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. Scientists can list off nutrients in different foods with beneficial properties and then study their effects in various mouse models, but what I think is most important is how we, the patients, feel. There are so many complicated factors going into our health and symptomatology that you need to rely on yourself to monitor your daily activities.
Since food, exercise, the weather, our medication schedules can all affect our symptoms, I recommend creating a system to track how you feel after eating different foods. This way, you can create your own list of what foods you should try to incorporate more into your diet, and which to avoid. In general, it’s easier to keep track of foods which are particularly bad for you. For me, apple cider fits into that category. The last time I drank a cup of apple cider, I could not walk after 5 minutes due to extreme muscle freezing. About an hour later, I was fine. I don’t even hesitate to question whether I should have apple cider or not.
For most foods, it’s not as simple as apple cider. If you’re unsure where to start, our recipes can give you ideas on how to incorporate various foods into your diet. I recommend keeping track of how you feel after eating different foods (and different combinations of foods) with a food journal. This is not to count calories or specific quantities of any given food. Instead it is to record what meals you had and how you felt during the day in terms of energy, symptoms, and mood. In addition, keep track of anything unique about the day which could have positive or detrimental effects on how you’re feeling — working out with our videos, for example! Over time, I’m confident you’ll figure out what you need to be your best. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to keep motivating yourself to build healthy eating habits by revisiting old journal entries!
Example of a day’s entry:
Breakfast:
- 2 pieces of toast with butter and low-sugar raspberry jam
- 2 eggs with cheese, mushroom, onion and cilantro
- Tea with lemon and honey
- Plain Greek yogurt with banana and nuts
Lunch:
- Carrot, turnip, pear and raisin salad. Lemon/honey/ginger dressing.
Dinner:
- Borscht with sour cream, extra garlic, and fresh herbs
- Turkey cutlets with radish/yogurt/scallion salad
- Couscous with roasted root vegetables
- (Dessert): Handful of nuts, tea with lemon and honey
Notes about the day:
Worked out in the afternoon for 30 minutes, and ran 15 minutes to work. Legs felt tired and somewhat stiff in the morning, but better after working out. Feel great tonight, following my typical diet. (Include any changes from your typical diet or exercise routine).