The Top 5 Vitamins & Supplements To Find Relief From Muscle Cramps + Spasms

What Causes Muscle Spasms?

1. Overexercise

One of the most common causes of muscle spasms is muscle fatigue. If you are participating in intense physical activity without giving your muscles time to relax, it can lead to built-up tension and cramps.

2. Dehydration

Since hydration is necessary to maintain proper electrolyte levels, dehydration can lead to imbalances in potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which are essential for muscle function. 

LISTEN NOW: Longevity Secrets, Hydration Hacks, Brain Optimization + Adaptogens with Chervin Jafarieh

3. Not stretching enough 

Stretching is a vital part of your daily exercise routine, but something that often gets overlooked in the name of time. However, failing to stretch before or after any physical activity can increase your risk of muscle spasms, especially for activities that require repetitive muscle contractions.

4. Stress

Chronic stress can affect all aspects of your health, including increasing your likelihood of muscle spasms. In fact, you may find that your eye starts to twitch during periods of heightened stress. This is known as myokymia and is directly linked (1) to chronic stress, with symptoms resolving themselves once your body returns to its normal state of rest.

READ MORE: You Might Be Chronically Stressed: Here Are The 9 Signs To Look Out For

5. Nerve problems

Injuries and inflammation are two things that can put pressure on your nerves that control muscle contractions and lead to muscle spasms. There may also be significant deficiencies in major vitamins and minerals that support healthy nerve function, such as potassium or B vitamins.

6. Pregnancy

According to the American Pregnancy Association, nearly 50% of all pregnant women (2) experience muscle spasms - particularly in the legs - as a result of hormonal changes and the increased strain on their muscles and nerves.

7. Underlying health problems

Certain medical conditions including muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, and metabolic disorders like diabetes can contribute to muscle spasms. In the case of diabetes and other blood sugar problems, these conditions can result in poor circulation that deprives the muscles of oxygen and nutrients, increasing the likelihood of spasms.

READ MORE: 10 Easy Ways To Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Balance

8. Medications

Some medications, like antibiotics and diuretics, can affect muscle function and electrolyte balance. In turn, that increases your risk for muscle spasms.

Best Vitamins For Muscle Cramps And Spasms

“What supplement is best for muscle cramps?” and “What vitamin is lacking with muscle cramps?” are two questions I get asked frequently by my patients and followers alike. There are many supplements for muscle cramps that help alleviate your symptoms and overcome any deficiencies behind spasms.

1. Potassium

Potassium is an electrolyte that helps regulate muscle and nerve function with low potassium levels being linked to muscle spasms. And while you might be tempted to reach for a banana to fulfill your potassium needs, if you are struggling with a deficiency it may not be enough. One banana only contains 420mg of your daily 4,700mg potassium requirement (3), so I recommend adding in a daily supplement alongside eating more potassium-rich foods in order to overcome severe deficiencies.

2. Magnesium

Magnesium is one of my top recommendations if you are dealing with muscle spasms as it is responsible for proper neuromuscular transmission and muscle contraction, but close to 90% (4) of the population is deficient in this nutrient. However, not all magnesium supplements are created equally in terms of bioavailability. That’s why I formulated The Magnesium for my supplement line, The Essentials, to give maximum absorption.

3. Calcium

Calcium is another mineral important for muscle function - particularly muscle contraction - making it one of the best supplements for muscle cramps and overcoming deficiencies.

4. B Vitamins

It’s a great idea to use B vitamins for muscle cramps and spasms, particularly Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and Vitamin B12, which are important for nerve function with some studies showing (5) that B complex supplements, like my supplement B-Better, are beneficial for relieving muscle spasms and cramps.

5. CoQ10

Short for Coenzyme Q10, CoQ10 is an antioxidant that plays a role in cellular energy production. While more research needs to be done, some studies (6) suggest that CoQ10 supplements may help reduce muscle cramps and improve muscle function in certain individuals.

SHOP NOW: The CoQ10 fights off free radicals and boosts your lymphatic flow with bioavailable forms of nutrients. 

How To Prevent Muscle Spasms And Cramps

Ultimately, preventing muscle spasms involves adopting a combination of lifestyle changes and healthy habits. Here are some strategies to help prevent muscle spasms:

1. Stretch before exercise

Make sure to incorporate regular stretching into your daily exercise routine to maintain flexibility and reduce muscle tension. Also, avoid overworking your muscles by giving yourself enough rest days between workouts and gradually warming up before diving right into your most strenuous physical activity.

2. Stay hydrated

Don’t skimp on drinking water throughout your day to avoid dehydration. If you are more physically active, consider adding in an electrolyte supplement like LMNT to your water to ensure you are replenishing the electrolytes you are losing through your sweat.

3. Get a massage

If you struggle with nerve problems or frequent muscle spasms, consider getting regular massages to help relieve built up muscle tension and reduce your risk of spasms.

4. Manage your stress levels

Since chronic stress can contribute to muscle tension and spasms, daily mindfulness practices like breathwork, meditation, or yoga can be beneficial for calming your mind and alleviating overall stress in your life.

LISTEN NOW: Kimberly Snyder: Yogic Science, Cultivating Fearlessness, Overcoming Mental Barriers + Managing Emotions

Finding The Right Supplement Plan For You

Ultimately, finding relief from muscle spasms goes beyond just supplementation and includes taking a whole-body approach. By taking a whole-body approach and looking at both supplements and lifestyle changes, you can start to heal from the inside out. 

If you are struggling with ongoing muscle spasms, it’s important to work with a qualified practitioner who can find the right plan of action for you. In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we help you uncover the root cause behind your symptoms–whether it be an electrolyte imbalance, nutrient deficiency, or stress–in order to identify what healing tools you need to reclaim your health.