IF YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.. BEFORE PD, I WAS A CHEESE BURGER.

[Jerebet]

from my blog diaryofamadparkie.wordpress...

It has been said “You are what you eat” and it may be true. New research in mice suggests. upon aging, a high-fat diet significantly accelerated the onset of neurological symptoms in mice that were genetically predisposed to develop Parkinson’s disease. The study revealed healthy eating habits slashed the risk of the incurable brain disorder by up to 46 per cent. The findings, published in the European Journal of Neurology , supports earlier studies suggesting diet could have a key role to play in preventing Parkinson’s and suggests utilizing food with neuroprotective properties.

It’s not clear why certain foods might have a protective effect, some research suggests Parkinson’s disease may be more likely to occur when cells in the body undergo a damaging process called oxidative stress. Neuroprotective food may reduce this stress.

Vitamin deficiency may also play a part. In 2001 scientists from Taiwan and the National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that vitamin D3, one of the two major active forms of vitamin D, can restore muscle activity in rats induced with Parkinson’s disease. Their study, published in Brain Research, showed that treating the rats with D3 improved muscle movement and reduced the dopamine neuronal toxicity caused by the compound given to induce Parkinson’s.6 The researchers think that the reversal of a toxic mechanism that injures cells via free radicals and reactive oxygen may take place when the D3 is administered. Consult with your physician to check your vitamin D levels.

Research has also shown that an anti oxidant diet reduces the risk of Parkinson’s and that there are foods with neuroprotective properties that may improve the condition.Most studies point to the Mediterranean diet, which is a delicious and healthy way to eat. Many people who switch to this style of eating say they’ll never eat any other way.

Caution: PD medications may have interactions with certain foods, other medications vitamins, and herbal supplements: levodopa (Sinemet) is a protein building block so it competes for absorption with other proteins. Eating a very proteinic meal reduces the likelihood of effectively absorbing levodopa, so you may want to leave meat, fish and cheese for dinner and eat more carbohydrates and vegetables during the day. Taking medication on an empty stomach – 30 minutes before or 60 minutes after a meal – allows the drug to reach the small intestine and absorb faster. However, a carbohydrate snack (crackers, toast, oatmeal) with the medication may be necessary to prevent nausea.

Dopamine agonists (pramipexole and ropinirole) do not require any dietetic adjustment. Those who take MAO-B inhibitors (rasagiline or selegiline) should eat with moderation – but not eliminate – foods that contain high concentrations of tyramine. MAO-B inhibitors increase tyramine, and the combination could elevate blood pressure. This list of foods to avoid includes:

• cured, fermented or air-dried meats or fish

• aged cheeses: aged cheddar or Swiss, blue cheeses, Camembert

• fermented cabbage: sauerkraut, kimchi

• soybean products, including soy sauce

• red wine and tap beer

Iron supplements can also decrease absorption of levodopa so they should be separated from medications by at least two hours.

Still interested? Here are some specific steps to get you started on a Mediterranean eating plan:

food• Eat your veggies and fruits — and switch to whole grains. A variety of plant foods should make up the majority of your meals. They should be minimally processed — fresh and whole are best. Include veggies and fruits in every meal and eat them for snacks as well. Switch to whole-grain bread and cereal, and begin to eat more whole-grain rice and pasta products. Keep baby carrots, apples and bananas on hand for quick, satisfying snacks. Fruit salads are a wonderful way to eat a variety of healthy fruit.

• Go nuts.Nuts and seeds are good sources of fiber, protein and healthy fats. Keep almonds, cashews, pistachios and walnuts on hand for a quick snack. Choose natural peanut butter, rather than the kind with hydrogenated fat added. Try blended sesame seeds (tahini) as a dip or spread for bread.

• Pass on the butter.Try olive or canola oil as a healthy replacement for butter or margarine. Lightly drizzle it over vegetables. After cooking pasta, add a touch of olive oil, some garlic and green onions for flavoring. Dip bread in flavored olive oil or lightly spread it on whole-grain bread for a tasty alternative to butter. Try tahini as a dip or spread for bread too.

• Spice it up.Herbs and spices make food tasty and can stand in for salt and fat in recipes.

• Go fish.Eat fish at least twice a week. Fresh or water-packed tuna, salmon, trout, mackerel and herring are healthy choices. Grill, bake or broil fish for great taste and easy cleanup. Avoid breaded and fried fish.

