Battling Parkinson’s Disease? – What Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid

Do you have an elderly loved one in your family who is battling Parkinson’s disease? Are you wondering how you can help soothe the discomforts of your beloved family member? If that’s so, you can find this article quite helpful. Parkinson’s Disease is known for being a concerning disorder of the central nervous system. It affects your normal body movements adversely resulting in uncontrollable movements involving shaking, muscle spasms, muscle soreness, tremors, difficulty in balance and coordination, and stiffness. The condition starts with tremors in one hand, and the symptoms worsen over time so much so that the affected individual may experience difficulty in walking and talking. Neurodegenerative disease is known to be the second most common globally. Although Parkinson’s disease can’t be cured, the right medications, therapies, and dietary measures can help improve your relief from the symptoms and quality of life. To raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease, World Parkinson’s Day is celebrated on the 11^th of April annually. It’s part of Parkinson’s Awareness Month i.e. April.  The day also commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. James Parkinson, a renowned physician who identified Parkinson’s disease as a medical condition. The theme of Parkinson’s Awareness Month is #Take6forPD. The theme considers the new study which indicates that every six minutes a person is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD). World Parkinson’s Day aims to unite Parkinson’s disease sufferers and their families, celebrate the outstanding work of people caring for Parkinson’s patients, and salute the strength and resilience of those living with the condition. Following proper therapy, homeopathy for anxiety, and dietary measures can soothe the discomforting symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Here’s everything about how diet can help you ease the symptoms of the condition and improve your quality of life.

Although diet can’t cure Parkinson’s disease, the research in this reveals that certain dietary modifications can help reduce the symptoms of some Parkinson’s disease sufferers. This is so because this neurodegenerative condition is closely related to a lack of dopamine cells in the body. If you are looking forward to boosting your dopamine naturally, the right diet can help. The relief from the secondary symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as confusion and dementia, can improve through diet and lifestyle modifications. Foods abundant in antioxidants can help mitigate the oxidative stress in your brain, thereby helping curb some mental decline in Parkinson’s disease sufferers. Magnesium, fibre, antioxidants, and probiotics, among others, can help ease the symptoms of this condition. Adding the right nutritious foods to the diet and avoiding certain foods can help improve the relief of Parkinson’s disease sufferers. Check out everything about it.

5 Foods to Eat for Managing Parkinson’s Disease

1. Fish Oil and Food Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Adding fish oil to the diet can help slow the progression of this neurodegenerative condition. Omega-3 fatty acids help minimize nerve inflammation, slow neurodegeneration, and improve neurotransmission. So, the intake of omega-3 fatty acids helps improve the health and quality of life of Parkinson’s disease sufferers. For that, add salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, and oysters to your diet. You can have this diet along with homeopathy treatment for depression, which Parkinson’s disease sufferers may need. Omega-3 fatty acids also help improve your cardiovascular health, and brain function, and slow the progression of cognitive decline. Adequate intake of omega-3 fatty acids also helps minimize the risk of confusion and dementia in general.

2. Fava Beans

Levodopa, which is the precursor of dopamine, is quite effective in managing Parkinson’s disease. Fava beans contain levodopa. So, it helps slow the progression of this condition. It may lead to improvement in the motor performance of individuals with Parkinson’s disease without any adverse effects.

3. Foods with Vitamins and Minerals

Nutritional deficiencies are often observed in people with Parkinson’s disease. These include deficiencies in vitamin B1, vitamin D, vitamin C, iron, and zinc. Some of these deficiencies are believed to be associated with neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation, which are crucial factors responsible for Parkinson’s disease. So, Parkinson’s disease sufferers should consume more foods containing these crucial nutrients. Enrich your diet with:

• Foods containing vitamin B1 such as peas, nuts, bananas, oranges, and whole-grain bread.
• Foods containing iron such as beans, nuts, apples, and liver
• Foods containing vitamin C such as citrus fruits, potatoes, strawberries, broccoli, and peppers.
• Foods containing zinc such as cereal products, avocadoes, blackberries, shellfish, meat, and bread
• Foods containing vitamin D such as egg yolks, oily fish, dairy products, and plant milk fortified with vitamin D

Also, eating foods containing fibre and probiotics can help relieve constipation hazards in Parkinson’s disease sufferers.

