of recommendations ranging from drinking more water, quinine, supplementing with magnesium or potassium, and sleeping with a bar of soap between the sheets.

I've never known of anything that worked reliably....until now!

What's the deal with "Charley Horses"?

A "Charley horse," also known as a nocturnal leg cramp (NLC), delivers a rude awakening to 60-70% of adults. The muscle spasm can be severe enough to leave you sore and sleep deprived.

A recent study found that taking 180 μg of vitamin K2 dramatically reduced the frequency, intensity, and duration of NLCs compared to the placebo group.

The benefits were apparent after one week and increased over the first four weeks while the placebo group saw an increase in frequency.

Those taking vitamin K2 reported cramps lasting about 1 minute less than those on the placebo.

Vitamin K2 delivers two major benefits

If you're supplementing vitamin D, you may have been told specifically to take "D3 with K2."

Vitamin D3 helps your body absorb more calcium, vitamin K2 helps your body transport it to your bones and teeth rather than letting it sit in your arteries and other soft tissues in your body. This not only helps to promote bone health, but it also helps to keep your heart healthy.

By reducing calcium buildup in muscle tissue, where it could trigger cramps, vitamin K2 may help relax muscles and prevent the painful spasms that cause NLCs.

There's just one vitamin K2 consideration.....

Vitamin K2 is generally well-tolerated and effective with little to no side effects, except for people who are on certain blood thinners.

It can interfere with the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin).

That doesn't mean that you can't take vitamin K2 but it means that you have to be careful about maintaining a steady intake of the same amount of the vitamin every day.

As always, consult your doctor!