What should I eat, are there specific diets or nutritional supplements I should be taking to manage Parkinson’s? These are frequent questions my clients ask. Should I consider them for my diet? The answer is simple, try to eat a well-balanced meal. I stress that they look at the nutritional value of foods to keep the body healthy. The body must be strong so you possess the vitality necessary to perform your everyday activities efficiently. I would recommend speaking with your physician and a dietitian concerning the nutritional value of foods and what you must include in your diet.
Any time you prepare your grocery list attempt to incorporate foods from each food category. The list should include fiber-rich vegetables such as legumes (beans), bran, pasta, brown rice, whole grain products, and fresh fruits. Minimize purchasing foods rich in saturated fats, high in cholesterol, or sugar. Now, this is the toughest factor for my clients to understand which is you have to drink water, when I say consume water I mean drink 8 glasses, of eight oz. of water per day. Restrict the consumption of alcoholic beverages, especially in the evening hours, alcohol consumption can inhibit sleep as well as provide virtually no caloric value, a lot of calories, and no food value.
One of the issues my client complained about is constipation which is very common with Parkinson’s disease. Eating a healthy diet that should include fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, and cereals, and drinking water constipation shouldn’t be a problem. If it is then see your doctor and a dietitian.
Additionally, low blood pressure could be a symptom of Parkinson’s or a result of a side effect from medications. Increasing fluid and sodium (salt) consumption will help to raise the blood pressure but speak with your doctor and dietitian. Include cold fluids such as water, and sports drinks like Gatorade and V8 in your diet limiting beverages with caffeine and alcohol which can contribute to dehydration and low blood pressure.
When to eat when taking medications is important since the most common medication for Parkinson’s disease is levodopa. Levodopa conflicts with protein in passing through the blood-brain barrier to enter the brain. Protein is broken down into amino acids in the body and the amino acid goes to the brain by passing through the blood-brain barrier. Natural protein amino acid will be absorbed first as it competes with Levodopa for Parkinson’s, reducing its potency, by as much as 30%. Take your medications 30 minutes before eating or an hour after a meal allowing the small intestines to absorb medications. If necessary adjust the diet to be more carbohydrates during the day and your daily requirement of proteins at night. When taking any medication on an empty stomach it may cause nausea or an upset stomach. If this is the case try eating crackers, toast, or biscuits with the medication, this should solve the problem. If you taking an iron supplement it could also affect the absorption of levodopa and should be taken with a two-hour separation from Parkinson’s medication.
I have had clients who have had the painful experience of muscle cramps during the night as the medications lose their potency. Here are some suggestions that may work. I had a client who drank water and Alka Seltzer for leg cramps. You may also try tonic water, which contains quinine which has proven to reduce cramps. Other remedies that have proven effective may be yellow mustard or spice turmeric. Others endorse salt, vinegar, or pickle juice. The base for all of this is maintaining adequate hydration to prevent or limit cramping.
There is no silver bullet regarding diet, the key is eating healthy, drinking plenty of water, and exercising.
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