If you’ve ever had muscle spasms or muscle cramps, you know they can be extremely painful. In some cases, a muscle may spasm so forcefully that it results in a bruise on the skin. Most muscle spasms and cramps are involuntary contractions of a muscle. A serious muscle spasm doesn’t release on its own and requires manual stretching to help relax and lengthen the shortened muscle. Spasms and cramps can be mild or extremely painful.

While they can happen to any skeletal muscle, they are most common in the legs and feet and muscles that cross two joints (the calf muscle, for example). Cramps can involve part of a muscle or all the muscles in a group. The most commonly affected muscle groups are:

• Back of lower leg/calf (gastrocnemius).
• Back of thigh (hamstrings).
• Front of thigh (quadriceps).
• Feet, hands, arms, abdomen

Muscle cramps range in intensity from a slight twitch or tic to severe pain. A cramped muscle can feel rock-hard and last a few seconds to several minutes or longer. It is not uncommon for cramps to ease up and then return several times before they go away entirely.

What Causes Muscle Cramps

The exact cause of muscle cramps is still unknown, but the theories most commonly cited include:

• Altered neuromuscular control
• Dehydration
• Electrolyte depletion
• Poor conditioning
• Muscle fatigue
• Doing a new activity

Other factors that have been associated with muscle cramps include exercising in extreme heat.

The belief is that muscle cramps are more common during exercise in the heat because sweat contains fluids as well as electrolyte (salt, potassium, magnesium and calcium). When these nutrients fall to certain levels, the incidence of muscle spasms increases. Because athletes are more likely to get cramps in the preseason, near the end of (or the night after) intense or prolonged exercise, some feel that a lack of conditioning results in cramps.

Research Supports Altered Neuromuscular Control as the Cause of Cramps

While all these theories are being studied, researchers are finding more evidence that the “altered neuromuscular control” hypothesis is the principal pathophysiological mechanism the leads to exercise-associated muscle cramping (EAMC). Altered neuromuscular control is often related to muscle fatigue and results in a disruption of muscle coordination and control.

According to a review of the literature conducted by Martin Schwellnus from the University of Cape Town, the evidence supporting both the “electrolyte depletion” and “dehydration” hypotheses as the cause of muscle cramps is not convincing. He reviewed the available literature supporting these theories and found mostly anecdotal clinical observations and one small case-control study with only 10 subjects. He also found another four clinical prospective cohort studies that clearly did not support the “electrolyte depletion” and “dehydration” hypotheses as the cause of muscle cramps. In his review, Schwellnus concludes that the “electrolyte depletion” and “dehydration” hypotheses do not offer plausible pathophysiological mechanisms with supporting scientific evidence that could adequately explain the clinical presentation and management of exercise-associated muscle cramping.

He goes on to write:

“Scientific evidence for the “altered neuromuscular control” hypothesis is based on evidence from research studies in human models of muscle cramping, epidemiological studies in cramping athletes, and animal experimental data. Whilst it is clear that further evidence to support the “altered neuromuscular control” hypothesis is also required, research data are accumulating that support this as the principal pathophysiological mechanism for the aetiology of exercise-associated muscle cramping (EAMC).”

Treating Muscle Cramps

Cramps usually go away on their own without treatment, but these tips appear to help speed the healing process:

Preventing Muscle Cramps

Until we learn the exact cause of muscle cramps, it will be difficult to say with any confidence how to prevent them. However, these tips are most recommended by experts and athletes alike:

Most muscle cramps are not serious. If your muscle cramps are severe, frequent, constant or of concern, see your doctor.

_Sources:

_{Cause of Exercise Associated Muscle Cramps (EAMC) – altered neuromuscular control, dehydration or electrolyte depletion? M. P. Schwellnus. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2009; 43:401-408.}

_{Muscle Cramp. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00200.}

• Stop the activity that caused the cramp.
• Gently stretch and massage the cramping muscle.
• Hold the joint in a stretched position until the cramp stops.
• Improve fitness and avoid muscle fatigue
• Stretch regularly after exercise
• Warm up before exercise
• Stretch the calf muscle: In a standing lunge with both feet pointed forward, straighten the rear leg.
• Stretch the hamstring muscle: Sit with one leg folded in and the other straight out, foot upright and toes and ankle relaxed. Lean forward slightly, touch foot of straightened leg. (Repeat with opposite leg.)
• Stretch the quadriceps muscle: While standing, hold top of foot with opposite hand and gently pull heel toward buttocks. (Repeat with opposite leg.)

