Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain. It is characterized by the gradual decline in motor function caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra; the most common symptoms include tremors and rigidity.
However, people with Parkinson’s can also experience significant changes in taste, however this is not classically thought to be an effect of the disease and is more likely related to nutritional deficiencies.
The most common dietary advice for people with Parkinson’s is to avoid processed foods and to stick with healthy foods. Many of us with Parkinson’s are already on a very strict diet.
A lot of us are on a special diet to treat Parkinson’s, and some of us eat very healthy.
What are the common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease affects all aspects of life and can be categorized into two types: early-onset and late-onset.
Early-onset Parkinson’s disease is often referred to as early-onset PD and is characterized by early-onset of a tremor that starts in one hand and spreads to another.
The tremor usually appears before the age of 60, with a rapid progression that occurs over the course of 3-10 years. The symptoms of the disease include tremors, rigidity, slowness of movement, and a decrease in the size of your muscles.
The cause of the disease is suspected to be due to the loss of dopamine, a naturally occurring brain chemical. Once the brain stops producing dopamine, the disease is said to be incurable.
Foods to avoid with Parkinson’s disease
There is no question that your diet is important when it comes to Parkinson’s disease. You want to eat to keep the disease at bay, but you also want to consume the right foods that are good for your body.
If you are just starting out on a diet for Parkinson’s, you should read up on the foods you should be eating. There are certain foods that should be avoided to provide the best chance of avoiding the disease by eating the right foods.
Processed foods
Food is one of the most important parts of a healthy diet. There is no doubt that processed foods can be harmful to some people, especially those with Parkinson’s Disease, and there is no way to know which foods are safe for all people.
Some people can tolerate processed foods with minimal risk for Parkinson’s disease. Others may need to avoid certain foods or may tolerate certain foods better than others. Knowing the risks of foods can help you decide what is right for you.
- Canned foods
If you have symptoms of Parkinson’s disease or other neurological conditions, you should not be eating canned foods because of the risk of dangerous exposure to chemical residue.
Even if you don’t have any symptoms, canned food is generally a bad choice because the food has been heated twice to sterilize the can, and both times the food has been heated it has been subjected to high heat for a very short time.
If you haven’t heard of this, it’s called “thermal processing” and it’s also known as “rapid thermal processing” or “high-pressure processing” and is thought to be bad for our health.
- Sodas
In a study published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, researchers discovered that the consumption of sodas, aspartame, or other sweetened products were associated with a higher risk of developing the disease.
The study found that people who drank one or more sodas a day were 48 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease by the time they reached their mid-fifties.
The alarming association was stronger in women than in men, and the group consuming the most sodas was also the most likely to develop the disease.
The researchers note that the consumption of artificial sweeteners may be one of the risk factors, since many people use them to cut back on sugar.
- Ready meals
Recent studies have shown that eating processed foods like ready meals and frozen foods can increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
So if you have Parkinson’s or are at risk of developing the disease, it’s best to eat a variety of fresh produce, lean meats, healthy fats and proteins, and avoid processed foods at all costs.
- Breakfast cereals
Breakfast cereals can be a good source of nutrition, but many people with Parkinson’s disease should avoid them. Breakfast cereals are loaded with sugar and oils, which are all major triggers of food sensitivities.
- Chips
We all love a good potato chip and the salty snack is a popular treat for everyone. But if you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, cutting them out of your diet may be a good idea. In fact, the diet may help maintain your cognitive abilities, keep you moving, and reduce anxiety.
- Bacon
You may have heard about the link between certain foods and Parkinson’s disease. The most widely known food to be associated with the disease is bacon.
This food item may come with a lot of health benefits, but it may also come with serious health risks. For people who have Parkinson’s disease.
The main ingredient for the popular breakfast food is a source of the “chemical” known as nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are a group of compounds that are formed when meat is cooked at high temperatures, and they are formed in smaller amounts when bacon is cured.
Nitrosamines are found in the blood of people who have Parkinson’s disease. Since nitrosamines are found in food cooked at high temperatures, there is a chance that you could be exposed to them before you eat bacon.
Foods containing saturated fat and cholesterol
Foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol should be avoided to prevent the onset of Parkinson’s disease.
Foods like meat, cheese, eggs, butter and even whole milk products are an essential part of our diet. However, in certain cases, it is advisable to avoid foods containing saturated fat and cholesterol.
This is because they are common triggers of the formation of a protein called alpha-synuclein, which can aggravate the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
Foods that are hard to chew
As you may know, foods that are hard to chew can be very difficult, causing your mouth to be painful, to the point of causing you to gag, or to the point of being unable to taste or savour what you eat.
The reason that it is hard to chew is because the person with Parkinson’s disease is almost completely paralysed, so what you can touch doesn’t reach your brain which will then not be able to send a message to your brain telling it that you are trying to eat.
As we all know, eating is one of the most important aspects of life. If you don’t have the right food under your belt, then you can’t function properly.
There are some foods that are hard to chew, which can be a problem for some people with Parkinson’s disease. If you have PD, you may be looking to avoid foods that are hard to chew to help prevent problems with swallowing.
Certain dairy foods
One of these is to avoid certain foods that may exacerbate the disease. Certain foods have been found to be harmful to the brain, and the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can be worsened.
These foods include dairy products, sugar, foods that are high in fat, foods with a lot of salt, and alcohol.
Alcoholic beverages
It’s no secret that the consumption of alcohol can be harmful to a person with Parkinson’s disease. It can lead to a number of health problems including increased risk of death and dementia.
For this reason, you should be careful not to drink alcohol while you have Parkinson’s disease. Of course there are times when you might need a drink—to help with the effects of a medication, say—but you should be very careful to avoid alcohol if you have Parkinson’s disease.
Maintaining a nutritious diet for Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms include tremors, rigidity, and slow movement.
In order to maintain a healthy diet and help maintain a normal lifestyle, it is essential to have healthy eating habits.