• Rein in the red meat.Limit red meat to no more than a few times a month. Substitute fish and poultry for red meat. When choosing red meat, make sure it’s lean and keep portions small (about the size of a deck of cards). Also avoid sausage, bacon and other high-fat, processed meats.

• Choose low-fat dairy.Limit higher fat dairy products, such as whole or 2 percent milk, cheese and ice cream. Switch to skim milk, fat-free yogurt and low-fat cheese.

Below are some neuroprotective foods.

1. Apples: Eating an apple a day protects the brain from oxidative damage that causes neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This magical nutrient that acts as protection is quercetin, which is a phytonutrient.

2. Asparagus :asparagus rich in folic acid, which is essential for the metabolism of the long chain fatty acids in your brain.

3. Lean Beef :Lean beef is rich in vitamin B12, iron and zinc. These vitamins and minerals have been shown to maintain a healthy neural tissue.

4. Blueberries and Strawberries: Studies show that people who eat their memory and their motor skills. In addition, their antioxidant properties can protect your brain from the oxidative process.

5. Dark Chocolate: Dark chocolate offers incredible concentration powers. It is a very powerful antioxidant containing natural stimulants that increase the production of feel-good endorphins. Trick: you need to find dark chocolate with less than 10 grams of sugar per serving for optimal benefits.

6. Salmon:Salmon contains omega-3 fatty acids, which studies have shown to be essential for brain function.

7. Dried Oregano:Certain spices have powerful antioxidant properties. In several studies, this powerful spice has shown to have 40 times more antioxidant properties than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges, and 4 times more than that of blueberries or strawberries.

8. Walnuts:Walnuts are rich in protein and contain omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins E and B6 which all promote healthy neural tissue.

9. Whole Grains:Whole grains deliver fiber and vitamin E that help promote cardiovascular health, which helps improve the circulation to the brain.

10. Yogurt:Yogurt and other dairy foods are filled with protein and vitamin B that are essential to improve the communication between nerve cells.

11. Coconut Oil: Coconut oil, classified as a medium-chain triglyceride, may even be beneficial for people suffering from other incurable diseases, such as Parkinson’s.

12.Coffee and tea In older adults, people who drank three cups of coffee daily had lower instances of dementia Dr. Ronald Postuma from McGill University and colleagues found, in a study published this month, that coffee can lessen the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. In 61 patients with Parkinson’s disease, participants were given 100 milligrams of caffeine pills for two weeks and 200 for the following two weeks, which add up to two to four cups of coffee, respectively. The caffeine helped to boost movement control and muscle stiffness for people with Parkinson’s disease, though, interestingly, it did not help with their sleepiness. Though the effect was a moderate one, coffee is so easy to make or buy, and is so cheap, that the researcher considered the benefit worthwhile to Parkinson’s sufferers.

Sample Menus:

.

Breakfast

• Pita with Ricotta Spread and Raisins

• Fill a 6 1/2-inch whole-wheat pita with 1/3 cup fat-free ricotta cheese mixed with 1 tablespoon each peanut butter and honey. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon raisins in the pita mixture.

Lunch

• Souvlaki Lamb and Rice

• Serve remaining lamb (4 ounces or bar-of-soap-size) and rice or couscous (1/2 cup or baseball-size) from Saturday’s dinner. Serve over 2 cups baby spinach greens or 1 cup cooked spinach.

Snack

• Smoothie

Have 1 Yoplait Nouriche smoothie.

Dinner

• Basil Shrimp Summer Salad

Marinate 12 medium-size or 9 large-size shrimp (3 ounces) in a basil marinade for at least 30 minutes or overnight. To make basil marinade: Whisk together 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/8 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil. Grill shrimp until cooked through. Top 2 cups of romaine lettuce with the shrimp and mix well into greens for added flavor. Serve with 1 cup blueberries. For dessert serve 1 frozen strawberry milk Popsicle

Breakfast

• Fluffy Pancakes

In a bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups low-fat yogurt (any flavor), 1 large egg, 1 cup whole-wheat or buckwheat pancake mix, and 3/4 cup fat-free milk. This recipe makes 5 servings (each serving is 4 small pancakes). Have 1 serving now and pack away 4 individual servings in the freezer for upcoming meals. Serve with 2 tablespoons light maple syrup, 1 cup fat-free milk, and 1 cup fresh strawberries.