I’m a big proponent of eating lots of protein. It’s a vital nutrient for our bodies, and it’s also a fantastic hunger buster. However, steak and burgers aren’t your only options. I’m Hungry Girl Lisa Lillien, and I have seven sources of protein that aren’t meat!

Why Is Protein Important?

Protein is a crucial macronutrient, and it’s found in many healthy and delicious foods. Most people know that meat is a protein, but some other protein sources might surprise you.

If you’ve heard the term “complete protein” (one with all nine amino acids that our bodies need) and are concerned that some of these sources may not be complete, have no fear! If you incorporate a variety of incomplete proteins into your diet, you’re likely to get all the aminos you need. Here are some of my favorite non-meat protein sources.

1. Greek Yogurt

Yogurt was never the star player on team protein until Greek yogurt entered the game. This yogurt is strained differently from regular dairy yogurt, so it retains more protein and less sugar. Plus, it has a thicker consistency. Plain Greek yogurt has about 24 grams of protein per cup. Impressive! Wondering how to enjoy this miracle food? Zazzle it up!

And for an easy breakfast bowl that you’ll flip for, check this out. Make it in a jar if you want to take it to go.

Peach Mango Bowl
Entire recipe: 323 calories, 7.5g total fat (0.5g sat fat), 124mg sodium, 53g carbs, 12.5g fiber, 32g sugars, 23.5g protein

1. In a medium bowl, mix 6 ounces (about 2/3 cup) fat-free plain Greek yogurt, 1 no-calorie sweetener packet (like Truvia), and a dash of cinnamon.

2. Top yogurt with 1 cup chopped peach and 1/2 cup chopped mango (both fresh or thawed from frozen), followed by 1/4 cup high-fiber bran cereal, and 1/2 ounces (about 2 tablespoons) chopped pistachios.

2. Beans

Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart, if it’s protein you’re after, eating beans is smart! Black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans are all good sources of protein, with around 12.5 grams per cup. Add them to salads, egg scrambles, and steamed veggies. Bonus: They’re good for weight loss!

3. Tuna

Make fish a part of your weekly menu. Tuna contains about 25 grams of protein per 4-ounce portion. (Salmon too!) If cost is a concern, canned/pouched tuna is a smart way to get that protein for less. It’s fantastic on salads, whole-grain crackers, and in this healthy noodle casserole.

Rockin’ Tuna Noodle Casserole
1/4th of casserole: 167 calories, 5g total fat (1g sat fat), 882mg sodium, 14g carbs, 4g fiber, 2g sugars, 16.5g protein

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8” x 8” baking pan with nonstick spray.

2. Drain and rinse 3 bags of House Foods Tofu Shirataki Fettuccine Shaped Noodle Substitute. Thoroughly pat dry, and roughly cut. Microwave for 1 minute, and pat dry again.

3. Add 1 wedge of The Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss Light cheese, breaking it into pieces. Microwave for 30 seconds, or until melted, and mix well.

4. Drain and flake a 6-ounce can of albacore tuna packed in water.

Stir tuna into the noodles, along with 1/2 cup frozen peas, a 10.75-ounce can of 98 percent fat-free cream of mushroom condensed soup, and 1 tablespoon Parmesan-style grated topping. Transfer mixture to the baking pan.

5. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons Parm-style topping. Bake until hot and bubbly, 20 to 25 minutes.

If it’s salmon you’re looking for, did you know that you can prepare salmon baked in a packet of foil?

4. (Green) Soybeans

The king of beans by far is the soybean. Unlike other beans, it’s a complete protein! Mature raw soybeans contain a whopping 22 grams of protein per cup, and raw edamame has about 33 grams per cup.

 They make a perfect snack, and edamame is the first thing I order when I go out for sushi (which is often!). It’s one of my sushi dos!

