Paleo Diet Reduces Parkinson Tremors

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders, Parkinson's disease is a progressive condition. The cause of this disease is due to the gradual loss of brain cells that produce dopamine, a chemical responsible in part for precise motor control. Symptoms of this disease include trembling, stiffness, or rigidity in the hands, face, or body. While there is no cure for Parkinson's disease, symptoms may be helped through compliance with a restrictive eating plan, like the Paleo diet.

Paleo Diet

• Adhere to a Paleo Diet to increase the chance of reducing Parkinson's disease symptoms. The Paleo Diet was designed by Dr. Ben Balzer, a family physician. It is modeled after the eating habits of the world's remaining hunter-gatherer groups, due to the fact that these groups have some of the lowest occurrence rates for a number of diseases that are fairly common in Western culture, including high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, stroke, cardiac problems, cancer, and depression. The Paleo diet might also serve to help individuals with Parkinson's by adhering to the commonly-accepted nutritional advice for treating this disease. This includes restriction of possible food irritants, such as gluten, while bolstering the number of antioxidants in the diet by consuming more fruits and vegetables.

  According to a 1991 Columbia University study, diets containing high levels of antioxidants dramatically slowed the progression of Parkinson's. To follow this approach, simply restrict your consumption of the following food types: dairy, grains, beans, potatoes, salt, and sugar. Then, base your diet solely around the foods to which a caveman would have had access--meat, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and berries. Consume at least one serving of fruits or vegetables with every meal to boost your intake of important anti-Parkinson's antioxidants. Vary the fruits and veggies you consume with each meal to provide your body with a broad spectrum of nutrients. .

Paleo Diet and Parkinson's

• According to a 2002 Science Daily article, latent gluten (a type of protein found in grains) sensitivity is responsible for a number of neurological disorders. Thus, eliminating gluten consumption might help to eliminate the neurological dysfunction of individuals with Parkinson's, reversing or eliminating some of the tremors commonly associated with the disease. Studies from the September 1996 issue of Neurology and the January 1996 issue of Annals of Neurology demonstrated that a diet low in sugar and restricted in animal fat can further reduce the prevalence of Parkinson's. While the Paleo diet is already low in sugar, consider limiting your protein sources to only those low in fat (like chicken, turkey, low-fat beef, or seafood) to further help assist in fighting Parkinson's.