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Fasting and the Ketogenic Diet – A Hidden Key to RLS Relief



I've done quite a bit of fasting in my life. Initially, I did it to boost weight loss and improve my insulin resistance. My longest fast was a 26-day juice fast in April 2015. After that, I followed the 5:2 method for the rest of the year, which added up to around 100 fasting days and led to a 20-kilo weight loss.


But something else happened along the way: I began to notice that my RLS symptoms consistently diminished during fasting and while following a ketogenic diet. Every single time. That made me wonder – why? I noticed that my symptoms would start to ease after just a day or so of fasting, and improve steadily with each passing day.

By chance, I came across a video by Dr. Michael Anderson, from the Anderson Podiatry Center in the U.S. He's a surgeon who specializes in treating RLS patients through nerve decompression surgery.


Many people living with Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) describe it as a restless compulsion that strikes just when the body needs to rest. Crawling sensations, twitches, a burning feeling in the legs – and often a night that never ends in sleep. But what if we flip the perspective and see RLS not as an isolated nerve problem, but as a symptom of a body out of balance?

Surprisingly many have noticed that fasting and the ketogenic diet significantly reduce their RLS symptoms – sometimes dramatically. This applies to both shorter fasts (intermittent fasting) and longer water fasts. And there seems to be a clear logic behind it: when we give the body a break from constant food intake and sugar dependency, something positive happens in the nervous system.


What’s really going on?

Dr. Michael Anderson, an American surgeon specializing in decompressing nerves in patients with RLS, believes that fasting and a ketogenic diet activate the body’s own repair systems – and that this might be exactly what helps in RLS. His experiences are echoed by many patients – and an increasing number of researchers are exploring the connection between metabolism and nerve health.

Let’s look at some of the most promising explanations for why fasting and ketosis may help relieve RLS.


1. Ketones – clean fuel for the nervous system

When you fast or eat very low amounts of carbohydrates, your body starts producing ketones – small, energy-rich molecules that replace glucose as fuel. It’s like switching your body from sugar-burning to fat-burning mode.

Research shows ketones offer several benefits: they are gentler on the brain, they protect nerve cells from stress, and they can even reduce pain. For a nervous system in distress – like in RLS – ketones seem to bring both stability and relief.


2. Gut bacteria, iron, and the hidden connection

Many people with RLS have been told that iron deficiency may be a cause – but that’s not the whole story. Researchers have found that the gut microbiome plays a major role in how the body absorbs and uses iron.

In one study, 69% of RLS patients had bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO), which can impair iron absorption and create low-grade inflammation – both of which can trigger RLS.

When we fast, the gut gets a break, and the microbiome shifts quickly. Harmful bacteria decrease, nutrient absorption improves – and the body regains its balance.


3. Fasting boosts your body’s natural painkillers

During fasting, the body increases production of serotonin and endorphins – neurotransmitters that elevate mood and reduce pain. That’s not only why fasting sometimes makes us calmer and more focused – it also offers concrete support for the nervous system.

Many people with RLS have a low pain threshold, especially in the evening. By increasing these chemical messengers, symptoms become more manageable – sometimes nearly disappearing.


4. New nerves – for real

Another benefit of fasting is that the body begins producing new nerve cells – a process called neurogenesis. This is triggered in part by a substance called BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor).

BDNF acts like fertilizer for the nervous system. It helps nerve cells grow, renew themselves, and form new connections. Exactly what we want if RLS is rooted in disrupted signal traffic between the brain and legs.


5. Inflammation quiets down

A body that eats frequently, maintains high blood sugar, and constantly pushes its metabolic system often ends up in a state of low-grade inflammation – something the nervous system is extremely sensitive to.

Fasting reduces levels of inflammatory substances like CRP and TNF-α. It also lowers oxidative stress, which can help nerves recover and regain normal function.


RLS – a nervous system in metabolic imbalance?

Taken together, there are strong reasons to view RLS not only as a neurological issue but as a condition where the body is trying to signal that something deeper is out of balance. Perhaps it’s a kind of “internal overheating” – where the nervous system never gets to rest, and symptoms become a warning signal.

Giving the body a break – through fasting or a ketogenic diet – may be one way to break the cycle. It’s not a quick fix, but for many, it’s a true relief.


What You Can Do

Want to try fasting or a ketogenic diet to reduce your RLS symptoms? Here are some simple steps:

  • Try skipping breakfast a few days a week (intermittent fasting, e.g. 16:8)

  • Avoid fast carbs – especially in the evening

  • Consider a low-carb diet rich in healthy fats and protein

  • Track your symptoms – so you can spot patterns

It’s not about deprivation – it’s about giving the body breathing room. Sometimes, that’s all it takes.

And if you’ve already tried everything – maybe it’s time to try nothing. No eating. No constant digestion. Just a pause.

"Restless Legs isn’t just something that happens to you. It might be something your body is trying to tell you."

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