Shaking your legs for seemingly no reason might actually be due to restless leg syndrome or RLS. You might catch yourself bouncing your legs while sitting, resting, or even sleeping. These constant leg movements can really affect the quality of your sleep. Hence, poor sleep will result in a lack of concentration and other consequences. Therefore, you need treatment for RLS to escape from the potential risks it can bring. Among other methods, your doctor might suggest vitamins. But do you know what vitamins help restless leg syndrome?
What Vitamins Help Reduce Restless Leg Syndrome Symptoms?
Restless leg syndrome is also classified as a sleep disorder, as sleeping and resting trigger the symptoms. Thus, you might feel the urge to shake your legs when you lie down to relieve the symptoms of RLS. Fortunately, some oral medications like vitamins can help with restless leg syndrome, which include:
1. Vitamin D
Vitamin D can considerably improve the symptoms of RLS. It functions as a hormone, unlike other vitamins. Upon skin contact with sunlight, your body makes Vitamin D from cholesterol. So, you need exposure to sunlight; otherwise, you might risk developing a Vitamin D deficiency. Studies have shown a possible connection between RLS and lack of Vitamin D. This is especially possible if you live in colder climates.
Eating foods with a large amount of Vitamin D can help reduce the symptoms of restless leg syndrome, like egg yolks, fatty fish, yogurt, fortified cereals, and beef liver.
2. Vitamin C & E
Another effective treatment for RLS is Vitamin E and C. Whether you take them separately or together, they might help reduce the severity of RLS in hemodialysis patients temporarily. Even if you don’t have this condition or have low levels of Vitamin E and C, eating the combination of these nutrients can help.
Citrus foods, like oranges, are rich in Vitamin C. Other than this, strawberries, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, potatoes, and peppers are also high in this nutrient.
For Vitamin E, an intake of red bell pepper, almonds, and peanuts can help. In addition, you can also go for pumpkin and sunflower seeds, beet greens, collard greens, spinach, and peanut butter to help with RLS symptoms.
What Other Nutrients Help Restless Leg Syndrome?
Iron deficiency also contributes to RLS symptoms. Hence, a diet rich in iron can help alleviate them. Eating iron-rich food like spinach, whole-grain bread, red meat, etc., can reduce the severity of your RLS. Furthermore, folate and magnesium might also aid in easing restless leg syndrome. Another mineral that can help restless leg syndrome is potassium.
One of the contributors to RLS symptoms is taking alcohol and caffeine before bed. They stimulate the symptoms more, resulting in disturbed sleep.
What Should I Do?
RLS can result in insufficient sleep, which affects your daily activities. You might fail to concentrate while working, which will impact your daily ongoings. Therefore, you need to get adequate treatment to ease the symptoms. Some Vitamins can help with restless leg syndrome as well. Still, your healthcare provider will be able to suggest a better treatment based on the severity of your RLS.
Our sleep specialists at Sleep & Headache Solutions can help with RLS or other sleep disorders and headaches. Dial (832) 688-8886 to contact us and schedule an appointment.