Q&A for How to Cure Stomach Cramps

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What foods cause stomach cramps?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Every person is different but foods that are more common for causing cramps include dairy, legumes such as chick peas, beans and lentils, cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli and cabbage, popcorn, plus spicy or greasy deep fried foods. Pay attention to when you get cramps and try to recollect what foods you've consumed recently to nail down the offending substance.

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Question

I have gotten severe cramps in my stomach due to exercising a lot. What can I do?

Michele Dolan
Certified Fitness Trainer
Michele Dolan is a Fitness Trainer based in Sidney, British Columbia. She has been a personal trainer and fitness instructor since 2002, and was certified as a Personal Trainer by the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA). Michele is also a Registered Clinical Counselor, and uses her 20+ years of fitness coaching experience to help clients understand their mind-body connection. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Certified Clinical Counsellor (CCC), certified by the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association. In her work, Michele uses the tools of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectic Behavior Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. She practices and teaches mindfulness and acceptance in all of her coaching work. She holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology.

Michele Dolan

Certified Fitness Trainer

Expert Answer

Cramps from overdoing exercise can be caused by several things; including dehydration, overuse of muscles, poor posture, gravity pulling abdominal muscles downward, and deficiencies in minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium. Slow down or stop the exercise, take some sips of diluted sports drink, raise your arms above your head and take long slow deep breaths. In the future, stay hydrated, bring fluids along with you when exercising, and keep the exercise less intense so you can work up your fitness level more gradually and your body can adjust to the exercise. If the cramps persevere for longer than a few weeks, or become severe, seek medical attention.

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Question

Would avoiding FODMAPs help cramps?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Food sensitivities, as well as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), are often the cause of stomach cramps. When you have SIBO and eat FODMAP- rich foods the bad bacteria in your intestine overproduce gas leading to cramps. You may want to try an elimination diet or at least start with low FODMAP diet and see if your symptoms of gas, bloating and cramps improve.

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Question

What do I do if I have had stomach cramps for several days?

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006.

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS

Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

It might be best to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to evaluate the root cause of your stomach cramps.

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