Parkinson’s and Diet: Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid

Parkinson is a type of disease in which a central nervous system disorder happens and it creates involuntary quivering movements generally known as tremors. Parkinson’s disease is continuously increasing and is affecting a lot of people on a global level. As per the stats, almost 60,000 people are identified with the symptoms of Parkinson every year. There are various symptoms of this disease and it differs from individual to individual but the most common symptoms include muscle spasms, slow movement, muscle soreness and stiffness in the brain.

Parkinson leads to nerve cell damage in the brain which affects the dopamine levels and drops them down. These dopamine levels need to get back in their normal levels which require proper dietary intervention. There are various foods that can treat or worsen the symptoms of this disease. Here are some foods to eat and foods to avoid during the Parkinson disease. Add and avoid these foods in order to treat this disease.

 
Foods to eat

• Fruits and veggies: Fruits and veggies are packed with great nutrients like protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals which can help in the proper functioning of the brain. It will fuel up the mind and body which help in curing the symptoms of the Parkinson disease. You can consume fruit smoothies, stir fry vegetables and make soups and salads out of it. Try to not consume juices as they do not cover the content of fibre and generally contain sugar in the water which is quite harmful for this disease.
• Grains: Grains are packed with plenty of nutrients and are great for health and well-being. The nutrients it contains are really helpful for the brain to work well properly and it can treat the common symptoms of Parkinson disease as well. It is advisable to maintain weight during this disease and grains contain complex carbs that can lower down the consumption of fat in the body and thus maintaining an ideal weight. Not only this, but it will also give your body and brain that much-needed energy to function properly. Include whole wheat, ragi, jowar, bajra, barley, oats.
• Nuts and seeds: Nuts and seeds are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and can cure the lesser-known symptoms of this disease known as dementia and confusion. Try to add more almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, flax seeds and salmon in your diet to get the higher quantities of omega 3s. Various studies show that soy can give protection against this disease and improve cognitive health like nothing else.
• Berries: Berries are packed with antioxidants which can help in lowering down the oxidative stress that intensifies and worsen Parkinson disease and its symptoms. You can add blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, elderberries and other antioxidant-rich foods like tomatoes, kale and spinach in your diet to get plenty of antioxidants.

Foods to avoid

• Processed and packaged foods: Processed and packaged foods are rich in saturated fats (bad fats) and can increase your cholesterol levels and can worsen the condition of Parkinson disease. High consumption of saturated fats can also jam up the brain which can lead to slow movements of the brain. Also, consumption of such foods can lead to weight gain which can increase the risk of other diseases.
• Sugary foods: Limiting the intake of sugar can make your brain work well and also reduce the common symptoms of Parkinson disease. Sugary foods are packed up with many calories in the body which can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of various other diseases.

Over to you
Apart from this, add some exercises in your lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight to cure the symptoms of Parkinson disease. Proper hydration is quite important for people suffering from Parkinson disease.