I've suffered RLS all my life, been on multiple medications and all the natural remedies, but never heard of diet changes till I joined here

[rellwill]

I'm also on some pyschiatric drugs (these are for life and cannot be changed so please do not suggest that) which I know exacerbate my rls. My question is what food/dietary triggers to people have, what diets have worked or not. The only thing I know us alcohol does help but with my meds I prefer not to, thanks in advance

[Madlegs1]

Because of my life experience , I'm a firm believer in triggers for RLS.

You say you are on antidepressants and you don't wish to change them. But I'm sure there are some that are not as antagonistic to RLS as others.

It is really worth researching.

To ascertain your individual triggers, it would be best to keep a diary of all inputs.

That should help pinpoint any triggers.

Many people find a diet avoiding all processed foods, helps.

Personally, I avoid high salt, raising agents (biscuits,cakes etc) alcohol, preservatives, MSG, sulphites, SLS and a few hundred more.

Is life worth living?

Yes--- I can eat marzipan chocolate ( Lidl at present !) Steak and chips ( avoid the sauce)

Drinking choc with turmeric ,coriander , cinnamon and a spoon of honey. Orange juice ( with bits) and sparkling water.

I'm a happy little bunny. 😜

I'm disappointed not to be able to have Crunchy bars, maltesers, ice cream in the evening, a nice ball of malt or liqueur or even a farm produced brandy from a stall on the roadside in Armagnac. 😭

Choices!

Life is to be lived.

" Mountains are to be climbed, not to be carried on our backs! "

Cheers.😎

[rellwill in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hello Rellwill,

I'm sorry you are going though this as well as other things. It's so tough when there is a combination of things going on.

I can say I've been on about every diet going, adding, taking away, eating more of... I can't tell you what has helped and what hasn't. I've found nothing that has jumped out at me and made me think 'ah!'. I think when it is triggered by the drugs we are on (and yes, for some of us, these can't be changed) it's really tough to accommodate them and correct the bad side effects with diet. That said, that's just my experience, and many may have gone through the same thing and found that a change in their diet did have a positive effect.

I can say, though, that I've added in a vitamin C & turmeric supplement and an iron one. When I take a low dose of calcium & vit D, my legs will inevitably start twitching an hour or so later. I've ended up halving the dose. I have noticed a bit of an improvement, for sure, but I have also stopped the antidepressant I was on, so I'm not sure what is doing what. Maybe a bit of both. I've just ordered a hemp supplement having wondered whether I was getting enough fatty acids, so I'll keep people updated if anything radical happens!

Hope you find a way forward with it all, Rellwill. I know how hard it is to juggle it all.

[DicCarlson]

There is no magic bullet diet - but plenty of diets to try. I would say - start at the beginning - have your iron status tested, a complete iron panel including % saturation, Ferretin level. Also test for some other key deficiency markers, Magnesium, B Vitamins, and others.

Probably the most dramatic diet to try is a Ketogenic Diet. Keto diets are extremely limited in carb intake and most energy is derived from ketone bodies derived primarily from the metabolism of fats. It's curious that keto diets can help stop epileptic seizures especially in children, and Gabapentine is also a drug for seizure control AND Restless Leg Syndrome. So, maybe there is a connection. Best resource...

ruled.me/

[Seaux]

try eliminating sugar and start a low carb diet because our bodies turn carbs into sugar. It is well established that alcohol, caffeine, too much salt, and nicotine exacerbate RLS so try eliminating these also. If after a couple of weeks this doesn't help you might consider getting tested for SIBO. Hope this helps.

[dklohrey]

I too have had RLS for years. Diet is a strange one. If I eat pizza and beer I will be up most of the night. Pizza by itself with a diet drink and I am fine. As some have suggested, alcohol and refined sugar will get my RLS going. Caffeine is a strange one. If I drink regular coffee early in the day I am fine. Drink it late afternoon and I am in for trouble.

[Hidden]

Hi, I can fully appreciate your need for the psychotropic meds even if they do exacerbate your RLS.

You've got some good ideas from others, but I just thought I'd add my little bit.

Firstly, it's a good idea to avoid alcohol, it doesn't help RLS, it makes it worse. Similarly added sugar or anything with simple sugars it it, (monosaccharides). These can exacerbate RLS in the short term but if consistently used can cause longer term problems.

The main issue with diet in relation to RLS is whether there's anything in what we eat that causes inflammation. This may be "sub-clinical" inflammation i.e. we might not even notice any symptoms. Although by no means a "root" cause of RLS Inflammation has been found to be a mediating factor.

What causes this in one person may be different to what affects another depending on particular "sensitivities". E.g. some people are gluten sensitive, some lactose sensitive, some sensitive to food additives e.g. MSG. Some people will find a low oxalate diet helpful.

Generally speaking, a low carbohydrate diet can be helpful, RLS or not.

An anti-inflammatory diet can also be helpful, RLS or not. (Mediterranean diet).

RLS is also associated with SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) which causes inflammation. This can be tested for and treated.

As others also suggest, iron deficiency is a major causative factor in RLS. A good iron rich diet will help, but if your ferritin is below 75ug/L, it's a good idea to start taking an oral iron supplement.