A elderly friend of mine complained of leg cramps, so I thought it wise to ask about her diet. She revealed that she ate a bowl of fiber and nuts cereal with milk 3 times a week, cottage cheese and fruit twice a week, and scrambled eggs, crumbled cheese and salsa the remaining 2 days.
"This might sound strange," I said, "but you might wish to reduce your dairy intake. Too much dairy can cause build up of lactic acid in your muscles, which contributes to leg cramps. Consider that when we were kids we ate all sorts of junk food and didn't think anything of it until later in life. Because we ate what tasted good but had little to no nutritional value, we were poisoning our systems. Too much dairy has the same effect as a vasoconstrictor that causes leg cramps."
"How did you know this?" she asked.
"Simple. My doctor and I spoke about my health during the pandemic last year when she suggested to walk more often as exercise, take in more fresh air, clean water and sunlight, and eat a balanced nutritious diet, and reduce my processed carbs, fat, sodium, and dairy intake. When asked, "Why dairy?" the doctor replied just what I told you. Ask your primary care doctor. She'll tell you the same thing. It pays to ask to the important questions."
"So, my leg cramps aren't age-related?"
"Oh, of course they are," I said. "Being older also means your body doesn't process lactic acid as quickly anymore, so it builds up, the same way fat builds up in older adults."
"Are you saying I'm fat?"
"No, you're the result of what you put in your own mouth. With proper diet and exercise, you can live a longer and happier life than if you continued doing what you're doing now."
"Hmm," she said. "For a younger man, you're pretty intelligent."
"Thanks for the compliment," I replied, "but I don't wish to toot my own horn. God gave you a gift of life when you were born. If you don't screw it up, you'll live longer."
