what foods to avoid while taking sinemet - Cure Parkinson's

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what foods to avoid while taking sinemet

madamebee profile image
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madamebee
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alllowercase profile image
alllowercase

if my last GP was to be believed, avoid Wheat, Gluten, Dairy, Carbohidrates and Protein. That will leave you with the Scottish diet of Whisky, Beer, Buckfast (wine) and a Saturday night Kebab. Oh, and a Fish Supper on a Friday. For the occasional treat, Scotch Pies (fried), Square Sliced Sausage (fried), Black Pudding (fried), and Haggis (boiled, steamed or fried), and Scampi (deep fried)

PatV profile image
PatV in reply to alllowercase

don't believe that GP.

alllowercase profile image
alllowercase in reply to PatV

i changed gp's before christmas

grayland profile image
grayland

I find lots of chocolate (it's hard to feel bad while eating candy), pizza, and the american version of the scottish diet work well.

wifeofparky profile image
wifeofparky

As long as you take it one hour before you eat or two hours after, most foods will not interfere with it. Protein taken with the sinemet reduces its efficacy because the same receptors that take the sinemet also take the protein.

alllowercase profile image
alllowercase in reply to wifeofparky

that might explain waking at 3 most nights with hunger pains but no appetite

PatV profile image
PatV in reply to alllowercase

this happens to me when I take advil or other nsaid

JohnPepper profile image
JohnPepper in reply to wifeofparky

Hi wifeofparky

I am not an expert on this subject, or a doctor. I have heard, at many Support Group Meetings that what you say about protein is correct. The protein competes for the levodopa in the stomach and very little manages to get to your brain. So why take levodopa at all, if you are going to eat protein, within one hour, before or after taking the medication?

You can eat other foods, as long as they do not contain protein.

Google "Protein" and make a note of all foodstuff that contains protein.

John

PatV profile image
PatV in reply to JohnPepper

it competes, but that does not mean NO levodopa is absorbed. some is, it is variable.

PatV profile image
PatV in reply to wifeofparky

my neuro says because I have 'visceral off', I must eat something immediately after I take meds (hopefully on empty stomach). Otherwise meds sit in stomach and go nowhere.

wifeofparky profile image
wifeofparky in reply to PatV

eat complex carbs then and avoid protein for at least an hour.

JohnPepper profile image
JohnPepper in reply to wifeofparky

Hi wifeofparky

Many carbs contain protein. Check with the list on Google.

John

wifeofparky profile image
wifeofparky in reply to JohnPepper

the protein that may be in carbs is minimal compared to meats, fish, cheese, eggs, tofu and the like.

wifeofparky profile image
wifeofparky

The sinemet is absorbed quickly enough on an empty stomach .that when you do eat it is not a problem.. Protein is very important and should not be eliminated from your diet. Just watch the timing and you will feel the difference. If my husband forgot to take his sinemet early enough he could feel the difference and had a longer off time. BTW- I am a nurse and have researched PD to enable me to help my husband as much as I could.

madamebee profile image
madamebee in reply to wifeofparky

Thank you very much...I looked online and the sinemet web sites do say to avoid a HIGH protein diet because protein digests slowly and impedes the sinemet being absorbed into the small intestine and then into the blood stream. I am not eliminating protein just making sure it is not too much...the timing of the med is not always easy because his work schedule often causes a late supper hour so then he would have to take his third pill later than usual. ...but he does try to do it on as even a keel as possible. Based on your advice, i will try to space the protein out during the day. Thanks again for your response.

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