Which Nutrients Help Treat Restless Leg Syndrome?

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) might sound like a goofy made-up disorder, but for 1 in 10 people in the U.S., it’s maddeningly real. It’s a neurological condition characterized by an unpleasant sensation and/or an overwhelming urge to move your legs. It’s usually most noticeable when you are trying to fall asleep and can actually keep you from getting a good night’s rest. 

As our own House Call Doctor explains, the causes are poorly understood – and various.  RLS sometimes accompanies other neurological diseases. It can also be exacerbated by certain prescription medications or nutrient deficiencies. It also simply runs in some families, with no obvious cause. (If you do struggle with RLS, take heart in the knowledge that it also sometimes disappears as mysteriously as it starts!). 

Stretching before bed can sometimes reduce the symptoms and Get-Fit Guy has some great stretching routines that target the legs and calf muscles. If your RLS is really interfering with your sleep and ability to function, your doctor may be able to prescribe medication that will help.  

But what about nutrition? Are there foods or supplements that can help with RLS?

Can Nutrition Help Relieve RLS?

If you go to your local vitamin store and ask the sales clerk for advice, he or she is likely to send you out with an armload of supplements – magnesium, horse chestnut, folic acid, or any other herb or vitamin that’s even vaguely associated with legs, muscles, or nerves. That’s why we don’t ask vitamin store sales clerks for nutrition advice.  We ask the Nutrition Diva. 

See also: Reliable Sources of Nutritional Information

Top 4 Nutrition Tips for Restless Legs Syndrome

Tip #1: Check for iron deficiency. I mentioned earlier that certain nutritional deficiencies can cause or exacerbate RLS.  In particular, RLS can be a symptom of iron deficiency. If you are deficient in iron, fixing that is very likely to help resolve your restless legs.

If you don’t have a deficiency, taking iron supplements will probably just make you constipated.

If you don’t have an iron deficiency, however, taking iron supplements will probably just make you constipated. In some people, taking iron supplements can actually lead to iron overload. So, ask your doctor to test your iron levels and to advise you whether a supplement is necessary.

See also: Is it Safe to Cook in Cast-Iron?

Tip #2: Fill up on folate. Restless Legs Syndrome has also been linked with low levels of folate, but this is another nutrient that we don’t want to supplement indiscriminately. High doses of folic acid can mask a B12 deficiency and have also been linked to an increased risk of colon cancer.

If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, or your doctor has confirmed that you’re deficient, a supplement is a good idea – just don’t exceed the recommended dosage. Otherwise, focus on getting folate from foods, which has none of the same risks. Garbanzo beans, lentils, and spinach are all good sources. 

See also: Folic Acid and Cancer Risk

Tip #3: Maximize your magnesium.  Magnesium has a popular reputation for preventing muscle cramps as well as for making you sleepy – which makes it seem like the perfect nutritional remedy for RLS. So far, the evidence that taking magnesium relieves RLS symptoms is pretty skimpy. But magnesium is also fairly harmless. If you want to try it out, take 500mg at bedtime. If it even seems to help, that’s good enough for me. It may also have the bonus effect of promoting regularity.

Although true magnesium deficiency is pretty rare, many of us fall short of the daily recommended intake. So, whether or not you decide to experiment with a magnesium supplement, why not also make an effort to put more magnesium-rich foods into your diet? Magnesium is found in most whole foods, especially green leafy veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains. As a matter of fact, many of the foods that are high in magnesium are also high in folate and vice versa – two nutrients thought to help with RLS.

Tip #4: Avoid caffeine and alcohol before bed.  Although caffeine is a stimulant and alcohol is a sedative, both interfere with sleep patterns and both can make RLS symptoms worse. Whether or not you suffer from RLS, I suggest saving the java for your morning wake-up and trading that night-cap for a cup of herbal tea.

See also: How Much Alcohol Is Healthy?

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