Recently a swimmer of mine thinks he may have come across a cure for cramps.
The cure: It's not scientifically supported or supported by nutritionists in any way, but he has started having a handful of doritos (corn chips) before he swims.
The results: He went from cramping almost every session to not cramping at all after 4-5 weeks of trying this new method.
If you are a constant cramper in the pool, try this out if you like and let me know if it helps, I'd be interested to know!
My guess is that the salt/carbohydrate content of the snack helps him to retain electrolytic balance in the muscles. I know some runners who pound nachos in the middle of an ultra-marathon in order to retain a little water.
I bet your friend would get the same benefit out of any salty snack. Or, since you're in Australia, vege-mite on a cracker.
Sounds like a wonderful excuse for noshing on Doritos. Great. Before I made assumptions about a what a handfull of potato chips is doing for a regular swimmer, I'd have to ask what he's putting in his body for meals. Not that corn chips won't do anything for a guy, but how much is a handful and what is he consuming beside that i.e. breakfast, lunch, dinner, drink. How long before swimming is he eating, etc.
Yeah, I would be a little concerned about his overall diet if he's having this much of a cramping problem, and a handful of chips would just be a temporary coverup of a more significant problem.
Like what Batensmack said, salty snacks are used for endurance athletes where it is nearly impossible to load yourself up with enough carbs/electrolytes/protein/etc. to last the whole thing. But there's no reason a swimmer should have that problem.
Emily, yes it can probably help. As was mentioned above, the elctrolytic effect of the salt is similar to what you receive from pickle juice, gatorade, or other cramp cures. But again, cramps are usually a sign of an overall poor diet or lack of hydration. (unless you're doing some ultra distance events, like a 50 mile swim, or 200 mile run, where it's often inevitable.)
A cure for cramps
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