A Better Living Home Care Agency
(Sacramento)

9719 Lincoln Village, Suite 609
Sacramento, California 95827
(916) 361‑3000

A Better Living Home Care Agency
(Walnut Creek/Concord)

2280 Diamond Boulevard, Suite 580
Concord, California 94520
(925) 680‑0300

Parkinson's Disease & Good Nutrition

While there is no special diet required for Parkinson's disease, eating well is extremely beneficial. A well‑balanced diet makes the body work more efficiently as well as helps medications for Parkinson's work properly. What follows are basic guides to eating well and managing symptoms of Parkinson's. To ensure your body and Parkinson's disease medications function properly, speak to your doctor and/or registered dietitian for an in‑depth, tailored nutrition plan.

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Good Nutrition Practices for Managing Parkinson's Disease

• Eat high‑fiber foods. Vegetables, whole‑grain foods, nuts, seeds, fava beans, and fruit will manage constipation problems as well as manage weight, and control blood sugar levels.
• Consume broad beans. Broad beans, or fava beans, contain L‑dopa, which is used as a drug for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and may help in maximizing the effects of Parkinson's disease medications.
• Eat foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated fats.
• Drink at least eight 8 oz. glasses of water daily.
• Reduce and moderate the intake of sodium.
• Eat foods rich in antioxidants such as berries, prunes, barley, oregano, and kale.
• Daily intake of 1000‑1500 mg of calcium can reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
• Ingest easy to swallow foods such as well‑cooked vegetables, soup, yogurt, pureed fruit, rice, and casseroles.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these substances can aggravate constipation.
• Avoid high protein foods. Certain meats and other high protein foods may hinder the body's ability to absorb levodopa (a synthetic substance used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease).
• Eat meals at the same time every day.

Too Tired to Eat Tips

Parkinson's disease along with certain medication side effects may cause you to feel to worn down to eat at all, let alone eat nutritionally. Follow the suggestions below when you find yourself too tired to eat.

• Plan periods of rest before meals to restore your energy.
• Ask family, friends, or caregivers to prepare meals so you can save your strength for eating.
• Assistance with Speech
• Choose foods that are easy to prepare.
• Participate in your local Meals on Wheels Program.
• Snack on healthy foods throughout the day such as fresh fruit, vegetables, crackers, and cereals.
• Store extra meal portions in the freezer and defrost them when you are feeling too tired to prepare a meal.
• Eat larger portions early in the day so you have lasting energy into the evening.

Parkinson's Disease and Controlling Nausea

The following suggestions can help relieve nausea. If these techniques do not help you control nausea associated to Parkinson’s disease, consult your doctor.

• Drink liquids between meals rather than during meals. Drink slowly.
• Drink ice‑cold sugary or clear liquids. Sugary drinks may relieve an upset stomach.
• Avoid acidic juices such as grapefruit and orange juices as they may worsen nausea.
• Avoid greasy or sweet foods.
• Eat light, bland foods especially when your stomach is uneasy.
• Eat slowly, chewing food completely.
• Do not mix hot food with cold food.
• To avoid getting nauseated from the smell of hot foods, eat foods that are cold or at room temperature.
• Eat small meals frequently throughout the day.
• Avoid heavy activities after eating as such movement may trigger or worsen nausea.
• Rest after eating, keeping your head elevated.
• Try to eat food even when you feel nauseated.
• Keep light, bland snacks next to your bed in case you wake up feeling nauseated.

Parkinson's Medications & Meals

Treatment of Parkinson's disease includes taking medications that restore the brain chemical dopamine. While taking drugs are necessary to improve Parkinson's symptoms, they also may cause side effects, react to certain foods, or not be absorbed adequately into the body through the stomach. The following suggestions may reduce side effects and help the body absorb the medication so it can work properly.

• Take medication 15‑20 minutes before meals to assure more predictable absorption.
• Divide medication into smaller portions so that the pills are easier to digest.
• Taking medication with food may reduce nausea. But it consider that different food causes the stomach to empty at different rates, which means that the time taken for the medication to absorb into the gut may vary. While you're waiting for your medication to absorb completely, you may experience Parkinson's symptoms.
• Avoid high‑protein foods as they interfere with certain levodopa absorption such as found with Sinemet and Madopar.
• If you are going to eat foods with a lot of protein, plan to eat the meal late in the day when a slow response to medication is not as important as it is during other times.
• Take medication with 5‑8 oz. of water to help the body absorb the medication faster.