5. Lentils

Another stellar source of protein is the mighty lentil. Lentils taste great and are nutritional powerhouses. One cooked cup has about 18 grams of protein. Just like beans, they can be eaten solo, made into dips, paired with chicken or fish, stuffed into potatoes, added to soups, and tossed with veggies or rice. For convenience, you can buy them already prepared. I love the ones from Trader Joe’s!

6. Meat Substitutes: Tofu, Seitan & Tempeh

You probably know about tofu, but if you haven’t heard about seitan and tempeh, you’re missing out. All of these contain a good dose of protein; seitan contains the most, with about 18 grams per 3-ounce portion. Seiten is a wheat gluten with a chewy, meaty texture. Tempeh is a soy product (like tofu). It differs from tofu in that it’s fermented and more flavorful, and it has a crumblier texture. Try them all and choose your favorite. Here’s an easy recipe made with tofu, but feel free to swap in one of the others!

Turbo Tofu Stir-Fry
1/4th of recipe (about 1 1/3 cups): 189 calories, 6.5g total fat (0.5g sat fat), 768mg sodium, 16.5g carbs, 4g fiber, 7g sugars, 13g protein

1. Drain a 12-ounce package of block-style extra-firm tofu, and lay it on a dry surface, with the shorter sides on the left and right. Vertically cut into 1/2-inch-wide pieces. Horizontally cut each piece into 4 smaller pieces.

2. To make the sauce, in a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium/lite soy sauce, 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, a dash of ginger, and a dash of red pepper flakes. Whisk until cornstarch has dissolved.

3. Bring a skillet sprayed with nonstick spray to high heat. Add tofu and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt. Cook until golden brown, about 6 minutes, gently flipping to evenly brown. Transfer to a large bowl, and cover to keep warm.

4. Add the following ingredients to the skillet: 4 cups frozen stir-fry vegetables, 3 cups frozen broccoli florets, and 1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic. Cover and cook until hot, about 5 minutes.

5. Give the sauce mixture a stir and add to the skillet, along with the tofu. Cook and stir until sauce has thickened slightly and tofu is hot, about 3 minutes.

7. Eggs

You get 6 grams of protein from just one large egg! The egg whites contain a bit more protein than the yolk, and I often skip the yolks to save calories. Have eggs for breakfast to keep yourself satisfied until lunch. That’s the protein working for you! Eggs can even be beneficial if you’re trying to lose weight, so why not get creative with them? Top a savory spinach and feta oatmeal bowl with one, or mix them up with veggies for an easy Mexican scramble.

For more guilt-free recipes, food finds, tips ‘n tricks, and more, sign up for free daily emails or visit hungry-girl.com!

Is coconut milk healthy? The creamy liquid is a popular ingredient in soups, exotic drinks, and some health foods. But if you’re trying to watch your weight or reduce your fat intake, you might want to pay attention to coconut milk calories and nutrition. Then decide if the beverage is right for you.

To understand coconut milk nutrition it’s important to understand what coconut milk is. It is not the liquid that you see right away when you open a coconut. Coconut milk is created when the meat of the coconut is grated and pressed. The fatty cream that results is sometimes blended with water to create coconut milk. Like dairy milk, coconut milk can be higher in fat or lower in fat depending on how it is blended.

Coconut milk nutrition depends on the variety and brand that you buy (or make at home).  Natural coconut milk has a higher fat content because it hasn’t been blended with other ingredients. One cup of unsweetened coconut milk (coconut cream) provides 560 calories, almost 58 grams of fat and over 51 grams of saturated fat.

But you may not use an entire cup of this kind of coconut milk. If you use it as cream in your coffee, and consume just a tablespoon of the creamy treat, you’ll only consume 35 calories and under 4 grams of fat (as indicated on the label).

So what about the low-calorie coconut milk brands that you see in the grocery store? Those coconut milk products are blended with water and other ingredients (like sugar) to make the beverage. Silk Original Coconutmilk provides 80 calories per cup, 5 grams of fat and 4.5 grams of saturated fat. Pacific Organic Coconut Non-Dairy Beverage is even lower in fat and calories with just 45 calories per cup, 4 grams of fat and 4 grams of saturated fat.

