Restless legs syndrome, RLS, is a neurological condition which causes you to feel an urge to move your legs, especially when you are sleeping or during other periods of being still. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NINDS, you can also feel pain, a crawling sensation or burning in your legs. The cause of the condition is not always known, though it's not uncommon in the last trimester of pregnancy and can appear in people who suffer from other neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease or neuropathy. In some cases, altering your diet may lead to a decrease in your symptoms.
Iron-Rich Foods
NINDS states that people who have anemia or low iron count may be more likely to develop restless legs syndrome. Boosting your intake of iron-rich foods may reverse or minimize your symptoms. Iron is available from a very long list of food sources, according to The World's Healthiest Foods. Beans of many colors and kinds, including navy, garbanzo, pinto, kidney, soybeans and lima beans all provide you with iron. Green vegetables including Brussels sprouts, a variety of leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, green beans, green peas and raw celery also contain iron. While calf liver, shrimp and beef are meat, or heme sources of iron.
Adding a variety of spices to your food may help ward off restless legs; thyme, basil, coriander, cumin, dill, black pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and oregano all contain iron.
Vitamin B-Rich Foods
Adding foods that contain B vitamins---folic acid, B6 and B12, might improve your symptoms of restless legs syndrome, according to MayoClinic.com. Vitamin B is essential to the proper functioning of your nervous system, particularly the neurotransmitters that send messages throughout your body.
The World's Healthiest Foods suggests leafy green vegetables as a readily available source of B vitamins. Many of the foods that provide you with iron such as beans, liver and greens, also contain folate, another word for folic acid. Breakfast cereals are often fortified with folic acid, giving you an ample supply in each bowl. Vitamin B6 and B12 are present in many animal-based foods, including chicken, tuna, turkey, beef and halibut.
Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a snack foods to stock your pantry with if you suffer from restless legs syndrome. According to The World' Healthiest Foods, a quarter-cup serving of pumpkin seeds contains 5 mg of iron and a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids, another nutrient that can strengthen and protect your nervous system from deterioration or unrest that might lead to the altered sensations associated with RLS.
Foods With Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega 3 fatty acids protect your nerves by creating and maintaining the protective sheath called myelin. You may benefit from increasing your intake of omega-3 to combat the uncomfortable symptoms associated with restless legs. Walnuts, flaxseed, soybeans, tofu and a variety of fish from salmon to shrimp and snapper are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
