A Parkinson’s disease diet should include fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and milk proteins, and whole foods. Vitamin D intake can improve bone health, and a low-protein breakfast and lunch with a high-protein dinner can increase the effectiveness of l-dopa. Drinking water and eating fiber can help with constipation. Consult a doctor before taking supplements.
The best diet for Parkinson’s disease is similar to the best diet for most people, which includes eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, choosing fish and milk proteins over meat, and eating whole foods. No specific diet has been consistently recommended for people with Parkinson’s disease. That said, people with Parkinson’s disease may benefit from some dietary changes.
Parkinson’s disease is caused by increased damage to dopamine-producing brain cells. Dopamine is a chemical messenger needed, among other things, to perform smooth and controlled movements. The decrease in dopamine causes the more familiar symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, including tremors and a shuffling gait. The dopamine deficiency at the root of Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured by diet alone. Eating wholesome foods, however, along with the beneficial fats in nuts and legumes, will provide adequate nutrition.
The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease has been linked to insufficient vitamin D intake. Increasing the vitamin D intake in a Parkinson’s disease diet probably won’t have a therapeutic effect, but it could make bones healthier. People with Parkinson’s disease appear to be more at risk of osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become weaker and more prone to breaking. Vitamin D can be obtained in supplements containing 400-1,000 international units (IU) of this vitamin. Good dietary sources of vitamin D include milk and fatty fish such as salmon and sardines.
People with Parkinson’s are often prescribed l-dopa, a prescription drug that can increase dopamine levels in the brain. One strategy in a Parkinson’s disease diet includes eating very little protein at breakfast and lunch and getting the majority of dietary protein at dinner. This strategy appears to increase the effectiveness of the drug l-dopa. As with other major dietary changes, this should be done in consultation with a qualified dietitian to ensure the diet is providing enough protein and overall nutrition.
Those with Parkinson’s disease may become constipated more easily than the general population. Drinking lots of water and eating more fiber are good strategies for a Parkinson’s disease diet, especially one aimed at relieving constipation. Fiber intake can be increased by eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains or by taking a fiber supplement.
Certain supplements, including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, have been studied or recommended as additions to a Parkinson’s disease diet. It’s important to consult a doctor before taking any new supplements, as they may interfere with your medications. Some supplemental vitamins have been found to directly interfere with some medications often used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Such problems are less common when nutrition comes from a healthy diet.
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