The dopamine diet

[janland]

Hi everyone..

Restless legs syndrome is a terrible affliction.. I've lived with it for several years on and off .

Dare I say it..but this summer it sort of "went away"..and I'm putting it down to the foods I eat or don't eat..

I've never taken medication for it as I'm afraid of augmentation...so am trying a natural approach.

As far as possible I'm eating non processed simple foods ..I have cut out dairy somewhat..but use goats milk and especially take a lot of kefir and probiotic yogurt each day..but no bottles of milk as such.

In coffee using oatley barista which is really nice.. hardly any cheese..but vegetables..some meat and hardly any carbs apart from a sandwich once a week perhaps and the odd slice of cake for a treat..

The other thing I've noticed..it "went away" as the summer started..if this has anything to do with it..I'm not sure..?

I wish I knew what has given me this relief from one of the most dreadful afflictions..

Another thing..I'm only having half levothyroxine meds now for thyroid..

Mabe this has helped..

But in the main..the dopamine diet..to boost levels..more sunshine. more probiotics.....less dairy and carbs .

No processed stuff.

Worth a try isn't it..

[Joolsg]

Really pleased to hear that. Many people have reported that diet has helped their RLS. There have also been studies linking gut bacteria to RLS so altering diet and adding pre- biotics like kefir can improve the good bacteria.

I notice my RLS is worse in summer in warm weather- weird that we all seem to respond differently to weather.

Long may the relief from RLS continue.

[janland in reply to Joolsg]

Thank you joolsg..

Yes..it might be to do with probiotics..

I've read the book by Michael Moseley..and I really believe that the gut/brain axis is very important and real.

I so sympathize with people who have the condition of rls.

[Hidden in reply to janland]

Hi Janland. Great to hear your RLS went away. You mention many factors so it's hard to say which if these has helped. It could be all of them.

I do know that natural daylight, (not necessarily "sunshine") is THE thing which regulates our circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms are consequently different between summer and winter. Particularly sleep patterns.

RLS is a "circadian disorder". So it's highly likely that light long days relieve RLS. BUT not the heat, sorry Jools.

You can of course carry on the diet during the winter. You might think about how you can increase your exposure to light in the winter.

I suggest you Google "SADS lamps"

[janland in reply to Hidden]

Hi.. thank you for replying..

I actually didn't realize rls was a circadian affliction..

So today iv researched more about that and apparently there's a big connection..

and melatonin isn't good for rls..

but folic acid is and iron.. magnesium..and vit B12..the latter of which I knew about...

My rls has really "gone" this summer..and of course I'm sleeping so much better..it's like a miracle actually.

Also knee and hip osteoarthritis hasn't given any pain..so I'm attributing this to the summer weather as well.. less low pressure..

I'm always very careful about eating good pure food as much as possible..

But as I say.. I've cut down on dairy and carbs...and concentrating on "dopamine" foods.

Still have to take levothyroxine though..

Best wishes

[Hidden in reply to janland]

No you can't stop the thyroxine. RLS can also be caused by low thyroxine.

[averysgigi51]

thank you.. worth trying

[Hidden]

Can i just point out that we have enough dopamine. It could be that what you are doing is stopping the triggers of your RLS you may have had. Now here is a thought, which i maybe shouldnt have had after a night of rubbish sleep. Any one think the food diet thing, is allowing our receptors which are at fault to work better. ? ? ? Altho i cant say that any food i eat makes my RLS any different, not worse or better. Need a nap so my brain doesnt think of weird ideas. Oh and the heat in the summer makes my RLS worse at night.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

If someone produced a weighted blanket that cooled you, vibrated and connected you to earth they might make a million!

[fchrist in reply to Hidden]

Awesome idea. Makes me happy just thinking about it.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Do you need a nap too, so you dont come up with weird idea's..?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Some people put ingredients together and make a cake.

I put ideas together and make -

something.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Something is better than nothing, where RLS is concerned. It might be just what we are all waiting for. I love to make cakes. !

[Not-methadone-addict in reply to Hidden]

I want to put all our suffering together and make like a virtual reality type thing that makes doctors feel what restless legs syndrome feels like 🤨.

I think it would be essential for proper treatment, especially for those doctors that don’t take it seriously.

Anyone want to help me make it 🙃?!

Sus

[involuntarydancer]

Thanks for posting janland. I too found when I adopted a very restrictive diet, combined with resistence training, the severity of my rls seemed to reduce.

Can I also commend you for saying "gone" in parenthesis. I do believe that for some people rls resolves completely but it seems to be unusual and sadly for now there is no known actual cure. For reasons I can't quite put my finger on, I find it slightly galling when people post that they have found a 'cure' even though I know they do it with the best of intentions. Maybe it's because I would love if I could find one myself.

I hope so much that your symptoms remain absent forever.