Many children, some from as young as three up to teens who are still growing and maturing, experience what is commonly called “growing pains”. Sometimes the pains are short-lived, and other times they may last from several weeks to several months.
Bodies go through tremendous growth throughout childhood and the teenage years.
Growing pains indicate an underlying problem where bones and muscles and the nervous system are short of something needed for growth. As a result some girls and boys may suffer from pain in their joints and/or their muscles. If the body is not getting the nutrients it needs, it will let us know.
The joints will ache due to a lack of nutrients needed to keep the bones strong and the connective tissue limber. The pain is a message from the nervous system that something is wrong.
Nutritional Deficiencies and Dietary Factors
The rapid skeletal growth throughout childhood and puberty places big demands for basic nutrients on the body. Unfortunately, the modern diet with its huge intake of refined carbohydrates (white flour products such as breads, cakes, pastries, etc and all the different sugars) “chew up” and waste much of the useful minerals the child needs.
Additionally, soft drinks, fruits juices and coffee are very often the beverage of choice for many.
This means less water and also less calcium and magnesium because these deplete minerals as the carbonation acts like a vacuum pulling minerals out of the body. So, not only is the diet creating deficiencies (which it can do for a body of any age), but the big demand placed on the body due to the rapid growth is exaggerating them even more.
Handling Symptoms
Trying to handle the symptoms is a losing battle, You have to address the underlying causes, which are:
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basic physical needs
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created deficiencies.
Unless those two things are done the pain will continue to occur and/or intensify.
What To Do
Growing pains are a manifestation of some or other mineral deficiency, most often calcium, magnesium and zinc which need to be taken with the appropriate fish oils (containing vitamins A & D). See below for more about calcium and magnesium.
The secret to handling growing pains is to feed the nerves, bones and muscles what they need to be healthy. Minerals are a very important part of joint and muscle health.
The diet needs healthy sources of protein such as grass-fed beef, beans and eggs (preferably organic) to supply these minerals. Dairy products supply calcium, but if dairy products are not tolerated or are loaded with hormones due to the animal being fed them or if they are not made from raw milk, rather avoid them but be sure to include a lot of leafy greens in the diet such as kale.
In order to better absorb and utilize calcium, the body needs vitamin D. Vitamin D plays a very important part in handling growing pains. A deficiency is known to be a contributing factor to pain and should be checked for when there is ongoing chronic pain. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium from the stomach into the blood and the essential fats are needed to get the calcium into the cells of the body (tissues and bones). Essential fatty acids (EFA’s) are important and one should get a good quality one and enough of it.
Any time you consume oils or fats, be sure to get vitamin E because it is an antioxidant for fats and will make them more effective.
The body repairs itself during deep sleep so adequate, consistent sleep in a dark room with the TV or computer off is needed to help the bones and muscles
Calcium Needs Magnesium
In order for your body to utilize calcium, it needs to be accompanied by its partner, magnesium, in a balanced ratio of two parts calcium to one part magnesium. Calcium contracts your muscles while magnesium relaxes them and that’s a simple explanation of what these two minerals do.
Calcium and Magnesium Need Vitamin C
As both calcium and magnesium are alkaline, they need some kind of acid before they can be absorbed. Failing to have this combination can lead to increased deficiencies of calcium and/or magnesium or the calcium depositing in joints (arthritis) or kidneys (stones). You can use apple cider vinegar too but vitamin C is usually a more practical and better-tasting solution for most.
Why Instant CalMag-C Works
Instant CalMag-C has been formulated in a 2:1 blend of calcium gluconate and magnesium carbonate with vitamin C to adjust the pH so your body can actually absorb the calcium and magnesium. Instant CalMag-C is ready for absorption the minute you make it. It’s almost as if it has been pre-digested.
It is made with boiling water and this is very important as calcium particles are large and the chemical reaction created by dissolving the powder with boiling water breaks them down into smaller, absorbable ones. That’s why it absorbs so rapidly into your body and you can feel the difference, literally in minutes.
Here are some successes from others:
“My kids all play sports and I gave it to them the first few weeks of the track season when their legs were sore from not running for months. My two oldest kids just started a very intense hockey program and have been asking for the Cal-Mag-C! They didn’t believe me at first that it would really help them through the sore muscles when they started track but were amazed at what it did, so now they know and are drinking it after practice! We love it. Thank You!” CS, Minnesota
Disclaimer: Please note that we are not doctors. Should you have any illness or disease, please refer to your medical practitioner for the advice. The only advice we give is purely educational but we do recommend that you find yourself a practitioner who understands nutrition in relation to disease.