Connection between food and RLS

[mmjxc]

Could someone link some academic articles for me to read concerning how RLS is linked to diet? I’d like to know the specific reason that a diet high in carbs or sugars could trigger RLS for some. My mother will not listen to me at all about this because my nutritionist says food can’t have an affect on RLS and so did my former neurologist.

[Jimbo77]

It’s not academic, but I think most people reference rlcure.com. I think a lot of it is trial and error to find which foods may be a trigger. I’ve seen people reference anything from sugar and caffeine, to tomatoes and peppers. I think there is a compelling argument to be made that cutting foods that cause inflammation like dairy, gluten and sugar can help RLS. But there’s no way to know what works and what doesn’t without trying different things and keeping a food diary.

[mmjxc in reply to Jimbo77]

Another good site. It’d be great if we were all the same. It would make figuring things out so much easier. I’m just going to have to research and keep a good diary like you said. Thank you!

[Sampsie]

Are you a member of the RLS Foundation? There are factsheets on there by their medical team discussing triggers for RLS, stating that sufferers all have different ones, with no seeming reason why, but that is the reality of it. You could give some of these to your mother and nutritionist to read.

[mmjxc in reply to Sampsie]

I’m not, but I might consider it. I’m just broke and I think I’d have to pay for it. Thank you!

[Madlegs1]

Put " foods that trigger RLS ncbi" into Google search.You will get a variety of research articles.

If you enter Cochrane review instead of ncbi you will get a trawl of articles, a consensus ,so to speak, of the scientific literature.

I am utterly flabbergismayed that an accredited nutritionist would deny any causal relationship between food and health.

Your mother is your mother- it's her job to make life hard for you.🥴. ( That's joking) Check out Nancy Friedman ' My mother ,myself'

The hard slog is for you to do your own research on yourself. A food diary and plot the incidence of RLS following various foods or medications.

All the best.

[Sampsie in reply to Madlegs1]

I agree re the nutritionist Madlegs. Shocking. We literally are what we eat and drink. I react to the most healthy of foods. Everyone is different.

[mmjxc in reply to Madlegs1]

Good suggestion! I didn’t even think of that. And yes, me too. She’s a nutritionist though, it’s not like she’s trained in a condition like this so I’ll cut her some slack.

My mom just thinks it’s a crock of sh*t, lol. She doesn’t understand how some food could possibly make it worse since it’s a neurological condition. I love her though and I know she’s just frustrated with seeing me suffer.

Food diary and new diet it is then. Thank you again.

[involuntarydancer in reply to mmjxc]

I can no longer discuss any aspect of my rls with my mother. She is convinced I could overcome it if I just put my mind to it with enough determination. Ironically, she can be very caring and kind but this is now a huge barrier between us as my rls has a major impact on every aspect of my life.

[Joolsg]

It is clear that specific diets do help some people but not everyone.

Some swear by low FODMAPS, others by low oxolate, others by low carb.

The only way you’ll know if it works for you is to try it.

Bit like iron and magnesium. Some people have immediate relief by taking them, others find it makes no difference.

Similarly, alcohol and caffeine & sugar worsen RLS for some people but not others.

WAAD ( we are all different)

[mmjxc in reply to Joolsg]

This is so frustrating. I’ll have to try out the diets then and eat individual foods to see what helps or if anything makes it worse. The problem is I don’t know if I’m psyching myself out or not. I get so worried that the food will make it worse that I just won’t eat. And to make it worse, I’m craving orange juice/salsa with chips like crazy!! Lol. Thank you for your response.

[dlr222 in reply to mmjxc]

try the low-oxalate diet. lots of into on the net. and you can have orange juice. no chips.

[Joolsg in reply to dlr222]

Is that English chips (fat French fries) or US chips ( crisps to us)?

[mmjxc in reply to Joolsg]

US chips, crisps to you guys, haha 😆

[Joolsg in reply to mmjxc]

Two nations divided by a common language. But I notice much more interchange now. We now use ladybug & goosebumps instead of ladybird & goose pimples & the USA has started to use ‘banter’ & some of our serious swear (cuss) words which I don’t think you realise how rude they are! 😂

[mmjxc in reply to Joolsg]

Omg, I know! I’ve used some English swear words without realizing how offensive they can be. It’s pretty funny though! It’s so interesting how we both speak the same language but in such different ways. I love learning about it 😄

[Gmc54 in reply to mmjxc]

What words.......I'm struggling to think of English words that are offensive in English UK, but not so offensive in English US! Please enlighten me, pm me if necessary please. I probably use them all, especially when my legs are playing up, so you won't offend me! 😜🤔

[mmjxc in reply to dlr222]

I’ll try drinking some orange juice in that case! (Once I figure out if I have an ulcer or not)

[rchobby]

Since learning about the low oxalate diet on this forum my husband's RLS has improved 90%. It isn't easy, but worth the effort. There is no doubt that certain foods trigger his RLS (Oxalates, sugar and phosphates in prepared meats). If he avoids them he gets a good night's sleep, with the help of a Temgesic.

[WideBody]

I haven't found anything, but out of frustration, I am now trying "Zero Sugar January". Which means no added sugar, no white flour. I am also adding more "healthy fats". We are using an app to help plan our daily, supposedly keto meals.

It's worth a shot, even if I hate avocados. I hate RLS more. It's only a month. One long slow dreary month. Chin up.

[notnowdad]

More than 5 years ago I had my breakthrough realization that oxalate in foods triggers my RLS discomforts. This insight changed my experience of RLS from a chronic torment to an intermittent nuisance. Some days I was completely free of discomforts. Most days I was at 1 or 2 on the scale of 10. However, there were several lessons I had yet to learn.

The next significant breakthrough came from switching my magnesium supplements from magnesium citrate to magnesium glycinate. It took me a while to realize that this exposure to glycine was triggering my recurrence of discomforts. This realization led me to understand that glycine rich meat based soups, stews and sauces stimulate endogenous production of oxalic acid in my liver. This was a shock because all the websites devoted to low oxalate diets state that meats are oxalate free and can be consumed without reservation. I found that chicken broth made from the whole bird and was, therefore, rich in gelatin, triggered my RLS. On the other hand, broth made from breasts, thighs and legs which is less gelatinous does not cause the discomforts. Recent research seems to confirm my experience by finding that eating gelatin cause endogenous production of oxalic acid and raises urinary oxalate.

Another breakthrough came when I realized that asparagus would cause discomforts. Even though virtually every reliable source of information about oxalate in food confirms that asparagus is low in oxalate, I finally realized I was reacting negatively to it. For years I had overlooked this fact. Recently I found it reported on the internet that asparagus is typically sprayed with a solution of oxalic acid post harvest to preserve its freshness before it gets to the grocery store. Recently I found some organic asparagus and was able to eat it without a reaction. This is further confirmation that the oxalate is what causes my RLS.

The frustrating aspect of following a low oxalate diet is that there is some oxalate in almost everything we eat. With patience and good record keeping I have been able to achieve almost complete relief. My reaction time to a trigger food (or combination of foods) is about 24 hours. I offer these insights with the hope that they will help others to experience the relief which I have achieved.

[AhabHick]

I find that anything with additive thickners like agar agar or xanathan gum like most maynaises and ketchups and many foods made in factories greatly aggrivates my rls.