Health Benefits of Coconut Milk

Some diet experts promote the health benefits of coconut milk. They say that real coconut milk (not blended with sugar and other ingredients), coconut cream, and coconut oil contain high levels of lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid. Some believe that lauric acid can have positive effects on your “good” HDL cholesterol.

But a large review of research studies was not able to confirm that claim. Researchers found that coconut oil can raise total and “bad” LDL cholesterol more than plant-based oils, but less than butter. They went on to say that consuming certain coconut products did not seem to increase the chances of heart problems. But they also cautioned that their findings probably weren’t applicable to a typical Western diet because of our eating habits and lifestyle.

So where does that leave you? Large health organizations like the USDA still recommend that we reduce our intake of saturated fat. Since coconut milk is very high in saturated fat, you may want to limit your intake of coconut milk.

Buying and Storing Coconut Milk

You’ll find coconut milk in different sections of the grocery store. You’ll find some brands of coconut milk beverages in the dairy aisle next to almond milk, soy milk, and other milk alternatives.

But you’ll also find coconut milk in cans in the baking or canned fruit section.

So what’s the difference? Coconut milk in cans is usually thicker, creamier and is often used in recipes. Most brands of canned coconut milk are unsweetened. The product in the dairy aisle might be thinner, may have added sugars or other ingredients and is often used instead of milk.

Cartons of coconut milk should be stored in the refrigerator according to manufacturer instructions and use by the “best by” date that you see stamped on the package. Coconut milk in cans can be stored in the pantry. But once opened, the milk should be refrigerated and used within a few days of opening.

Most manufacturers do not recommend freezing coconut milk.

Cooking With Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is commonly used in foods that are popular in southeast Asia. It is often included in curry sauces, it may be used to flavor rice or in seafood stews. Coconut milk is also a popular beverage and is often used as an ingredient in creamy drinks such as the pina colada.

Vegetables are encouraged when you are on a low-carb diet. But as with most food groups, some vegetables are a better choice than others. Most non-starchy vegetables are very low in carbohydrate, with less than 5 grams in a half-cup serving.

How Can You Tell If a Vegetable Is Low-Carb?

To determine whether a vegetable isn’t starchy and would be good for a low-carb diet, you can look up the nutrition data.

In 1/2 cup cooked or 1 cup raw, it would have no more than 5-6 grams carbohydrate, as well as 3 grams fiber, 0.5-2 grams protein, and 0 grams fat. To find the effective (net) carbs, subtract the fiber grams from the total carbohydrates.

You may find it easier to remember which vegetables are more likely to be low in carbohydrates by thinking of them in four groups based on the part of the plant they come from. There are exceptions, but as a general rule, this works pretty well.

Leafy Vegetables: Lowest in Carbs

Leaves have the least amount of carbohydrate, and what little is in them is wrapped in so much fiber that there is minimal impact on blood sugar. This could be helped by the fact that they are good sources of vitamin K. They are also rich in phytonutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Examples of leafy vegetables include:

• Alfalfa sprouts and other sprouts from small seeds have 0.1 grams effective (net) carbohydrates and only 8 calories per cup. But bean sprouts are not as low in carbs. They would end up on the high end of this list.

• Lettuce and salad greens such as endive, escarole, radicchio, romaine, and baby spinach that you usually eat fresh are the next lowest in carbs, although they have less fiber than heartier greens.
• Spinach and Swiss chard may be eaten fresh or cooked. They are very low in net carbs, with 0.2  and 0.4 grams in a 1/2 cup serving, respectively.

• Hearty greens such as collard greens, mustard greens, and kale have many vitamins and nutrients and are low in carbs.
• Herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil, rosemary, and thyme are low in carbs.
• Bok choy (Chinese cabbage) is very low in carbs at 0.5 grams per 1/2 cup raw, chopped bok choy.

