I have Parkinson’s Disease. What Can I do?
Like with any disease, genetic mutation, temporary illness, etc., it is essential to consume a well-balanced diet. Your doctor can help you decide what meal plan will work best for your current condition and lifestyle.
Ensure that you are consuming enough of the necessary healthy nutrients to help you and, not consuming too many of the bad ones is key. Just like anything else, too much of a good thing can be harmful.
What vitamins are best for you to consume daily if you have Parkinson’s Disease?
A multivitamin quickly attains some essential vitamins for you to consume in everyday life, especially a person with Parkinson’s disease, through food choices. It is vital to maintain your B vitamins, including B2, B6, and B12. Some other supplements that are needed include folic acid, zinc, and TMG. You can obtain all of these nutrients through a multivitamin, pills, supplements, and even food.
Vitamin D is also very important for everyone but especially those who have Parkinson’s disease. It is normally a good idea to take a vitamin D supplement, but make sure you get outside and enjoy the sun when possible. Vitamin D is an anti-inflammatory and is known also to help with brain inflammation.
Magnesium is a mineral that will help your body to relax naturally. Muscle tremors or spasms, insomnia, nervousness, muscle weakness, high blood pressure, constipation, depression, hyperactivity, or irregular heartbeat can all be helped by adding magnesium to your diet. Magnesium has been found to reduce your spasms and help with your anxiety and improve sleep.
What foods are best for me to consume with my Parkinson’s disease?
When you have Parkinson’s Disease you need to have a well-balanced diet. Certain foods and nutrients will help keep you healthy as possible. Foods that are rich in fibers are a great asset to your diet and help with constipation. Green vegetables, lentils, nuts, beans, and seeds are also loaded with folic acid.
B12 is also an essential vitamin to have in your diet. You can find vitamin B12 in animal foods such as beef, fish, chicken, pork, eggs, and dairy products. The best seeds to help you get the nutrients you need for your Parkinson’s disease include flax seeds and pumpkin seeds. You can also use flaxseed oil to give your food a little boost.
Seafood is a significant addition to your diet if you have Parkinson’s disease. Seafood is packed full of omega-3 fatty acids—these acids are anti-inflammatory, which will help your neurological system. Neuroinflammation is a common issue of Parkinson’s disease.
Neuro-inflammation can cause pressure on your brain and, in turn, cause mood disorders. Omega 3’s are found in nature. The best places to locate them are from fish. Fish high in Omega 3s include salmon, herring, sardines, trout, anchovies, and pillared. For people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, it is suggested that you eat fish at least twice a week and eat seeds on multiple days of the week.
What foods should I avoid since I have Parkinson’s disease?
It is important to ensure that you are eating enough nutrients to help your body be the most efficient it can be. But you also want to make sure that you’re not eating anything that is detrimental to your health.
Make sure that you are not consuming a lot of sugary foods or sugary drinks because they will only damage your system.
It is important to eat enough protein and equally important to not overeat protein because too much protein can affect certain Parkinson’s medications.
Ensure you are not consuming too much salt, too much cholesterol, or too many fats, including trans fats and saturated fats.
A balanced diet is one of the most important positive things you can do for your body and yourself.