Muscle cramps are terrible. We know that. Whether one wakes you up in your sleep or stops you on the running track, muscle cramps have the ability to cease all actions until your muscles have relaxed. So what are you to do when one stuns your body? And how do athletes deal with them? Well, the answer may surprise you. More and more athletes are consuming this particular food to prevent muscle cramps. What is it? Spicy foods, drinks and sauces.
According to Who?
Dr. Bruce Bean, 2003 Nobel Prize winner, and Dr. Rod MacKinnon found that muscle stiffness and pain are a nerve issue, not a muscular issue. These doctors theorized that the nervous system may accidentally be firing pulses to your muscles – which is causing the cramping. That explains the random muscle cramps you get from simply sitting on the couch.
How do Spicy Foods Prevent Cramping?
The science is simple behind this one. If you’re neurons are too busy firing off to your mouth, then they won’t have time to bother cramping up your muscles. Dr. MacKinnon found that spicy drinks help prevent these short bursts of muscle cramps. He teamed up with a biotech company to produce a product that can be sold online and found on the shelves at select stores.
The finished product? HOTSHOT, a $5 to $7 drinkable shot mixed with ginger and cinnamon. Ironman champion Craig Alexander is an avid user of the supplement, along with several other Rio-Olympic runners, according to HOTSHOT.
It’s been an education. What i’ve learned from Dr. Rod MacKinnon is quite opposite from what the commonly held beliefs are about cramping. HOTSHOT can definitely be a game changer.” – Craig “Crowie” Alexander
The drink is advertised to not only prevent muscle cramps but to improve muscular performance. It is recommended to drink the supplement 15 to 30 minutes before exercise. If you choose to use it as a treatment, however, it is recommended to drink at the first cramp to feel relief within minutes.
If it’s too pricey for you and you suffer from muscle cramps, you could try using your own hot sauce at home. That, however, isn’t the most scientific idea. Instead, call our office at 801-724-9840 to make an appointment with one of our award-winning doctors.