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Living with Parkinson's Disease (PD) can be challenging. You may wonder what you can do beyond the scope of medication to slow its progression and support a high quality of life. The good news is that scientific research suggests there may be multiple natural ways to combat Parkinson's. These options range from diet to exercise to cutting-edge, science-backed probiotics. Let’s talk about what the latest research has to say about natural approaches to living with Parkinson's.
Parkinson's affects the central nervous system. It's a progressive disorder that may start slowly and worsens over time. While motor symptoms such as a small tremor in one hand, stiffness or slow movement may be the first thing you notice, “prodromal” non-motor symptoms like constipation may begin much earlier.
It's important to understand that Parkinson's affects people differently. Some people may experience a progression of PD over 20 years or more, while others may find their disease progresses more rapidly. Predicting the progression of the disease is difficult, but typically, there are five stages associated with the condition once motor symptoms appear.
You can make a proactive effort to keep PD at bay for as long as possible. Traditional medicines like levodopa and carbidopa are always an option. However, many people prefer to delay medication for as long as possible or avoid it entirely. Reasons supporting these decisions include:
If you prefer a natural approach, there are a variety of strategies that may help to support your mental and physical health that you can try. While these natural strategies, like Parkinson’s medication, are not a cure, you may find one or more of them that are helpful to your quality of life. As with any change to your health routine, be sure to discuss it with your health care provider.
One common method to ease PD symptoms is to eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water, and avoid specific foods. There are several ways to tweak your diet, from adding certain foods into your diet to cutting others out.
A Mediterranean diet is often recommended for those wishing to combat Parkinson's. This diet is high in vegetables, fish, fruit, legumes, whole grains, and unsaturated fats. Science shows a good correlation between reduced risk for PD and a diet high in fruit, vegetables, carotenoids (found in colorful foods), and omega-3 fatty acids (found in fatty fish).
The Mediterranean diet is widely considered to be particularly healthy in general. People sometimes use it to decrease the risks of other conditions, like heart disease, high blood pressure, dementia, inflammation, and depression. It is especially touted for its focus on foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and nutrients.
This diet emphasizes lots of fresh vegetables and whole grains, low amounts of fish and poultry consumed throughout the week, and minimal amounts of red meat, processed foods, and added sugars. Its primary source of fat is olive oil.
If you adhere to a Mediterranean diet, you will naturally introduce foods rich in omega-3s, antioxidants, and other nutrients, like:
The Mediterranean diet is regularly recommended to help people fight Parkinson's naturally.
Aside from the foods you should eat, there are also specific foods that people living with Parkinson's may choose to avoid. The progression of Parkinson’s is fueled by continued loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, due to inflammation in this area of the brain. Therefore, some people choose to reduce exposure to inflammatory foods and toxins, although there are few clinical studies showing that these strategies are successful.
A review of clinical studies from 2014 noted the scientific literature sees a strong correlation between consuming a lot of milk and risk for PD. The authors suggested that milk may contain neurotoxic substances and also lead to decreased levels of uric acid in the blood, both of which may contribute to the observed increase in risk of PD.
While some studies suggest that foods with high saturated fat, high carbohydrate content, and red meat may be correlated with increased risk of PD, other studies do not show this correlation. Nevertheless, the Parkinson’s Foundation suggests avoiding the following:
Other foods should be avoided for reasons other than nutrition. Foods that are high in iron may interfere with Parkinson’s medications. People who have difficulty swallowing are cautioned to avoid hard-to-chew foods that may pose a choking hazard.
Everyone needs to stay well-hydrated, irrespective of their Parkinson's status. However, those with Parkinson's may need extra effort to prevent dehydration. While PD patients are at higher risk than others for dehydration, they may be less likely to realize they are dehydrated. This is because dehydration can mimic typical symptoms of PD, like fatigue or muscle cramping. Dehydration can lead to poor circulation, high blood pressure, and even organ failure.
People living with Parkinson's may drink only half as much fluid as those without it due to nausea, depression, fears of incontinence, and difficulty swallowing. If you have an unreliable thirst sensation, forget to drink enough, or generally don’t like to drink water, there are a variety of ways you can improve your hydration.
Exercise and physical activity may ease nonmotor symptoms associated with Parkinson's, like constipation or depression.
Research from the Parkinson's Outcomes Project indicates that people with Parkinson's who incorporate exercise early in their condition for at least 2.5 hours per week may experience a slower reduction in their quality of life compared to those who don't exercise or who incorporate exercise later.
Some of the key types of exercises you can do to manage PD symptoms include:
Sometimes doctors prescribe physical therapy, but if you aren't in need of a therapist, you may be able to do some or all of these exercises yourself.
Find one or two activities that you enjoy enough that you will do them regularly. Make sure your choices “cover the bases” by including all four of the key types of exercise:
Mitigating the impact of PD on your life isn't restricted to a single tactic. You may find that an aggressive, multipronged approach is best. You may choose to combine dopamine-boosting supplements, diet, exercise, and probiotics to use every possible tool against the onset of Parkinson's.
