Do you need information on a suitable Parkinson's Disease Diet? Knowing which foods to focus on and which to avoid for a healthy Parkinson's disease diet can increase quality of life among sufferers.
A Parkinson's disease diet isn't a cure for the illness, but the successful use of one may alleviate symptoms and potentially prolong life. So what is a Parkinson's disease diet?
One of the most important functions of a Parkinson's disease diet is to keep the energy levels of the sufferer fairly consistently high. In order to achieve this, sufferers need a balance of fruits and vegetables, protein, dairy and cereal products. Fruits and vegetables are needed because they are high in vitamins and minerals. People with this illness have trouble absorbing vitamins and minerals, so they need to take in greater amounts than ordinary people. Proteins are part of a balanced meal plan, but many sufferers save high-protein foods for the end of the day because protein contains amino acids.
Since the medication for this condition, Levodopa, is also an amino acid, the amino acids in protein can compete with the medication or slow its process to the brain. For this reason, sufferers will often wait until most of their daily motor activity has been completed before they eat foods containing protein. High fibre foods are specifically important because they can help prevent the constipation that sometimes happens as a result of the illness.
Creating a solid meal plan to help you through this condition doesn't have to be difficult. If you are unsure how to begin, ask your doctor or a nutritionist for help.
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