Ask Jennifer...

I take regular exercise, but get cramp in my legs, usually at night. Why?

This is often a signal of a lack of minerals, especially calcium and magnesium, that are necessary for muscle contraction. Caffeine, alcohol and acidic foods such as pickles and refined convenience foods can leach such minerals from the body. Replenish with chlorophyll greens (watercress, sorrel, kale, rocket, broccoli, spinach, celery), almonds, sesame seeds, brazil nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, dried figs, pulses, beans, canned salmon, millet, brown rice, bananas, avocados and seaweeds (kelp, dulse and nori). Also ensure that you're not dehydrated: drink up to 2.5 litres of water a day. For cramps after heavy exercise, try homeopathic arnica in 6C strength, or rub arnica oil into your legs at night.

I have an underactive thyroid, and am taking thyroxine (100mg). But it does not seem to have much effect. What can I do?

Check the thyroxine dosage with your GP, and tell them that you would also like to use natural products. Include kelp, dulse and nori in your diet, because these seaweeds are rich sources of iodine, which supports thyroid function. Avoid chlorinated or fluorinated water, because this blocks iodine receptors in the thyroid gland. Also, avoid foods known to inhibit iodine utilisation, such as the brassica family (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, sprouts), millet, peanuts, pinenuts. Parsley, carrot and watercress juice is rich in calcium, which is needed for an underactive thyroid.


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