Acknowledgement
Our thanks to Nan Millette, MEd, RD Freelance Dietitian, for her help in reviewing this article.
A balanced diet will contain a wide variety of foods from the various food groups below. Ideally you should choose an item from each food group for each meal throughout the day as you will then obtain all the nutrients required by the body to keep it healthy, although for some this may not be possible (see Diet and Parkinson’s medications ).
These starchy and/or sugary foods provide the basic fuel or energy your body needs as they break down once digested and produce glucose. Typical carbohydrates are bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, cereals, biscuits and cakes
These are the basic building blocks for your body and are needed for growth and repairing the body. Typical proteins are meat, dairy products, nuts, pulses, eggs and fish
These are a good source of fibre and are essential for healthy bowels and avoiding constipation. They also contain some carbohydrate and many vitamins and minerals
Although fats and sugars can be harmful if consumed in large quantities, they are essential for producing energy and ‘essential fatty acids’ are also needed for the efficient absorption of some key vitamins.
There are two main types of fats, saturated and unsaturated. Saturated fats, typically found in cakes, pastry, margarines, full fat dairy products and fatty meat, may cause high cholesterol and can therefore be bad for your health. But unsaturated fats, found in sunflower, corn and soya oil, can help to lower cholesterol so can be beneficial, as can mono-unsaturated fats found in olive and rapeseed oil.
It is very important to drink plenty of fluids, preferably 8 to 10 cups daily - water, juices, tea, coffee, milk etc. Alcohol may be included in moderation and can be beneficial if it helps you to keep up your social life - your doctor will advise you if you need to avoid alcohol. If you have problems with your bladder or bedwetting it may be advisable to drink mainly in the morning and early part of the day. You may also find that carbonated or fizzy drinks make you feel bloated so may be best avoided. If dry mouth is a problem then frequent sips of water or using an oral rinse or spray can help. Sucking a sweet or chewing gum can also stimulate the production of saliva and so help allieviate dry mouth.
As we age our natural thirst reduces and as antiparkinson drugs also dehydrate the body, it is really important to drink regularly, if necessary at timed intervals during the day, to ensure that you do not become dehydrated. Food is far also more easily eaten and digested with fluids.
There are a variety of vitamins and minerals contained in food and by eating a variety of foods from the various groups above you should be getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. If you are deficient in any particular vitamin or mineral it is generally better to increase your intake of foods containing the particular nutrient rather than a supplement but for some a supplement may be the only answer, particularly if your body does not absorb nutrients well. It is best to speak to your doctor or ask to be referred to a dietician if you have any concerns.
Osteoporosis, or brittle bones, is particularly important to avoid as those with Parkinson's disease are more likely to fall, so a good intake of calcium and vitamin D should be maintained to help prevent breaks or fractures in bones.
Vitamins A, D, E and K tend to be found in milk and dairy food and are fat-soluble, which means that they remain in the body for some weeks before being used or expelled.
Vitamins B (complex) and C are mostly found in citrus fruit and green, leafy vegetables and need to be consumed daily as they are water-soluble and therefore do not remain in the body for any period of time.
Minerals are present in many foods although often only in very small, or trace, quantities. Key minerals include calcium, chloride, chromium, fluoride, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, sodium, sulphur and zinc.
Caution! Some vitamins and minerals can be harmful if taken in large doses so if you are taking supplements with high doses of vitamins or minerals you should check with your doctor or dietician
Certain foods were recognised for their part in maintaining health long before the first vitamins were actually identified. For example in the 18th century it had been demonstrated that including citrus fruits in the diet would prevent the development of scurvy. In the 19th century it was found that substituting unpolished for polished rice in a rice-based diet would prevent the development of beriberi.
Certain vitamins and minerals are known as antioxidantsas they can help reduce the damage caused by oxidation, a normal process occurring in all cells in the body. Oxidation produces a substance which is known to cause cell damage and can lead to disease such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, cancer and heart disease for example. It is therefore good for general health to ensure that you eat foods containing antioxidant vitamins and minerals although there is no evidence at present to suggest that these will slow the progression of Parkinson’s or increase the effects of Parkinson's medications. Providing you are eating a balanced and healthy diet you are unlikely to need to take antioxidant supplements but if you have any concerns do ask your doctor or dietician. Further information on antioxidants can be found in the Parkinson’s Disease Society factsheet www.parkinsons.org.uk/pdf/is_fs67_antioxidants_06.pdf
Co-enzyme Q10 has strong antioxidant properties but it is not at present recommended as a treatment for Parkinsons. For further information please see the Parkinson’s Disease Society factsheet www.parkinsons.org.uk/pdf/is_fs74_coenzymeQ10_06.pdf
Involuntary movements that tend to occur in people who have had Parkinson's disease for some years as a side effect of long-term use of Parkinson's medication.
A condition where it becomes difficult to empty faeces from the bowel or where the stool is small, hard, and difficult or painful to pass.
See section Bowel Problems including Constipation.
A dietician advises on a healthy diet and specific dietary needs. They can offer advice on how diet can ease some symptoms, such as constipation. They may also liaise with a speech and language therapist regarding swallowing and eating difficulties.
A condition in which the bones become progressively less dense and fragile and is the result of a number of different diseases and abnormalities.
Osteoporosis produces dry, brittle bones that may easily crack or collapse and occurs most often in post-menopausal women and elderly men.
Relating to, affecting, or for use in the mouth.the mouth and its use.
The part of the urinary tract that receives urine from the kidneys and stores it until urination.
See also section on Bladder Problems
