Perhaps an excess of potassium could cause RLS. My nutritional assessment showed that I am getting plenty of potassium without the bananas...so maybe when I include them, it pushes the levels too high for my particular system's needs.

Your comment makes sense, Ruthie, about bananas possibly creating a magnesium deficiency/interfering with magnesium absorption.

Does anyone know the signs of magnesium deficiency?

An O with restless legs is usually calcium deficient, as are many O's on the BTD.

Quoted from snazzyshazz

BANANAS! Who would have thought?

Has this been discussed before in the threads, because I couldn't locate anything?

I have had restless legs during the night for years and years. Sometimes I thought they would drive me mad. I have tried lots of things to fix the problem, but to no avail.

Then, earlier this year, cyclone Yazzie hit northern Queensland and obliterated the whole banana crop. The remaining bananas for sale went to exorbitant prices, and we stopped eating them altogether. My restless legs suddenly stopped at the same time. What bliss to actually sleep through a whole night without having to get up to stretch or rub my legs. I did not connect it to the bananas because at the same time I had been seeing a Bowen therapist for something else. I thought she had fixed the problem.

Banana prices have only just dropped to remotely reasonable in the last month or so, and we began eating them again. Straight away, I got back the restless legs. As soon as I dropped the bananas, it stopped. Since bananas are not an avoid for me, I was puzzled. But I am rapt to finally know the cause of the problem, and do something as easy as eliminating bananas to fix it. Yay!

imo from what I have been taught - signs of possible magnesium deficiency include cramps in the legs, not sleeping, constipation...but as was pointed out, calcium comes into that as well

Quoted from Mark

An O with restless legs is usually calcium deficient, as are many O's on the BTD.

That makes sense to me...I was quite low on calcium on my nutritional assessment. I have since started a calcium supplement. Maybe bananas impede calcium absorption, which is already depleted in O's.  

WOW! ....I just finished asking about this in my B group FB page....

For about a week now I've had this really weird and aggravating pain in my legs especially at night. It comes in waves and I literally have to move to keep my self from going crazy...It is like a strong yet dull pain that radiates from my lower back and hips all the way down into my feet. It seems to be getting worse every day. It was so bad last night that I was almost in tears. This is weird-it really is.

I have worked out religiously 6 days a week for over 2 years. I lift heavy weights 3 days a week and attend bootcamp twice a week, I also box when I can sometimes once or twice a week. I started working for a gym as a weightloss consultant. When I did, I did not have the time to keep up that workout pace. It slowed to twice a week work outs. Well, now I have been laid off. I have not handled it very well- have been a little depressed. Work outs have changed but I am trying my best to work out the three days with weights. But the BC was at the gym where I was working so that has ceased.
The pain starts at around 10 am and comes and goes. By the evening, it is unmanageable. Itchy, most painful in my joints and bones all the way down my legs. The only thing that makes me feel better is sleep. But I sleep so light. I never get that deep sleep.

I started taking the phytocal B about two months ago, but before that, I was taking magnesium supps maybe I should start back with extra magnesium. I did eat about 20 almonds last night and the pain was not as bad. Interesting.

Even as I type this, It is 7:45 am, and I am already feeling it come on. I have tingling and a numbness with a slight bit of pain. I am headed to the gym now to do a leg work out.
If Bananas were the cure all - I would be on it! How nice, but they have not helped.

Nadizzle, that sounds like sciatica.

Quoted from TJ

Nadizzle, that sounds like sciatica.

just what i was thinking.

wow - really?
I don't know....I can move fine - and it's not just down the rear of my legs.
As a matter of fact, when it happens, I need to move to help alleviate the uncomfortable feeling.
I went to the gym this morning and lifted heavy - squatted 205 lbs! twice! and then ran/walk for 30 minutes, and i feel great now - just a little tingling in my feet as i am sitting here.

If you're tingling it's probably something to do with nerves.  Exercise could move things around to reduce the pressure on the nerve.

Quoted from Dianne

Wow! What a discovery! I am doing an experiment at the moment by not eating grapefruit, apparently it helps with the Phase 1 liver detox and being an Explorer I thought it would be good for me. But...I think it irritates my colon, it's been a few weeks and I will try some in January. Good for you, to enjoy a full night's sleep is sublime!