Lunch

• Chickpea Salad

In a bowl, combine 7 1/2 ounces (half a 15-ounce can) canned chickpeas (rinse in a colander for 2 minutes to remove excess sodium and drain well; save other half for Tuesday’s snack), 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1/4 cup chopped white onion, 1/4 cup chopped green pepper (save the rest of the onion and pepper for dinner), 1 tablespoon sliced black olives, 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, and 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar. Mix thoroughly. Serve mixture over 2 cups romaine lettuce leaves.

Snack

• Crackers and Dip

Spread 1 Wasa crispbread cracker with 2 tablespoons hummus. Serve with 1 fresh plum.

Dinner

• Chicken Kabobs

Slice 4 ounces raw chicken breast into small chunks to skewer on a kabob stick. Marinate at least 30 minutes to overnight in 1/4 cup fat-free Italian dressing. Slice remainder of white onion and green pepper from lunch into chunks; set out 10 grape tomatoes. Alternate pieces of marinated chicken, onion, pepper, and cherry tomatoes on skewers and grill. Serve with one 6-inch whole-wheat pita pocket, toasted over the grill. Spread pita with 2 tablespoons hummus.

Snack.

• Popsicle 1 cup fat-free milk mixed with 1 tablespoon strawberry drink mix. For added refreshment, freeze the flavored milk into a Popsicle mold the night before and enjoy this as a healthy dessert!

Bon Appetite

[laglag]

Great information. Thank you!

[racerCP]

It all sounds very scientific except I was a vegetarian for 25 or so years, ate mostly vegetables, fruit, little sugar or salt, fish and really healthy, vitamins and all that yet here I am on Healthunlocked in the same boat. It doesn't hurt to have a good diet, exercise and all that but it's still called idiopathic Parkinsons because they just don't know what causes it.

[Jerebet in reply to racerCP]

i agree, we don't know what causes it, but better eating cant hurt.

[silvestrov in reply to racerCP]

Here is an interesting article written by Dr. Joel Furhman about Herbert Shelton, a leader in the vegan movement, and his PD:

naturalhygienesociety.org/v...

[metacognito]

Where, exactly, is this elusive study that claims "a high-fat diet significantly accelerated the onset of neurological symptoms in mice"??? Wouldn't it be great if we could simply point to a single culprit to blame for the varied and sundry manifestations of Parkinson's and other neurological disorders? Unfortunately we can't.

Not all fats are created equal. In fact, there are at least as many more recent studies that conclude that certain fats/fatty acids are in fact highly beneficial to our health and metabolism (if not critical) and should make up a larger than previously assumed part of our diets. Omega 3 fatty acids, monounsaturated oleic, medium-chain triglycerides, and even certain more traditional saturated fats have proven to be essential. It's primarily the processed, hydrogenated, trans fat oils that are proving to be the modern day scourge and should therefore be avoided. Perhaps your mice were fed a diet of Crisco?

[Jerebet in reply to metacognito]

i agree. I will get you the study link.

[Jodi01]

What an excellent summary of nutirition as it relates to PD. Thanks for the great effort.

[Jerebet]

thank you

[HealthSeeker7]

Thank you for some very helpful information. But I question many of your meal examples. After saying, " levodopa (Sinemet) is a protein building block so it competes for absorption with other proteins. Eating a very proteinic meal reduces the likelihood of effectively absorbing levodopa, so you may want to leave meat, fish and cheese for dinner and eat more carbohydrates and vegetables during the day" and "A variety of plant foods should make up the majority of your meals. They should be minimally processed — fresh and whole are best", almost every meal example you've given contains some sort of animal protein.

It may be that many people with PD can get away with eating animal protein (meat, eggs and dairy) throughout the day without it causing them to go 'off'. But others may find, as we did, that animal proteins definitely prevent levodopa from being absorbed. (Proteins from plant foods do not cause a problem.)

My husband has to eat entirely vegan meals, at least until after his last dose of levodopa for the day. Otherwise he can't absorb his levodopa medication and he is mostly or entirely 'off' for the rest of the day. We have been experimenting with his diet for many years now, and it has become clear that animal protein, even in small quantities shuts him down.

Now that he has made the clear connection that animal foods cause him pain and discomfort, he happily sticks to his vegan diet. Occasionally he gets away with having a late evening 'treat' of pizza or other cheesy snack (if he's craving it) after his last dose of medication, so he can't claim to be 100% vegan. But when he eats like this, he is mostly on all day. He is also much happier and fitter, able to walk long distances, lift heavy weights and work in the garden.

I encourage anyone with PD who suffers with long 'off' periods to try avoiding animal foods for a few days to see if it makes a helpful difference, the way it has for my husband.