Re: hamstring cramps - what a pain...

"although had few weeks break recently"

Well, there ya go!

I have a cramping problem with my calves too...ouch! (and especially if I swim - bigtime frustration).

The glycinate form I took has no calcium and has 100mg per tablet. I was instructed to take three daily until the cramping subsided, and then switch to only 1 or 2 daily (as food intake or stress increases the need). The chiropractor (who studies nutrition and supplementation) I got them from stated, "As the body becomes more sufficient, it should require less, not more." We're already learning that about iodine, so it must hold true of any supplement.

He did tell me that until I learn to eat a "mostly raw diet" (at least 75%), "that includes raw nuts", my need for magnesium supplementation will be DAILY.

He was right...they worked well and worked right away. My need for them decreased. I was soon down to needing only ONE per day. (100mg per tablet) But as long as one has a lot of stress AND continues eating foods that require a lot of work to digest them, then one will be required to take supplements like magnesium.

Like you, I quit taking them too; I found I must take at least one a day for maintenance or I start cramping again.

Because of this fact, I am pushing myself hard right now to eat ONLY nutrient-dense food. I have found that if I stick to mostly raw food (which includes magnesium-dense nuts) my cramping subsides to almost zero.

PS: I used to take the citrate form like Donn advocates. (Yes, it was "Natural Calm") Unfortunately, I learned, over time, that my need for it increased...I kept having to take more

and more

and more

to get the desired effect. This may not hold true for others, but even my DC stated that the body's need for a certain supplement should DEcrease as it becomes sufficient, NOT INcrease! (You still may need to take a maintenance dose, like we need to with iodine). This held true for me, obviously. Tweet