Healthy diet helps manage Parkinson's disease
World Parkinson's Day is observed every year on April 11 to raise awareness about the neurological condition that leads to progressive impairment of motor functions
image for illustrative purpose
The experts noted that incorporating healthy fats and spreading out protein intake throughout the day can optimise medication effectiveness and support muscle health
Diet plays a key role in managing Parkinson's disease, as it can raise the risk of weight loss and malnutrition, said experts on World Parkinson's Day on Thursday.
World Parkinson's Day is observed every year on April 11 to raise awareness about the neurological condition that leads to progressive impairment of motor functions and includes tremors, painful muscle contractions, and difficulty in speaking, eating, and sleeping.
While there is no superfood, eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, lean protein, beans and legumes, and whole grains, with adequate hydration, not only boosts general well-being but also improves patients' ability to deal with symptoms of the disease.
"Parkinson's disease is defined as a neurodegenerative disorder that impacts the quality of life and decreases nutritional status. Nutrition may modify the risk factors but there is no preventive curative therapy as per studies. No single nutrient acts like a superfood but it is a combination of functional foods and dietary patterns that impacts the risk of disease," Sweedal Trinidade, Chief Dietician, P D Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Mahim, told.
"Regular monitoring of nutritional status is vital for individuals with Parkinson's disease as poor nutrition can significantly impact their health outcomes. Parkinson's patients often experience significant weight loss, increasing the risk of malnutrition and exacerbating disease severity. Therefore, it's essential to maintain a balanced diet, consume meals at shorter intervals, and ensure adequate hydration," added Charu Dua, Chief Clinical Nutritionist, at Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.
The experts noted that incorporating healthy fats and spreading out protein intake throughout the day can optimise medication effectiveness and support muscle health.
Sweedal emphasised the need to consume an antioxidant-rich diet -- known to reduce the pace of the ageing process -- to get a neuroprotective effect.
