Healthy Eating
Healthy eating and nutrition is an important part of anyone’s diet, but is essential for PwP disease if they want to remain healthy and mobile. Many Parkinson’s sufferers can find themselves in hospital due to bad eating habits or poorly timed eating with medication.
The timing of meals is important, as Levodopa*, in its various forms, can take some time to be absorbed into the body. When taken with a meal, Levodopa can take the same time to digest as the stomach takes to empty its contents – approx 3-4 hours. This time is increased when a high fat meal is eaten.
In most cases (and unless otherwise prescribed) it is best to take levodopa 30 – 60 minutes before eating.
For those wishing to improve their levodopa absorption, adjust your protein intake to the Seven-to-One (7:1) menu plan. It has been found that meals consisting of seven parts carbohydrate and one part protein are most effective for many people.
*There are four brands of Parkinson’s drugs which contain Levodopa: Madopar, Sinemet, Kinson and Sinecarb. Levodopa will be used to categorise these drugs.
Chewing & Swallowing
Difficulty in chewing or swallowing food can often be caused by a lack of, or excess of saliva in PwP disease. Besides making it difficult to eat, this can lead to malnutrition and weight loss problems.
Meeting the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) of daily fluids is important for everyone, but more so for those who have Parkinson’s disease. Those with an active lifestyle will lose a substantial amount of fluid a day.
However, water is one of the hardest fluids for PwP to drink, as there is no substance to it. Milk, juice or even cordial will making swallowing liquid much easier, and still adds to the daily intake.Liquid based foods such as soups, watery vegetables, or water-based deserts will all aid in chewing and swallowing due to their higher liquid content.
If lack of saliva is presenting as a problem, try chewing sugarless gum, or regularly using a mouthwash.
An easy to eat, PD friendly recipe, designed especially for young people who have almost no time or energy to cook!
Apricot Chicken or Pork
30g cooked chicken or pork, with ½ cup Chicken Tonight Apricot Chicken, and 3 dried apricots (to add to sauce)
1 cup cooked rice
½ cup broccoli
½ cup pumpkin
250ml sparkling apple juice
½ cup peaches in natural juice, &
1 or 2 scoops ice cream for desert
Exercise
Bradykinesia, or “slowness of movement”, is a symptom for most PwP. If were not careful, it can lead to stiffness, rigidity and injury to muscles and joints.That’s why exercise for PwP is so important. The more we use our muscles and bones, the stronger they are going to become, and the more able bodied we will be. However, if we don’t use or muscles and bones, they are likely to deteriorate more quickly.Every little bit of exercise helps. Just five minutes of walking a day, everyday, can loosen those muscles and have you standing straighter and walking smoother.
