How to Keep Parkinson's Disease at Bay With Diet

Parkinson's disease occurs when nerve cells become impaired and die, rendering them unable to produce dopamine. Without dopamine, you may experience trembling in your hands, arms, legs and face. You may also experience stiffness in your limbs. You may struggle with balance and coordination as well. Studies have suggested that eating certain foods may ward off the onset of Parkinson's.

Instructions

• 1

  Consume more folic acid. According to a report by the National Institute on Aging, experiments on mice suggest that a folic acid deficiency could increase the brain's susceptibility to Parkinson's disease. Mice that were fed a folic acid-deficient diet actually developed Parkinson's-like symptoms. Leafy vegetables, liver and fortified cereal products are usually rich in folic acid.

• 2

  Drink more coffee. According to a Honolulu Heart Program study, men who drank 4 to 5 cups of coffee a day were five times less likely to develop the disease than men who didn't consume caffeine. A followup review suggests that caffeine has properties similar to compounds that improve motor functions in animals with Parkinson's-like symptoms.

• 3

  Have more Vitamin E. A food frequency questionnaire in the Netherlands found that people who ate a diet high in Vitamin E were less likely to develop Parkinson's. However, food frequency questionnaires are not entirely trustworthy since many people don't exactly remember their food intake from day to day. Vitamin E can be found in seeds, nuts and whole grains.

• 4

  Eat more fish. Certain epidemiological reports show that a higher intake of fish might be associated with a lower risk of developing Parkinson's.

• 5

  Drink green tea. According to research done in Israel, the polyphenols in green tea may protect dopamine-producing neurons.