Stems and Flowers

Stems and flowers are usually a little higher in carbohydrates than the leaves, but still low enough for most low-carb diets. Examples of stems and flowers, from lowest in carbs to higher:

• Bamboo shoots: Canned bamboo shoots are high in fiber, so a 1/2 cup serving has 1.2 grams net carbs.
• Celery: It’s a staple as a low-carb and low-calorie crunchy vegetable. Due to the high fiber content, there are 0.7 grams of net carbs in 1/2 cup chopped raw celery.
• Seaweed, such as nori, is very low in carbs, although it varies by type of seaweed.
• Mushrooms: They are very low in carbohydrate, and you can use them in many dishes, even grilling them and substituting a portobello mushroom for a hamburger.
• Cabbage: It’s high in nutrition and fiber, and you can make your dish colorful with red or purple varieties. You can enjoy cabbage cooked, raw, or fermented into sauerkraut.
• Asparagus: This versatile and elegant spring vegetable is high in fiber, bringing down its net carbs.

• Fennel: It has 2 grams of net carbs in 1/2 cup, and you can use it in salads or as an onion substitute in cooked dishes, with fewer carbs than onions.
• Cauliflower: With 2.5 grams of carbs in 1/2 cup of cooked cauliflower, it’s a great substitute for root vegetables such as potatoes and starches such as rice.
• Broccoli: While broccoli has a few more carbs, it balances them with lots of fiber.
• Brussels Sprouts: These are on the higher side for carbs compared with the other “stems” at 5.5 grams per half cup, cooked.
• Artichoke: These are high in fiber, but rank higher in carbs than the other “flowers” and are lower in carbs than all of the “fruits” in the next grouping.

Fruits (Vegetables That Contain the Seeds of the Plant)

The part of the plant that contains seeds is, botanically, the fruit of the plant, although we tend to only call things a fruit if they are sweet. You can identify these if you note the seeds when you cut them open. This group includes peppers, squashes of all types, green beans, tomatoes, okra, and eggplant. Avocado is also a fruit, though lower in carbs than the others. Plantains have the most carbs in this category, which makes sense, as bananas are among the highest-carb fruits.

• Avocado: A 1/2 cup of California avocado has 1 gram effective (net) carbohydrate, plus 5 grams fiber and 120 calories.
• Okra: A 1/2 cup serving has 2 grams of net carbs, 2 of grams fiber, and 16 calories.
• Cucumbers and pickles with no added sugar: While they have only 1.9 grams of carbohydrates per 1/2 cup, they also are very low in fiber.
• Green beans and wax beans: A 1/2 cup serving has 2 grams of effective (net) carbohydrate plus 2 grams of fiber and 17 calories.
• Peppers, like green bell peppers, red bell peppers, jalapeno peppers. These vary as the red peppers are indeed sweeter and higher in carbohydrates, but still low enough in net carbs to place in this position on the list.
• Summer squash and zucchini: These are very low in net carbs and versatile to use in recipes, including making “zoodles” with a spiralizer to substitute for or extend high-carb pasta.
• Snow peas, snap peas, and pea pods: These often taste sweet and can be enjoyable as a snack or added to a salad or stir-fry. In a 1/2 cup serving, they have 5.25 grams of carbs and 1.5 grams of fiber.
• Tomatoes: A small tomato has 3.5 grams of carbs and 1.1 grams of fiber.
• Eggplant: This vegetable can take the place of starchier choices, and has only 2.4 grams of carbs in 1/2 cup of cubes.
• Tomatillos: These can be used in many south-of-the-border recipes and salsas.

In this group, those with higher carbs are pumpkins and winter squash and spaghetti squash.

Roots and Seeds

This category has the most variation, although in general, root vegetables will be higher in carbs. First, these are the roots that are actually low in carbs and would be a good choice for a low-carb diet.

