Dietary Needs for Parkinson's Disease

As of now there is no diet known that will slow the progression of Parkinson's disease. However, eating a healthy, sensible diet can help to minimize the symptoms of Parkinson's. It is important to eat right, whether you have a medical problem or not. However, if you suffer from a debilitating disease such as Parkinson's, it becomes even more important.

Balanced Diet

• Parkinson's patients should not have too much protein in their diet. Protein has a way of interfering with the absorption, as well as the effectiveness, of a popular Parkinson's drug called levodopa. Doctors recommend eating only small amounts of protein during the day. Protein intake can be slightly increased in the evening.

  Whole-grains and fresh fruits and vegetables are part of a balanced diet. A balanced diet has many health benefits. They not only taste good, but they help to keep you strong, they give you more energy, as well as help prevent constipation. Fiber is also known to reduce the risks of constipation. A high-fiber diet is even more important for Parkinson's patients because it can promote the bioavailability of levodopa. Levodopa is a common medication for Parkinson's patients. High fiber may help with the level of concentration of Levadopa in PD patients.

  While there is no research yet on the benefits of a vegetarian diet for people with PD, it has been thought that a vegetarian diet may be beneficial to patients with PD.

Vitamins

• There a lot of choices when it comes to vitamins and mineral supplements today. However, there is little evidence that any of the vitamins sold today are capable of relieving symptoms of Parkinson's. There is an exception, however and it is Co-enzyme Q10. When Co-enzyme Q10 is taken in fairly high doses, it has been discovered that it may lessen the severity of many symptoms of Parkinson's in some patients.

  Magnesium and vitamin K are important vitamins to the health of your bones. Because Parkinson's patients are prone to falls, they should get the proper vitamins in their daily diet to help prevent fractures and breaks. This would include magnesium, vitamin K, calcium and vitamin D.

Vegetarian Diet

• As of now, there is no solid proof as to whether or not a vegetarian diet helps a patient with Parkinson's disease. However, eating a balanced diet that includes whole-grains, fresh fruits and vegetables are excellent for creating a balanced diet. Balanced diets are known to have excellent health benefits for anyone. They are known to help you stay strong, they give you energy, and they help prevent constipation, which can be a problem for any condition, including Parkinson's.