Oh, boy, will grapefruit do a number on me for sure! I dearly love them, but if I eat more than about one a month divided and eaten over three days or so I have severe pain everywhere. They are a super food for me.

Quoted from deblynn3

One issue for O's and banana's is that there is a enzyme in them which exasperates allergies to ragweed. So don't eat banana's if your allergic to ragweed. And Chamomile is related to ragweed so don't drink it if your allergic to ragweed

My husband had to take shots for years because of a horrible ragweed allergy. I suppose the connection to bananas doesn't apply to A-types because he would have died during that time if he hadn't been able to eat bananas!

I have the same problem but haven't eaten bananas for years. (Though I'd like to.) Thankfully I have a homeopathic remedy which allows me to not kick and jump all night. Sleep is sweet.

do try magnesium oil

nonnies and excess of sugars ....

I have just reread this thread after Isa resurrected it. To those who suggested a magnesium deficiency, I have started on magnesium oil. I also tried a calcium supplement for a while after it was suggested that the restless legs may have been connected to that.

I still have no restless legs at all, but I have not eaten bananas at all. Maybe now that my magnesium levels are up, I should experiment and eat some bananas. That would give a more definitive answer to the magnesium-restless legs link.

And yes, Isa, I am sure there is a sugar link too; however chocolate and other sugary foods do not produce the restless legs like bananas do.

Well... as one who has suffered for years with RLS when eating healthy but MUCH MORE when not eating healthy the only thing that has ever worked is hormone therapy.  When my restless legs start up now.. averaging about once a month.. when certain hormone levels spike, I do some Progesterone cream and it goes away.

Hormones are affected by so many things that we eat, our moods, our cycles, our meds, supplements, on and on and on.

I have tried many different things like putting soap bars on my legs, magnesium cream therapy, and all kinds of stuff... and for awhile each weird tactic would work but then it would start up again..

The only thing that has worked consistently has been working with the progesterone cream when the RLS starts.  I find it very interesting that now that I'm in menapause and eating correctly, that once a month, when my hormones spike, the RLS comes on.

If I don't eat correctly and am ingesting alot of caffine and sugar and junk, the RLS comes on almost every night..  as those foods dramatically affect my hormone levels.

Good Luck.  I hope it continues to work for you.  RLS is brutal.  

Quoted from Amazone I.

nonnies and excess of sugars ....

You said it darling oxo lol

also try active isolated stretching exercises. as you are possibly not stretching correctly or enough.

Quoted from policychecker

You said it darling oxo lol

also try active isolated stretching exercises. as you are possibly not stretching correctly or enough.

nonnies and excessive sugars which all affect hormone levels.

I tracked the cause of my restless leg syndrome to vinegar.  The only one that doesn't cause it is org apple cider vinegar.  As an O type, I am not supposed to have any vinegar, but I do use small amounts of org apple cider vinegar ocassionally.

I have never tried this home remedy, but I heard that putting a bar of soap between the sheets of your bed stops restless leg syndrome.  Some people have had great relief doing this.

Tea Rose

Quoted from Tea Rose

I tracked the cause of my restless leg syndrome to vinegar.  The only one that doesn't cause it is org apple cider vinegar.  As an O type, I am not supposed to have any vinegar, but I do use small amounts of org apple cider vinegar ocassionally.

I have never tried this home remedy, but I heard that putting a bar of soap between the sheets of your bed stops restless leg syndrome.  Some people have had great relief doing this.

Tea Rose

ha ha.. yes I did this too.  it works for a few days.. placebo effect.. and then it stops.  

it's strange how we all have different reactions to diff foods.  Banana's and now vinegar!!! Crazy!!!  But very understandable.

nonnies make the world go around and thanx all for your kind sustains ...made me  

Two things do it for me. I am short and chairs (and church pews) cut off the circulation behind my knees when I sit for very long, which causes restless legs for me. The other is salt. Very much salt during the day makes my knees ache and I get restless leg syndrome. I guess it swells veins and arteries in my legs.

Quoted from BluesSinger

it's strange how we all have different reactions to diff foods.  Banana's and now vinegar!!! Crazy!!!  But very understandable.

Possibly certain foods kick up candida in certain people that can cause RLS?

Hips and hamstring stretches work for me. Just before bed, or it's the Jimmy-legs!

this book is brilliant so far. highly recommend. http://www.amazon.com/The-Magn.....ds=magnesium+miracle