• Radishes: These darlings of the spring garden are very easy to grow. They have 1 gram net carbs, 1 gram fiber, and 9 calories in a 1/2 cup serving.
• Jicama: 1/2 cup of raw jicama slices has 2.25 grams of effective (net) carb plus 3 grams of fiber and 23 calories

Root vegetables that aren’t low, but also aren’t especially high in carbs include:

• Green onions (scallions): These combine the leaf/stem with the root and so they are lower in carbs, with 3 grams of net carb and 1.5 grams fiber in 1/2 cup chopped raw scallions. That gives green onions the edge over white or red onions, which are only the “root” portion and therefore higher in carbs.
• Turnips: 1/2 cup raw turnip has 3 grams of effective (net) carbohydrate plus 1 gram of fiber and 18 calories
• Rutabagas: These have 4 grams of net carbs in a 1/2 cup serving.
• Celery root (celeriac): 1/2 cup raw celeriac has 4 grams net carbs and 1 gram fiber.
• Carrots: There are 4 grams of net carbs in 1/2 cup chopped, raw carrot. But often carrots are moved to the “higher carb” list for low-carb diets.
• Onions: In a 1/2 cup serving, there are 5 grams of carbohydrate, but only about 1 gram of fiber.
• Leeks: In a 1/2 cup serving, there are 6.5 grams of net carbs.
• Water chestnuts (canned): Canned water chestnuts have 7 grams of net carbs in a 1/2 cup serving, while chopped fresh water chestnuts have 13 grams.

Meanwhile, many root vegetables end up on the high-carb list, including carrots, beets, winter squash, fresh water chestnuts, parsnips, and potatoes.

Higher-Carb Vegetables

The most problematic vegetables that should generally be avoided when reducing carbohydrates are the starchier and sweeter vegetables.

• Carrots: Some low-carb diets say to avoid carrots, although they have fewer carbs than the others below
• Beets: In 1/2 cup raw, there are 5.6 grams of net carbs.
• Peas: In 1/2 cup frozen, cooked peas there is a little less than 5 grams of net carbs.
• Winter squashes, such as acorn and butternut:  In 1/2 cup cooked squash, there are 10 grams of net carbohydrate plus 2 grams of fiber. It’s lower for raw squash.
• Water chestnuts (fresh, chopped): These are higher in carbs than the canned water chestnuts, moving them into the high category.
• Parsnips: A 1/2 cup raw serving has 9 grams effective (net) carbohydrate plus 3 grams fiber and 50 calories.
• Potatoes:. Raw potato has 12 grams of net carbs and 2 grams of fiber in 1/2 cup. Cooked, plain potato it has over 14 grams of net carbs for 1/2 cup.
• Sweet potatoes: A half cup of mashed, baked sweet potato has over 17 grams of net carbs.
• Corn: A 1/2 cup serving of cooked corn has 12 grams of net carbs.
• Plantains: A 1/2 cup serving of boiled plantain has over 27 grams of net carbs.

How to Add Low-Carb Vegetables to Your Diet

Most people double or triple the number of vegetables they eat when they change to a low-carb diet. If you are not used to eating a lot of veggies, be mindful of starch traps and try low-substitutes for starchy foods, such as mashed cauliflower, cauliflower “rice,” spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, and cauliflower “potato” salad.

People on low-carb diets also tend to eat more salads. For example, instead of a chicken sandwich, you can have the chicken on top of a salad, taco salad, Thai-style chicken salad, and other low-carb salads and salad dressings.

If you are considering using organic or non-organic vegetables, keep in mind that some vegetables are more likely to have been cultivated with more pesticides than others.

The vegetable world is plentiful and feeling comfortable handling and preparing vegetables goes a long way to a successful low-carb diet plan. There is a multitude of low-carb vegetable recipes, such as this easy spinach casserole, and fantastic low-carb side dishes such as a low-carb cole slaw.

What About Fruits?

Fruits are generally handled in a different food group because of the natural sugars in fruits that normally increase the carbohydrate load. But, like vegetables, there is are some low-carb fruit options. Fruits do not have to be written off in a low-carb diet. Moderation is key.

A Word From Verywell

Enjoying a low-carb diet can introduce you to new ways to use leafy vegetables and stem vegetables to substitute for starchy vegetables. Make one-third to one-half of your plate from low-carb vegetables, and you’ll be excited by the colors, textures, and flavor.

Sources:

Non-starchy vegetables. American Diabetes Assoctiation. http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/what-can-i-eat/making-healthy-food-choices/non-starchy-vegetables.html

USDA Food Composition Databases. USDA. https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/.

Why is it important to eat vegetables. ChooseMyPlate.gov USDA. http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/vegetables-why.html