4. Magnesium Food Sources

You may also add magnesium food sources to the diet, as they can help relieve muscle cramps. Also, low levels of magnesium can increase the risk of the development of Parkinson’s disease. So, enrich your diet with foods providing magnesium, such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Parkinson’s disease sufferers may have this diet along with homeopathy for depression, which some of them may need.

5. Foods Containing Antioxidants

Free radicals in our body are unstable molecules; and their imbalance can cause damage to DNA, fatty tissues, and proteins in our body. This damage is called oxidative stress which can lead to cellular damage. It’s linked to the progression of Parkinson’s disease. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals and prevent the risk of oxidative stress. So, include cranberries, cherries, blueberries, raspberries, parsley, turmeric, walnuts, pecans, cocoa powder, broccoli, kale, spinach, citrus fruits, green tea, kidney beans, and black beans in your diet.

4 Foods to Avoid to Manage Parkinson’s Disease

Intake of certain foods can worsen the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and speed up the progression of the neurodegenerative condition. So, it’s wise to avoid these foods. Here’s a quick rundown of foods to avoid when managing Parkinson’s disease.

1. Processed Foods

As per some medical studies, highly processed foods may be linked with the severity of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. So, avoid eating processed foods, such as canned foods, chips, ready meals, bacon, sodas, and cakes. Canned foods and soda may cause a more rapid progression of the condition. Also, eating processed foods in excess can lead to an increased intestinal permeability, which has a positive correlation with the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. So, avoid processed foods as much as you can. Instead, prefer eating homemade meals and whole foods.

2. Certain Dairy Foods

The intake of certain dairy products is linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease. Having skimmed low-fat may elevate the risk of this neurodegenerative condition. The intake of cheese and yoghurt can cause faster disease progression. So, avoid consuming these dairy products in large quantities.

3. Foods Containing Cholesterol and Fats

Higher intake of cholesterol or dietary fat may elevate the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Greater consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids may lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Reducing the intake of saturated fats or cholesterol can help manage the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

4. Foods That are Hard to Chew

Many Parkinson’s disease sufferers face difficulty in swallowing and chewing foods. Although speech therapists can help people overcome this issue, avoiding foods that are hard to chew and swallow can offer them relief. So, avoid eating hard foods, chewy or tough meats, and dry, crumbly foods. Prefer to eat soft foods or add sauce or gravy to the foods and make them soft and easier to chew them.

7 Healthy Dietary Tips for Parkinson’s Disease Sufferers

Here’s a quick rundown of healthy diet tips for Parkinson’s disease sufferers.

1. Eat plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and grains.
2. Limit your intake of sugar.
3. Lower your intake of sodium and salt.
4. Avoid fad diets; instead, eat foods from all food groups.
5. Avoid or limit alcohol intake.
6. Relish foods containing antioxidants, such as dark green leafy vegetables and brightly coloured fruits and veggies.
7. Prefer to eat a diet low in fat, cholesterol, and saturated fat.

Now that you know how these dietary measures can help ease the symptoms of the neurodegenerative condition, let’s spread the word about it this World Parkinson’s Day. Consulting certified dieticians and nutritionists, such as health experts at Health Total, can help you have a customized integrated treatment plan comprising diet, Ayurvedic solutions, and homeopathy for depression. Our integrated treatment not only helps ease your symptoms but also eliminates nutritional deficiencies, boosts your immunity, and lowers or prevents potential health risks. So, think no further, reach out to us at Health Total, and improve your health and quality of life while battling Parkinson’s disease with our personalized diet and integrated treatment.

Sign up for a FREE consultation with Health Total experts to get more tips for improving your health with diet and natural solutions or for managing any other health condition. Call toll-free at 1-800-833-171709 and Book Free Consultation!