What’s the Best Diet for Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease affects nearly 1 million people in the United States, and the number of new diagnoses each year is rising.

Symptoms vary from person to person but commonly include muscle spasms, tremors, and soreness. Researchers are still investigating the causes and triggers that activate Parkinson’s.

Since there’s no cure for Parkinson’s, and the drugs prescribed to manage symptoms sometimes have side effects, some people may be interested in complementary remedies.

While diet won’t cure Parkinson’s, early research suggests that certain dietary changes may help relieve symptoms for some people.

Because research links Parkinson’s to a lack of dopamine in your body, scientists are looking for ways to increase dopamine naturally through your diet.

Diet may also help your body handle Parkinson’s medications better. Research suggests that diet may play a role in boosting the efficacy of drugs like levodopa and in helping to manage side effects.

Lifestyle changes, like diet and exercise, may also help reduce cognitive symptoms of Parkinson’s, like dementia and confusion, and slow disease progression.

Foods high in antioxidants may also help reduce oxidative stress in your brain, which may be responsible for some of the mental decline seen in Parkinson’s.

Additionally, you may be able to relieve constipation, another potential symptom, with fiber supplements and probiotics, although research is mixed.

Finally, taking magnesium may relieve muscle cramps that can occur in Parkinson’s, though supporting research is lacking. Still, scientists think low levels of this mineral may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s, so magnesium remains important.

Overall, further research is necessary.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect against oxidative stress in Parkinson’s disease. Oxidative stress is an imbalance of antioxidants and unstable compounds called free radicals.

Foods containing large amounts of antioxidants include:

• Nuts: walnuts, Brazil nuts, pecans, and pistachios
• Berries: Blueberries, blackberries, goji berries, cranberries, and elderberries
• Nightshade vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant
• Leafy green vegetables: Spinach and kale

Eating a plant-based diet high in these types of foods may provide the highest antioxidant intake.

Researchers are also exploring an antioxidant treatment for Parkinson’s, though studies remain inconclusive.

Fava Beans

Fava beans can boost antioxidant activity, but some people eat them for Parkinson’s because they contain levodopa, the same compound used in some Parkinson’s drugs. However, no definitive evidence shows that these beans help reduce symptoms.

Additionally, because you don’t know how much levodopa you’re getting when you eat fava beans, you shouldn’t use them as a substitute for prescription treatments.

Omega-3 Foods

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are types of healthy fats, may help reduce symptoms and slow the progression of Parkinson’s. Meanwhile, these fats are found in foods like:

• Flaxseeds
• Halibut
• Kidney beans
• Oysters
• Salmon
• Soybeans

Certain Nutrient-Dense Foods

In fact, people with Parkinson’s may be more likely to experience malnutrition, a risk factor for cognitive decline.

Likewise, following are some food sources of nutrients that many people with Parkinson’s may not have enough of:

• Calcium: dairy products, green leafy veggies, and fortified soy products
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine): pork, beans, lentils, and peas
• Iron: spinach, beef, tofu, and fortified breakfast cereals
• Vitamin D: salmon, tuna fish, fortified dairy products, and cod liver oil
• Zinc: whole grains, red meat, oysters, and chicken

Summary

Accordingly, eating more foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3s, as well as correcting any nutrient deficiencies, may help relieve some Parkinson’s symptoms. Although many people also eat fava beans, there’s no evidence for their efficacy.

Foods to Avoid with Parkinson’s Disease

Foods that are Hard to Chew

Another Parkinson’s symptom is difficulty chewing and swallowing. Therefore , more than one-third of people with this condition experience difficulty swallowing, with the risk increasing as the disease progresses.

Accordingly, choosing foods that are easy to chew and swallow may be important, as may working with a speech-language therapist.

Processed Foods

Lastly, experts recommend limiting or avoiding processed foods as research links them to a more rapid progression of Parkinson’s. Examples of processed foods include:

• Canned foods
• Fried foods
• Regular and diet sodas

Processed foods may also impair gut health, which may affect symptom severity.

Summary

People with Parkinson’s may need to avoid or limit processed foods and foods high in saturated fats, as these may exacerbate symptoms.

Diet Plans for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Recent research suggests that the keto diet may also benefit people with Parkinson’s.

A ketor diet increases the production of ketone bodies, which may help reduce muscle symptoms like tremors and stiffness. It may also help boost cognitive function.

However, a keto diet also poses some risks to older adults with Parkinson’s, such as constipation and high ric acid levels. Other associated risks of the keto diet for people in this age group include hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease. More research is needed.

Biospecimens