Relief from Thirst/Dry Mouth

Common Parkinson's disease medications may cause thirst and dry mouth. To relieve these side effects follow the suggestions below:

• Suck on candy or popsicles to help increase saliva and moisten your mouth.
• Drink plenty of water (at least eight 8 oz. glasses). If you have heart problems and must limit your fluids, consult your doctor for the proper amount of water per day.
• Eat something cold and sour ‑ such as sherbet or lemon ice ‑ before a meal to help prevent dry mouth.
• Sip a drink while you eat to moisten food and help the mouth swallow food.
• Add sauces to your meals to soften food. Gravy, broth, yogurt, or salsa can be added to many recipes and will enhance the flavor of foods.
• Drink smoothies, purees, thickened juices, or blended soups.
• Talk to your doctor about any food‑specific issues related to your medications. For example, meals high in protein may interfere with the absorption of levodopa. So if you use levodopa, you may need to adjust the amount of protein in your diet.
• Cut back on diuretics, especially caffeine and alcohol which can leave your mouth dry.
• Don't use mouthwash that contains alcohol. Instead, reach into your spice rack for alternatives to mouthwash and remedies for bad breath. Fennel, rosemary, mint, and aniseed can be combined with water to create a refreshing mouthwash.
• Resent studies suggest that chewing gum not only increases mouth secretion, but also improves swallowing frequency and latency. Try chewing gum before a meal to stimulate secretion glands.
• Ask your doctor to recommend an artificial saliva product.

Overcoming Swallowing Problems Caused by Parkinson's

Parkinson's disease can cause someone to lose control of their throat and mouth muscles, making chewing and swallowing very difficult. People with Parkinson's disease are at risk of aspiration and pneumonia because of swallowing problems. There are dietary changes that can be made and swallowing techniques that can be practiced to ease swallowing problems. Contact your doctor if you are having problems swallowing. Your doctor will recommend a speech pathologist to examine your swallowing abilities and evaluate your aspiration risk. In the meantime here are some tips to make swallowing easier.

• Eat slowly.
• Suck on popsicles, ice chips.
• Avoid foods that stick to the inside of the mouth such as tomato skins, flaky biscuits, bran flakes, and dry mashed potatoes.
• Avoid crumbly, stringy, and dry foods.
• Softened foods such as yogurt, jelly, custard, sauces, and soups are easier to swallow. Try these individually or mix some into dry foods to make eating easier.
• Eat small portions frequently throughout the day. Do not place more than ½ teaspoon of food in your mouth at once. Try eating the portions while sipping a drink to keep the food and your mouth moist.
• Chewing gum will exercise the jaw muscles while also improving swallowing abilities.
• Position your body so chewing and swallowing is more convenient. Sit upright, tilting your head forward slightly, and remain in this position for 15 minutes after eating.
• Try to keep conversation to a minimum.
• Focus on the task at hand. Often awareness of the process of eating and drinking can assist the muscles in clearing the mouth and throat. Concentrate on swallowing frequently.
• Try to eat one texture at a time. Liquid with solids in it is often more difficult to swallow.
• Enjoy your food. Relax and focus your attention on enjoying the aromas and flavors of your food.
• Swallow two or three times per bite or sip.
• When food or liquid gets caught in your throat, clear your throat or cough gently then swallow again before taking another breath. Repeat if necessary.

Any body will benefit from eating a well‑balance, nutritious diet. People living with Parkinson's disease are obviously no exception. But having Parkinson's means paying a little more attention to what it is you are eating to gain as much benefit as possible.

A healthy diet not only gives us more energy but helps our bodies to work more efficiently. This is vital for those living with Parkinson's disease. Making smart diet decisions may even slow onset progression.

For help with food preparation, feeding, or general Parkinson's home care, contact A Better Living Home Care. We'll match you with a highly compatible and experienced caregiver.

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