Nourishing You: Living with Health in Parkinson’s Disease

Updated: Jul 31

Nourishing You: Living with Health in Parkinson’s Disease. Your diet and your lifestyle factors matter!

Living with health is important for all of us, and even more so with Parkinson's disease. We all know that following a balanced diet improves our health and general well-being. It helps our body build our immunity, and importantly, our diet and lifestyle factors help reduce symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.

Eating fresh and whole foods is best when living with health in Parkinson's disease. Choose a colorful array of fruits and vegetables, lean and fresh protein, peas, beans, legumes, and whole grains that are rich in fiber, which helps to clean and clear your large intestine and aids in the production of healthy gut bacteria. More than ever before in science, we know the benefits of a healthy microbiome for overall well-being. Ensure you have at least 40 different fruits and vegetables each week. Staying hydrated with herbal teas, fresh juices, water, and minimal caffeinated tea and coffee is vital for health.

Eating a Mediterranean diet is an excellent way to enhance living with health in Parkinson’s disease. This diet emphasizes whole grains, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and berries. Fish is the preferred protein, and olive oil is the preferred fat. It seems that a combination of healthy, plant-based eating helps more for PD than any one element of that diet.

Dehydration

· Medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease can create problems for some people, and they can tend to “dry you out.” Many people report that their excess drooling or saliva dries out when placed on certain medications. Not only can dehydration leave you more tired, but over time, it can also lead to confusion, balance issues, weakness, and kidney problems. Ensure you drink plenty of water and fluids throughout the day. Minimize caffeinated drinks that can cause more dehydration.

Healthy fresh food eating with Parkinson's disease. — Fibre rich Foods minimize symptoms

Medications

· The drug most commonly used to treat Parkinson’s disease, carbidopa-levodopa, is absorbed in your small intestine. That absorption can be disrupted if you take your medication shortly after eating a high-protein meal, since it involves the same process. To maximize the medication’s effects, eat high-protein foods at other times of the day. If you take your medicine in the morning, have oatmeal rather than high-protein eggs for breakfast, and save your protein intake for later in the day.

· Some medications can cause diarrhea as a side effect. For example, entacapone can lead to persistent diarrhea, sometimes requiring a discussion with your doctor about other medications that may be suitable for you.

Gut-Brain Connection

Research also suggests that there may be a connection between the gut and the brain in Parkinson's, with potential for gut issues to affect the disease's progression or vice versa.

· For example, the presence of Lewy bodies, which are protein clumps associated with Parkinson's, has been found in the gut in some individuals, suggesting a possible role for the gut in the development of the disease.

Constipation

Many patients with Parkinson’s disease experience constipation due to a slow down in the digestive system. Constipation is an annoyance, and if severe, can cause the large intestine to become impacted. Staying hydrated, engaging in healthy exercise, and ensuring you have a diet rich in fibre is important for clearing, cleaning, and feeding your gut bacteria.

Diarrhea

People with Parkinson's disease may suffer with diarrhea which can be caused by a variety of factors, including the disease condition itself, medications, and other underlying medical conditions. Parkinson's can affect the autonomic nervous system, which controls bowel function, leading to issues like constipation and potentially diarrhea. Furthermore, like any other individual, people with Parkinson's can experience diarrhea due to infections, food poisoning, or other food reactions or sensitivities.

The autonomic nervous system, regulates involuntary bodily functions such as digestion, which can be affected by Parkinson's.
This can lead to slowed gastric emptying, known as gastroparesis, which can cause digestive issues like diarrhea (or constipation). Dehydration can also worsen diarrhea.
Parkinson's can also affect the muscles in the rectum and anal area, making it harder to control bowel movements, potentially leading to diarrhea. A lack of fibre in the diet can contribute to constipation, which can sometimes then lead to diarrhea.
Some research suggests that Parkinson's can affect the enteric nervous system, which is responsible for regulating gut motility, further contributing to digestive issues like diarrhea.
Other conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can also contribute to diarrhea in individuals with Parkinson's.

Healthy salad, fresh fruits & vegetables — Fresh is best for Parkinson's disease

References

Bladder and Bowel Problems, Parkinson’s UK, https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/bladder-and-bowel-problems#:~:text=People%20with%20Parkinson's%20can%20get,sphincter%20muscles%20in%20your%20bottom
Fighting Parkinson's Disease with Exercise & Diet, John Hopkins Centre, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/parkinsons-disease/fighting-parkinson-disease-with-exercise-and-diet
Gastrointestinal Dysfunctions in Parkinson's Disease: Symptoms and Treatments, Parkinson's Dis, 2016 Dec 6;2016:6762528. doi: 10.1155/2016/6762528
Parkinson’s disease & the gut, https://www.apdaparkinson.org/article/questions-about-parkinsons-disease-and-the-gut/
Understanding Parkinson’s, Parkinson’s Ireland - https://www.parkinsons.ie/understanding-parkinsons/symptoms/non-movement-related-symptoms/bladder-bowel-issues/#:~:text=If%20you%20have%20Parkinson's%2C%20you,to%20help%20the%20fibre%20work.

Nourishing You: Living with Health in Parkinson’s Disease. Your diet and your lifestyle factors matter!

The autonomic nervous system, regulates involuntary bodily functions such as digestion, which can be affected by Parkinson's.

This can lead to slowed gastric emptying, known as gastroparesis, which can cause digestive issues like diarrhea (or constipation). Dehydration can also worsen diarrhea.

Parkinson's can also affect the muscles in the rectum and anal area, making it harder to control bowel movements, potentially leading to diarrhea. A lack of fibre in the diet can contribute to constipation, which can sometimes then lead to diarrhea.

Some research suggests that Parkinson's can affect the enteric nervous system, which is responsible for regulating gut motility, further contributing to digestive issues like diarrhea.

Other conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can also contribute to diarrhea in individuals with Parkinson's.