Does banana help with cramps?

Does banana help with cramps?

Anmita Das

·Health
Health

Muscle cramps are terrible. I frequently got severe muscle pain during my pregnancy. I used to scream in pain and tried so many things to get relief from this cramp. But no trick worked for me. However, I’ve overcome the horrible experience.

Recently I was scrolling the internet and found an article about foods that give relief from muscle cramps. I found it interesting and went through in-depth research on this. Then I got to know bananas provide solutions to so many health issues, including cramps.

Today I’m going to share: Do bananas help with cramps? Or it’s just a myth. So,  keep reading to learn some interesting facts about bananas.

What is muscle cramp?

A severe contraction of the muscle or any part of the body muscle can cause a cramp. This type of contraction generally lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes. Though it does not stay for long but these few seconds you’ll feel like hell. Athletes, pregnant women and people who regularly exercise mostly go through this pain.

What is muscle cramp?
What is muscle cramp

What are the major causes of muscle pain

Muscle cramps are actually a warning to you from your body that you need to be more cautious. There is not one reason behind this. There are several causes of muscle pain. However, you need to figure out the reason for yours. 

  • Excessive use of a muscle or heavy exercise. 
  • Deficiency of minerals or electrolytes like sodium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphate. 
  • Over-sweating. 
  • Muscle injury. 
  • Issues with digestion such as ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel syndrome, leaky gut, etc
  • Intaking the medication of  diuretics and steroids
  • Thyroid and renal issues. 

Do banana help with body cramps? 

Yes. Bananas are rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium. A deficiency of these nutrients is one of the main causes of body cramps. So, when you start eating bananas regularly it’ll help you to get relief from body cramps. 

Do bananas prevent leg cramps while running?

Yes. A deficiency of minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium can cause leg cramps. But you need to make a diagnosis to find out the specific reason. Dehydration or muscle fatigue could be the possible reason for leg cramps.

Do bananas prevent leg cramps while running?
Do bananas prevent leg cramps while running

As bananas are a great source of potassium, magnesium, and calcium, you’ll get energized when you have a banana. It’ll help to reduce your mineral deficiency but it is not guaranteed to prevent leg cramps while running.

There is no specific supplement to prevent muscle cramps. But if you maintain a well-balanced diet, it’ll give you relief to some extent. Especially banana is packed with essential minerals which will help you to lower the chance of getting sudden leg cramps.

Do banana help with period cramps? 

Yes. Period cramps are really bad. 84% of women go through extreme cramps during their menstrual cycle. Comparatively younger women feel the cramps more than older women. Though there is no specific solution to avoid period cramps, you can reduce the pain by following some traditional methods. For example, using a heating pad, taking a  hot bath, or eating dark chocolates are effective ways to lessen period cramps.

Why should you add bananas to your diet

Along with the other food you can put banana in your PMS diet. It works fast to ease the menstruation cramp. 

  • Bananas have a high level of potassium, magnesium and calcium which will aid to ease cramps during your period.
  •  Trypsin, an enzyme found in bananas, helps your body exclude extra water, which also reduces the discomfort related to menstruation. 
  • Potassium in banana help to regulate blood flow in menstruation. 
  • You may feel low during menstruation. Banana boost your energy instantly. 
  •  Banana contains a high amount of magnesium which helps to control PMS symptoms like mood swings, fatigue and cramps.

Is there any evidence to suggest that bananas can help with menstruation cramp

One of the best foods for menstruation cramps is bananas. According to medical experts, bananas contain high levels of vitamin B6 and potassium. Low level of potassium is the main cause of menstrual cramp. Only one banana can replace the potassium you lose doing 2 / 3 hours of exercise.

Is there any evidence to suggest that bananas can help with menstruation cramp
Is there any evidence to suggest that bananas can help with menstruation cramp

Do banana helps with leg cramps during pregnancy?

Yes. Muscle cramp or “Charlie horse” symptom is the most common discomfort during pregnancy. Mostly muscles of the legs get affected by severe pain or contractions. Back or abdominal muscles can also get this contraction.

Do banana helps with leg cramps during pregnancy?
Do banana helps with leg cramps during pregnancy

Causes behind pregnancy leg cramps

  • Dehydration. 
  • Lifting excessive weight and exercise
  • Blood flow fluctuation  
  • Deficiency of minerals( calcium, potassium, magnesium )

How banana help with leg cramps

Bananas help to get a quick recovery from muscle contractions. As you already learned, bananas are a great source of minerals or electrolytes, it’ll help to recover the deficiency. Lack of potassium can cause fatigued muscles, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat. Banana provides all three electrolytes (potassium, calcium, and magnesium) together. So,  eating bananas regularly will help you to get rid of muscle cramps during pregnancy. 

Do banana help with stomach cramps? 

Yes. If you have a bad stomach, a banana can be a quick fix for you. Most people believe that bananas intensify stomach pain. So, people avoid bananas if they are having digestive issues. But, in reality, it is completely the opposite.

Do banana help with stomach cramps
Do banana help with stomach cramps

How does it work? 

Potassium in bananas is a good aid to digestion, a laxative, and a stomach pain reliever. Banana contains pectin which is effective for stomach pain relief. It also helps to stimulate the digestive system and get rid of stomach problems.

Bananas are rich in probiotic carbs. It helps to treat diarrhea, yeast infection, and other digestive issues. So, If you want to get relief from stomach cramps, just have a ripe banana. 

FAQ

Do banana help with foot cramps? 

An arch-related foot cramp may feel like tearing along your foot’s arch. This pain can extend from your ankle to your toe joint, cramps can also affect the top of the foot. A burning or blistering sensation could also be experienced. This cramp can endure from a couple of seconds to roughly fifteen minutes. Having a banana can make you feel better as it is a great source of potassium. 

Do bananas help with pregnancy cramps? 

Yes. Bananas are full of nutrients. If you are pregnant then you may suffer from mineral deficiency. So, you can eat two to three bananas per day to reduce the mineral deficiency and pregnancy cramps. 

Shall I eat a banana if I have stomach pain? 

Yes. It is great for your digestion. Bananas are a good source of probiotics that help to relieve stomach aches. It also helps with diarrhea and yeast infections. 

Does bananas help to make my period regular? 

No. It’ll have nothing to do with regularity. But it contains vitamins, potassium, magnesium, and fiber which help to lessen period cramps. 

Conclusion

Typically, there is nothing to worry about the muscle cramp. It’ll go away on its own. But in the case of pregnancy, you need to be extra conscious and consult with a doctor. 

Though it’s true that banana help to alleviate your pain, everyone’s body is different. The outcome may vary according to your body. However, bananas help to increase the mineral level of your body which is ultimately a good thing! 

I hope you like the blog and get the answer “Do banana help with cramps? ” Thanks for reading! 

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Anmita Das

Blogger and Web Developer

Anmita Das is an EEE graduate from CUET and a dedicated web developer. Alongside her professional work, she has a passion for blogging and enjoys writing on a wide range of topics. Anmita believes in spreading real, reliable information through her blogs, helping readers gain knowledge and insights on various subjects.

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