Making RLS worse?

I stopped drinking coffee, eating sweet cakes three days ago as I have been doing this too much lately. Especially waiting for a new kitchen to be installed, living next door to a cafe (bad when 3 o'clocks time comes, to handy). Cake tasting with friends opening up new business. Time to stop! Can this be a reason why my RLS is worse? Will it interfer with symptoms I already have?

[SueJohnson]

Although for many people drinking coffee makes their symptoms worse, for a few it helps their symptoms. You might try drinking coffee again and see what happens.

[Eryl]

Yes, Quite likely that sugar is the main cause of your RLS. This is because eating sugar releases the hormone insulin which is inflammmatory and inflamed nerves are hypersensitive leading to RLS. I have eliminated RLS completely by avoiding inflammatory foods. This includes refined sugar and starch (i.e. processed foods) and also refined seed oils which are also inflammatory. I avoid anthing made with wheat flour becaeue the gluten in it speeds up it's absorption and causes a spike in insulin. I also avoid fruit juices and smoothies because the sugar is absorbed faster tha the sugar from whole fruit.

[Guitarpickin in reply to Eryl]

I think the person was saying their symptoms are now worse after stopping the consumption of sugar and caffeine.

Maybe not having caffeine is a trigger that you could explore. But I can’t imagine not have sugar is negatively impacting you in any way. I love sugar (sadly) but it is probably one of the worst things we can put in our body on every level. Unless it’s natural sugar in a whole fruit or maybe honey or maple syrup. But even those things should be limited. For me personally I find I can eat it in the morning and it doesn’t impact my RLS symptoms. But eating it at night is a bad idea.

[Ranipr]

I drink only 1 coffee/day but do have honey in tea and sugary foods - will try reducing

[RLSgirl]

due to other health reasons, I stopped drinking coffee. and about 3 weeks in my RLS symptoms got much better! I'd tried getting off the bean before to see if it would make difference, but never for more than a few days. It took 3+ weeks to get totally out of my system.

I think some people are just more sensitive to caffeine than others. I also think there are many causes of RLS, Finding what is causing your RLS can be a lifelong challenge. Caffeine may or may not be affecting you.

[RLSgirl]

just for your information. after a few months I was really missing my morning coffee ritual and tea just doesn't do it for me. so I tried Choffy, it's brewed caoca. It is NOt coffee. but it works for me as a replacement. Also, I haven't tried this yet, but I just ordered some Rasa. It's a mushroom-based alternative drink.

[Guitarpickin in reply to RLSgirl]

Have you tried decaf as an alternative? Or do you think the caffeine in decaf is still too much?

[RLSgirl in reply to Guitarpickin]

no I haven't tried Decaf. It would be worth a try.

[Guitarpickin in reply to RLSgirl]

Oooh, really? They make some really good ones these days! I stopped real coffee for years due to insomnia and subbing decaf was great! But it does still have the tiniest bit of caffeine. However, if you can tolerate that tiny bit of caffeine, decaf is the best! You get your morning ritual, the flavors, and the smells. Your morning will feel like it’s back to normal!

[SueJohnson]

Are you taking any medicines for your RLS?