I am now confused. FODMAP diet seems to be a favourite on here and I follow that because of ibs. Most veg on there are carbs with only a few greens. People also favour Atkins which is no carbs
I know we are all different but had anyone done a study on diets
There don’t appear to be any official studies on diet for RLS. The only official studies I am aware of are for IBS which is strange because a lot of diseases seem to respond well to a change in diet.
I followed a very strict paleo diet ( and also adapted it to exclude anything that wasn’t low FODMAPS ) for over a year and it didn’t help or improve my RLS one little bit. About 2/3 months ago I started to try the odd treat, like a cake, a biscuit, some avocado and some garlic and my RLS actually improved.
I really believe that diet helps a lot of people with RLS but I’m proof that there are some people for whom it makes no difference.
I think you have to keep a food diary to notice any triggers.
Kept so many diaries but there never seems to be a pattern. Will try diary again in Jan when back to routines
If dopamine levels affect rls - then maybe pleasurable activities ( such as nice treats etc- but not too much) increase dopamine and lessen rls?
Just wondering!😆
Yep, I wondered that myself. I’ll just have to keep having the odd sweet treat ( especially at this time of year).
I agree, pleasant thoughts or experiences boost dopamine levels. One theory for RLS is low dopamine levels in the brain, that's why dopamine-agonist drugs are effective. However, taking these can cause the body to respond by reducing the amount of dopamine it produces. Increased dosage helps for a while then the process repeats itself. This is augmentation.
Several years ago a friend of my daughter who was a hypnotist visited her from abroad. During her stay I got 3 free sessions. I was hypnotised so that if I felt RLS coming on my mind would immediately fill with happy occasions, typically, a lovely country view from a recent walk. It was successful and for a week my RLS just did not develop, then the effect wore off. By this time she had returned home.
She also taught me how to do self-hypnosis but this was not successful because it involves emptying the mind of all thoughts before implanting the new responses. This actually triggered RLS for me. This explains why, e.g. watching TV - which is a non-interactive condition, will cause RLS (with me).
This all makes sense to me because all pain must originate in the brain and activity, either physical or mental, tends to dilute pain. Have you ever cut yourself while doing gardening or DIY or times of deep concentration and not felt anything but as soon as you are aware of the injury pain is felt?
Hypnosis is quite expensive and I have not followed it up, I am just keeping it in mind in case of need in the future. I am doing fine on CBD Oil at the moment.
If i thought that, i would be eating chocolate cake all day. 
I haven't tried any 'official' diets, but have found that my RLS is diet related. I find that my RLS is rare when I keep away from sweet foods later in the day, when I'm more sedentary. Going out on bike rides means that I can treat myself to a cake in the café 
. Because of that I'd favour the Atkins diet if I were to follow one.
It's great to do a months food diary as I've definitely learnt to keep off the Wheat more. Lots of white processed Wheat based foods sets it off. I've also got my sugar level down really low as that sets it off, especially too many triggers in one day. I can eat two slices of seeded brown bread in a morning and half a yogurt flapjack slice in the afternoon but if I then add biscuits, or crisps with Paprika in or too much Branston pickle it's too many triggers in one day. If I have a bad night I can usually look back and see what was too much in my diet.
Like Jules I have failed to identify a link between diet and rls. I do find that if I eat less in the later part of the day and go to bed quite hungry the legs can sometimes be a little less severe. It could be that the drugs are more effective on an empty stomach ... or maybe it's the rush of dopamine I get when I contemplate a flatter stomach in the morning.
Love your comments about flat tum. I find if I go to bed hungry I can’t sleep and legs worse. Mind you I am one of those odd pry who finds diazepam keeps me awake and makes me more anxious. Opposite of desired effect. Was given in hospital and didn’t sleep for days
Diazepam is one i haven’t tried. I would be very anxious that I would fall into the category of people who find it impossible to discontinue. Mind you if it had such a disastrous effect on you perhaps it’d be wonderful for me given our diametrically opposite reaction to the hungry bedtime proposition!
Low fodmap diet works!!!
Anti-inflammatory diet
A restricted diet is working for me
Diet and RLS
RLS and caffeine diet Pepsi
