Restless Leg Syndrome.

[Theland]

Hi ABers. Can any body offer some advice please?
I suffer from RLS which makes sleeping difficult.
I heard that it might be a lack of potassium and magnesium in my diet.
I am wary of this advice, as often, I believe, more substances are needed to help absorb the desired vitamins and minerals.
I am male, 67, 5ft 9ins, and 15st 7lb, and not very active.
I eat once a day, fairly balanced diet with no sweet stuff but I do like a beer, sometimes too much, too often.
Am not drinking at the moment.
Thank you in advance of any help.

[Theland]

That sounds like a safe bet. Will try that.

[LadyCG]

You could also do with getting your weight down a bit, Theland. No offence, but carrying extra habitus does put a strain on the body x

[Theland]

Am back OFF the beer to do just that.

[rowanwitch]

If you don't want to take oral supplements high cocoa solids 70% or higher chocolate is very rich in magnesium, or try a magnesium oil spray. You could try a warm bath before bedtime and a bit of gentle massage and maybe switch from one meal a day as it would be hard to get enough variety in your diet to cover your needs eating like that. There is quite a bit of info out there most of it based on the idea that RLS is a problem caused by deficiency of various nutrients. Iron is also a suspect so increasing the iron in your diet will be worth trying too. It is absorbed better with vit c so some fruit after a red meat dinner isn't a bad option

[nailit]

Nobody seems to have mentioned it yet Theland, but certain meds can cause RLS. Have you started any new meds recently that has coincided with this?
I had it a few years back when on Mirtazapine.