Is there a correlation between Restless Leg Syndrome and Magnesium Deficiency?

Restless Leg Syndrome (or RLS) is a real disorder of the nervous system that affects 10% of the U.S. population. 

When you have RLS, you have an incredible urge to move your legs. Sometimes this is in the form of pain that is throbbing or just an uncomfortable sensation that is relieved when you move your legs. Itchiness and “pins and needle” feeling can accompany the pain. The onset of RLS typically occurs in the evening hours or when you’re at rest, which makes it so frustrating.

Many people who suffer from restless leg syndrome also experience PLMS, which stands for periodic limb movement. The symptoms of PLMS are jerking or twitching movements during sleep. Both RLS and PLMS can lead to serious sleep problems, which can explain the link to a possible solution.

Many in the holistic health community believe that taking magnesium will help if you have sleep issues. And, many also agree that a magnesium deficiency might be the cause of restless leg syndrome since 80-85% of Americans are actually deficient in magnesium.

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Several show that magnesium plays a big role in the body chemistry that regulates sleep. Magnesium is also known to relax muscles and nerves and this is why it’s believed to relieve symptoms of RLS.

What are the symptoms of magnesium deficiency? Below is a list of symptoms from Dr Libby, a nutritional biochemist, best-selling author and speaker:

Symptoms of a magnesium deficiency can include agitation and anxiety, restless leg syndrome (RLS), sleep disorders, irritability, nausea and vomiting, abnormal heart rhythms, low blood pressure, confusion, muscle spasm and weakness, hyperventilation, insomnia, constipation, fatigue and poor nail growth.

Studies have shown that too much calcium in your body paired with too little magnesium equals strained muscle contractions, leaving you with restless leg syndrome or something similar.

So how do you get a handle on your RLS or a possible magnesium deficiency? Easy, here are some ideas (click the links for my favorite brands):

• Eat more foods with high levels of magnesium: whole grains, nuts, green leafy vegetables
• Take a daily magnesium supplement
• Use a magnesium lotion or oil 
• Incorporate dead sea salts in your bath routine (sea salts are high in magnesium)

Looking for more ways to get your whole family healthier, ways to use food as medicine, and gain more understanding of our health and food connection?

Check out my 30 Day Family Health Makeover here – a step by step guided online program that will show you how to reduce & reverse chronic illness.

Leann Forst, MBA, CHC — Family Health & Cancer Coach

Leann is a Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, holding a Master’s degree from Drake University and a Bachelor of Science from Upper Iowa University. Leann is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. And she is an award winning author of 2 books “How to Get Your Kids to Beg for Veggies” and “100 Ways to Lose Weight”.

Born and raised as an Iowa farm girl, she moved to Texas in 1998 where she lives with her husband and 2 kids.

As a wife of a brain cancer survivor, Leann has a special interest in anti-cancer nutrition and detoxification. She works with individuals and groups, and speaks regularly at hospitals, schools and organizations to teach people how to attain optimal health by getting to the root cause of chronic and inflammatory conditions, while using healing modalities such as essential oils. Click here to get Leann’s free report, “37 Cancer Facts You Should Know…But Probably Don’t”. And take Leann’s Nutrient Deficiency Quiz here.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

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