Nutrition | Parkinson's on the Move

We want to give you practical tools to help you in your fight against PD, so we have created a series of recipes which are based on nutrient-rich, healthy foods which experience has proven can help to combat PD symptoms. Cooking creatively is good not just for the body, but for the soul.

Why is Nutrition Important in PD?

From our 11 year experience of living with PD we are certain, that a “healthy” diet is very close to what most people would consider a balanced diet. It has to provide you with optimal nutrition and not act as a barrier blocking the effectiveness of certain medications.
Poor nutrition can exacerbate PD’s progression, but good nutrition promotes overall brain health and may have some protective benefits. Our philosophy is simple, if it grows and it’s green, eat it – not smoke it! If you read the labels, and most of the ingredients are unfamiliar or scary, DO NOT buy it.

Do any plants or foods actually contain Levodopa?
Fava beans contain levodopa. However, the quantity of beans necessary to supply the required dosage would probably render you home-bound for obvious, aesthetic reasons.

So what is the best Diet?
In our humble opinion, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, an occasional fish. Cooking with olive oil and a variety of herbs and spices. More root vegetables, less fat... more whole grains and less bleached flour. Easy on any kind of sugar and absolutely no sugar substitutes. Just as important, is the way you go about selecting, preparing and consuming food. Make those steps all part of a bigger picture. Everything about your meals should be a source of stress reduction and if you can, share your meals with family and friends. Learn how to communicate with food, enjoy the textures and the smells, the purity and nature of its creation.

Good food is just a click away.

Bon Appétit

Remember, if you would like to build a personalized program and receive guidance on your diet, take a look at what we offer and contact us!

Recipes

Relevant articles

Does Diet Really Matter?

Wed, 03/07/2018 - 13:54

At Parkinson’s on the Move, we stay away from endorsing any particular diet plan mainly because there are so many factors that go into how we individually react to a particular diet. Trends come and go. Diet fads come and go. In the end, we are left to our own devices to sift through ideas to formulate our own. We must choose who to believe, what to believe, and go from there. Ideally, we can base these decisions on sound research. But, as is the case with the majority of lifestyle interventions, these studies are flawed. At the end of the day, you aren’t studying dietary or lifestyle modifications in a closed environment. You have compounding factors.

Artificial Sweeteners

Wed, 03/07/2018 - 13:50

Most of us, at some point in our lives, have consumed artificial sweeteners.

Foods to add: root vegetables

Wed, 03/07/2018 - 13:45

Of the foods which my body and my Parkinson’s reacts well to, root vegetables are at the top of my list. Here’s a (non-comprehensive) list of root vegetables: yams, beets, parsnips, turnips, carrots, onions, garlic, celery root, daikon, turmeric, jicama, radishes, and ginger.

Nutrition goals: bone health, hydration and minimize constipation

Wed, 03/07/2018 - 13:44

While nutrition can affect many aspects of our health, there are three things which you should be aware of. Bone health, hydration, and constipation.

Bone health:

Healthy bones are important for everyone, but as Parkinson's patients, we are at a disadvantage. Studies have shown that individuals with Parkinson's are susceptible to low bone mineral densities, putting us at an increased risk for osteoporosis and subsequent fractures.

Creating a food journal

Wed, 03/07/2018 - 13:43

After 10 years of living with Parkinson’s, one of the things I know with complete certainty is that the foods I consume make a noticeable difference in my symptoms. It has taken me years to figure out what my optimal diet is, but let me tell you- it’s worth it. Personally, I find that my symptoms are diminished when I eat root vegetables - beets, radishes, turnips, carrots, daikon, celery root, turmeric, and ginger. Maybe it’s my Russian heritage (beets!), but based on how I feel, I don’t think it’s a coincidence.