Hi, I have written a lot in replies to posts, that people should give up refined sugar and reduce their carbohydrate intake to reduce RLS. This video might give people a greater insight into the importance of diet in combating all sorts of neurological and psychiatric problems. youtu.be/TXlVfwJ6RQU
If you get your diet right you may not eliminate your rls, but, it may highlight your trigger. In my case, sorbate artificial food preservative.
I just wanted to thank you for this! I haven’t yet listened to the whole thing, but the part I have listened to is very interesting!
I have depression as well as RLS. I noticed that I became “happier” once we moved from the States to Norway. My diet is healthier here (not to mention that I get a lot more exercise,) so there is probably a connection there!
The sugar and high carb food is not the only possible cause. E202 preservative also triggers it for me. It's used in an awful lot of processed foods, like margarine, sauces, dips and other 'wet' foods. You may have another trigger, but keeping your carb intake down may help to identify it, won't do you any harm and does a lot of good for general health, as you should have realised if you watched the video. It also affects cardiovascular health. and breathing.
I live on plant based complex carbohydrate nutrition - potatoes, rice, whole grains, corn tortillas, beans, with added veges, fruit and seeds and nuts. No refined carbs. The body and brain run on starch. This keeps RLS down to a manageable set of symptoms I can live with. Switch back or add meat and dairy and things spiral out of control.
Actually the brain runs on glucose derived from the carbs. Dr McDougal isn't wrong, but the way he says things can be misunderstood. Endurance athletes carb load because they burn up the glucose faser than the digestive system can keep up. It's not necessary for normal people to eat a large ammount of carbs. I can ride my bike for four or five hours, and not eat anything different to my normal diet. I'm 65 and produce around 120-130 w on average. Younger elite athletes may be producing nearer 500 w of sustained power. Lesiure riders may only be producing 75 w or less.
The important thing is to keep away from the wrong type of carb, like corn syrup and other refined carbs.
I have zero food triggers, and NEVER touch alcohol. Not everyone is helped by diet, but thanks for posting.
Hi Eryl. Thanks for posting this. I'm still reviewing the video and it's quite fascinating. It also aligns strongly with other research I've been reading. The graph of the 5-hour adrenal effect on teen-agers drinking a sugar drink is quite eye-opening.
Question: Can you describe the method you used to zero in that your trigger was one particular chemical? I'm trying several different methods to get to the root of my RLS, and I suspect some type of food or chemical is at play, so I'm curious as to how you were able to identify the trigger.
Thanks!
Doug
I just happened to notice when the symptoms were missing, and went through all the foods I eat daily. There were a few red herrings, but I eventually realised it was one of the so called 'healthy' margarines, then I checked the ingredients and found the E202 on a list of foods ingredients which regularly cause problems. With the sugar, it was easier as I'd already eliminated the main trigger. Mind you it took some time to realise that it was something as innocuous as sugar.
I don't take any meds for my rls. only for my hypertension. The only thing I add to my diet to try to combat rls is vit b12 and magnesium. Now that I've found that cutting out sugar and limiting refined carbs, I may even try without the magnesium.
Protein sources - I eat lots of fish. The only meat I eat is chicken. I eat couple of eggs a week. Non meat protein sources I eat are haricot beans and chick peas, either in an Indian style curry or as gram flour made into naan bread or made into a batter to coat bhajis and pakoras.
I prefer real butter. And then the healthy oils. My doctor doesn’t believe you should deny yourself real butter and fats from certain cheeses, etc. But of course in limited amount. I’ll agree certain carbs turn into sugar which is not good. I also enjoy legumes.
I’m not trying to debate, this diet has helped me to feel much better. And a lot of carbs not only increase insulin levels, it causes cravings, lethargy, and doesn’t stay in your system long leaving you hungry again.
I only eat real butter as the preservative in margarine gives me rls. All carbohydrates are turned into glucose. Insulin is produced to regulate blood sugar levels by converting glucose into glycogen and fats which are stored in the liver. If you keep on putting more glucose into the blood the body can't handle it and you become diabetic. The diet may have made you feel better, but giving up sugar and limiting starches would make you feel even better. Glucose causes inflammation in the tissues, so giving up sugar can help you absorb nutrients, help breathing and make your muscles move more freely.
Just read your post , very interesting.. will watch the video.. Thank you Eryl
Hi Eryl and thanks for your informative posts. I now think I’m clear on what you don’t eat but could you help me with what you do eat. What’s a typical day for you food wise?
Regards Covenant
I tend to eat rather a monotonous breakfast of porrige oats with a little goats milk followed by a lump of beetroot (for the nitrates) and a couple of rashers of bacon or an avocado and a large mug of real coffee with a little goats milk. For lunch today I had home made vegetable soup made with coconut milk and a cornish pastie, followed by one square of very dark 85% chocolate. and another standard sized mug of instant coffee, later on I'll have a couple of mugs of tea (with goats milk), For my evening meal I'll probably have a stir fry made with lots of veg (a lot of them leafy green) and a little chicken and a small portion of brown rice, followed by an apple and a couple of mugs of tea. I tend to be a creature of habit so I have stir fries 3-4 times a week, itherwise my evening meal miht be an omlette with chips peas and leafy green veg (spinach or kale) or fish with chips peas and leafy green veg. Sometimes my stir fry is more like a Thai red chicken curry with extra veg or is made with mackerel, lime juice and sou sauce. Some days lunch may be baked potato with beans.
Many thanks Eryl that helps a lot. Do you find yourself food shopping at specialist outlets or are you just very selective at the supermarket?
Just selctive at supermarkets. There are some aisles I only use as shortcuts.
Thank you for posting this video. Very engaging, useful, and intriguing information. Plus, Dr. Ede is a talented presenter. Food for thought (pun intended). Cheers!
Dr Chris Palmer has found the same thing. You can check out his videos on Youtube as well.
I have since found that the basic mecanism is inflamed nerves and the cause can be sorbate food preservatives, raised levels of insulin due to a diet high in carbohydrate especially refined ones which have a high G.I. and cause a spike in insulin, Other causes can be refined seed oils, oxylates and nightshades.
Is FODMAP diet useful for RLS even if no digestive issues?
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