|
Written by Tania
|
Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that is
incurable. Symptoms vary and not all people are severely disabled.
Eating the right foods may help in the management of Parkinson's
disease to a limited extent. There are a number of problems that people
with the disease can face when eating and drinking. These include
trouble chewing or swallowing, because drug treatment can often result
in abnormal tongue and mouth movements. Plenty of time should therefore
be allowed for meals.
Patients with Parkinson's disease often lose weight, which may be due
to reduced energy intake because of the difficulty in eating. Excess
weight, however, can make the symptoms worse, because it places a
further restriction on already limited movement.
In order to control their weight and improve health, people with
Parkinson's disease should eat plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and
whole grains, with moderate amounts of protein and unsaturated fat,
while cutting down on saturated fats and sugars.
The disorder affects a small part of the brain and is characterized by
tremor, stiffness and slowness of movement. It progresses gradually and
symptoms include a stooped posture, a rather expressionless face,
speech problems, drooling and loss of dexterity. The cause of
Parkinson's disease is still a mystery, but it is known that it occurs
when a small group of cells in the brain fails to function normally.
This is triggered by a shortage of dopamine, one of the chemicals that
transmits messages between nerves.
Research has focused on either replacing or stimulating diminished
supplies of dopamine with potent drugs, the main one being L-dopa.
Avoiding Constipation
Patients should eat foods that help to prevent constipation, which is a
common problem for people with Parkinson's disease. This means eating
more fiber. Many people think of bran when they wish to increase their
fiber intake. But although bran is high in fiber, it does not contain
nutrients and can impair the body's absorption of some minerals. It is
better to obtain fiber from fruit, vegetables and grains. This will
help to speed food through the system - fruits such as figs, prunes,
papaya and pineapple are especially valuable as they have a natural
laxative effect.
It is also important to drink plenty of fluids - at least 1.7 litres (3
pints) a day - to counter any tendency towards constipation. The best
drinks to choose are water and fruit juice. Tea and coffee may have
adverse effects on the nervous system, so only have moderate amounts of
these.
|
