As a recent sufferer of RLS I would like to know if anyone has any dietary or natural recommendations that might help the condition?

[Endowed]

[beardedtwitch]

Eat more red meat (increases your iron levels) and Bananas as a start but there is nothing that I know of that helps much. After banana advice I had six on each day for the first two days and thought that a miracle had occured as I had a solid 8 hours sleep both nights but then back to normal and no answer as to why.

[Endowed in reply to beardedtwitch]

Thanks for the advice, will try more red meat and iron intake.

[nightdancer in reply to Endowed]

Hi, you must get an iron level done first to see if you need more iron. Iron overload can be very dangerous, although dietary iron is not much. But, never start taking iron supplements until you have had your iron and Ferritin (how your body stores iron) levels checked. When I say iron overlaod is dangerous,. I mean it can literally kill you, not to sound dramatic, but no one shuld just start taking iron. I had iron infusions done, because my ferritin was so low, and we got the # way up. But, to show how dangerous it is, they admit you to the hospital to do an infusion, for the day. And, one you are hooked up to that IV,. they cannot pull it til it is done. My sister's husband died while I was hooked up for the very first one, and they had security outside my door making sure i did not rip out the IV and run out of there, so I had to wait 5 hrs before I could leave. NOT a happy camper. And, the iron infusions did nothing for my RLS at all, anyway. So, you never know, but one thng to remember is that an iron serum test (usually for anemia) and a Ferritin level test are two way different things. The thing to look for for RLS is how your body stores the iron. And, normal for a non RLSer is 12-15. They want RLSer's to have a level of 60 to 70 now, and dietary iron cannot bring that up mre than a few points over a few months. If you do have low ferritin, and you do manage to bring it up to the level they want, and your rLS continues, then that is not the cause of your own RLS. My RLS hs nothing to do wth iron, as proven in the infusions. I only tell that story to show you how serious iron issues can be, but I do not think infusions are done in the UK. I am in the US. There is Primary RLS (inherited) and secondary RLS, caused by some underlying condition tha may be able to be fixed, but there is no cure in the near or kind of far future, so groups like this are really important for us. Welcome again!

[madbiker]

Hello there, I find moderate exercise (I cycle and run regularly), pilates and reflexology help a little. My GP has suggested Osteopathy which I have yet to try. Also try switching to decaf coffee/tea. After a bit of trial and error you will find what works best for you as everybody is different. Good luck!

[Endowed in reply to madbiker]

I think that exercise does help and also less sitting down!! I was standing and moving about yesterday and had a good night!!

[Hidden]

hi, as its a neurological condition, nothing dietary or natural has helped me.try the lot i will add

[Hidden]

Unfortunately I'm in agreement with niah177. Although it's worth going down as many avenues you can. Sorry I'm not much help.

[magggzzz]

Everybody says caffeine has a bad effect but I never used to drink and tea or coffee or knowingly have any caffeine until about 6 months ago. This is not for any sort of health reasons. It's just that since I was first pregnant many years ago I found any caffeine made me feel like I had a bad hangover so I avoided it completely. Now I've found I can drink coffee but only if it's the real stuff. I still can't tolerate instant. This is possibly the highest dose of caffeine you can get and I drink 2 or 3 cups a day. I've not noticed any difference in my RLS and I'm not giving it up for anyone now.

[SusieL]

Hi..I have tried all different diets but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I eat bananas, drink decaf and am a carnivore and we eat a lot of red meat but two days are never the same. I thought at one time my rls was affected by the warm weather but after a cold day yesterday when my feet were almost blue I can rule that out (although I cant stand the car heater on even for a moment!). I also find that a day when I have my shoes on almost the whole day and am on my feet a lot will make it worse, so, whenever I am at home its bare feet for me. We are all different and that's what makes it so difficult to treat as there are no clear rules to alleviate the rls aside from the meds. Go with your gut instinct and its all trial and error. I wish you good luck.

[amethystcat]

I would like to add that I have been on a gluten free diet now for the past three months and I have seen/felt a great improvement to my RLS. I have been a sufferer, on and off, since my early teens and have seen a gradual worsening of the condition over the last few years, I'm in my fifties. My friend has secondary RLS due to, it seems, having fybromyalgia. She also has a dietary problem and was recommended to go on a gluten free diet, she was surprised to find that within a few weeks her RLS went completely.

After a particularly nasty run of RLS I decided to give it a go, now I'm not saying that my RLS has gone but it has been significantly reduced to where I have RLS free days & nights. I have always been aware of my diet and health but this has made a big difference. I can now recognise that if I'm not so careful with what I eat or we've been out to eat then my legs will get worse again. I don't take medication....yet....as I prefer to try the more natural approach, I also have quite a lot of Alzheimer sufferers in my family so don't really want to take anything that might "mess" with my brain.

I do also take vit B complex tablets, omega 3, 6 & 9, and magnesium. I take care with the amount of caffiene I have (1 cup a day) and am careful with my alcohol intake.....I do love a glass of wine!

I think, like the others have said....try as many avenues as possible to find one that might help you, good luck!!!

[Endowed in reply to amethystcat]

Thanks for the advice. It will be hard but I will try the gluten free diet. I drink very little alcohol so no problem there but I do like my cuppa. Will try herbal and reducing my normal tea intake.

[StevenSims]

Hi, The best thing I have found is Vitamin D3.

All the best

Steve

[Hidden]

I wonder if it's my back and the nerves in it sometimes.

It doesn't seem to matter what I eat, I have it going on.

I love red meat but it doesn't love my arteries so I have it

4 days a week. I take an iron supplement at my doctor's

request along with foods that are high in vitamin C...

such as a cup of strawberries, 2 kiwi fruits, oranges..

My iron level has moved ever so slightly up but far from

normal levels at 9.3