Parkinson's and Nutrition: Can What You Eat Help Manage Symptoms? (#ParkinsonNutrition #EatWellLiveWell)
Living with Parkinson's doesn't have to mean limitations. This episode of Live Parkinson's - Live an Exceptional Life dives deep into the surprising power of food in managing Parkinson's symptoms. We explore how what you eat can potentially impact tremors, stiffness, fatigue, and overall well-being.
Join us as we discuss:
The Gut-Brain Connection: Uncover the fascinating link between your gut health and Parkinson's progression.
Dietary Approaches for Parkinson's: Explore the benefits of the Mediterranean and MIND diets, designed to support brain health and potentially reduce inflammation.
Food and Medication Interactions: Learn how to optimize your meal schedule to maximize the effectiveness of your Parkinson's medications.
Practical Tips for Everyday Eating: Discover strategies to navigate mealtimes with tremors, stiffness, and swallowing difficulties.
Empower yourself to take control of your health!Tune in and learn how to use food as a powerful tool in managing your Parkinson's and living an exceptional life.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to Live Parkinson's - Live an Exceptional Life for more inspiring content and practical strategies for living well with Parkinson's.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only is not intended to treat or diagnose Parkinson's Disease. Please ensure that you are following the treatment plan developed by your doctor. Please ensure before starting anything new you get approval from your doctor. The information being provided is based on my own personal experiences and does not guarantee that it will benefit everyone.
Parkinson's and Nutrition: Can What You Eat Help Manage Symptoms? (#ParkinsonNutrition #EatWellLiveWell)
Living with Parkinson's doesn't have to mean limitations. This episode of Live Parkinson's - Live an Exceptional Life dives deep into the surprising power of food in managing Parkinson's symptoms. We explore how what you eat can potentially impact tremors, stiffness, fatigue, and overall well-being.
Join us as we discuss:
The Gut-Brain Connection: Uncover the fascinating link between your gut health and Parkinson's progression.
Dietary Approaches for Parkinson's: Explore the benefits of the Mediterranean and MIND diets, designed to support brain health and potentially reduce inflammation.
Food and Medication Interactions: Learn how to optimize your meal schedule to maximize the effectiveness of your Parkinson's medications.
Practical Tips for Everyday Eating: Discover strategies to navigate mealtimes with tremors, stiffness, and swallowing difficulties.
Empower yourself to take control of your health!Tune in and learn how to use food as a powerful tool in managing your Parkinson's and living an exceptional life.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to Live Parkinson's - Live an Exceptional Life for more inspiring content and practical strategies for living well with Parkinson's.
Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only is not intended to treat or diagnose Parkinson's Disease. Please ensure that you are following the treatment plan developed by your doctor. Please ensure before starting anything new you get approval from your doctor. The information being provided is based on my own personal experiences and does not guarantee that it will benefit everyone.
Hello and welcome to Live Parkinson's live an exceptional life. I'm your host, chris Kustenbotter, and I've been living an exceptional life with Parkinson's for the past 14 years. The mission of this podcast is to help as many people living with Parkinson's as possible lead a great quality of life. Today's topic Parkinson's nutrition. Can what you eat help manage symptoms? Did you know your fork might be just as powerful as your medication when it comes to managing Parkinson's disease? Recent research suggests that what you eat can significantly impact symptoms you experience. In this episode, we'll delve into the fascinating world of Parkinson's nutrition and explore how simple dietary changes can help you fight back against tremors, stiffness and fatigue. Thanks for tuning in. Let's start out by laying out what we'll be covering in this episode. I've divided it into three parts. In part one, we'll examine the role of nutrition in Parkinson's. We'll look at how nutrition can impact Parkinson's symptoms, including tremor, stiffness and fatigue, and then we'll look at the brain-gut connection and how gut health may play a role in Parkinson's progression. Then we'll discuss the potential benefits of specific nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins for Parkinson's management. In Part 2, we'll look at dietary considerations for Parkinson's. We'll discuss the Mediterranean diet and its potential benefits for Parkinson's. I'll also discuss the MIND diet, which is the Mediterranean Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay Diet that's a mouthful and we'll also examine gluten-free and dairy-free diets and their potential benefits and drawback for Parkinson's. Then, in Part 3, we'll provide practical tips for everyday eating. We'll provide practical strategies for incorporating a healthy diet into a Parkinson's lifestyle, practical strategies for incorporating a healthy diet into a Parkinson's lifestyle, and we'll discuss managing medication interactions with food and address common challenges faced by Parkinson's patients when eating. And we'll wrap it up with tips in meal planning and grocery shopping lists for people with Parkinson's. So, without further ado, let's explore the role of Parkinson's nutrition in helping to manage our Parkinson's symptoms.
Speaker 1:
Let's start with the role of nutrition in Parkinson's. Now let me ask you a question how do you feel your diet is Good, I'm eating healthy, or needs improvement? And second, do you notice any difference in your symptoms when you're eating healthy? Let me know by clicking the send text message link in the podcast description. I'd love to get your thoughts and experiences on this. Now I'm going to be completely honest with you. My diet is what I'd like to call a rollercoaster diet. I'll eat very healthy for a few days and be feeling good, and then my wife comes home from her catering job with freshly made desserts, or I go to a party with lots of food, and then that's when the wheels come off. Now I'm not blaming anyone but myself. I know I need to eat better to feel better, and so it's a work in progress. I say this to let you know. I struggle with my diet, just as many of you probably do as well, and so what I'm trying to say is that we're all in this together. So, now that I've shared my personal struggles with diet and nutrition, let's examine how nutrition can impact Parkinson's symptoms, including tremors, stiffness and fatigue.
Speaker 1:
Parkinson's disease, as we know, is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Now, chronic inflammation has emerged as a potential culprit in Parkinson's progression and can potentially worsen tremors, stiffness and rigidity, and also fatigue. So let's take a quick look at the link between inflammation and Parkinson's and then discuss foods that help fight inflammation. Now there are three areas that are being evaluated when looking at inflammation. The first is microglial activation. Now what is that? That's a mouthful, of course, microglial inflammation. Microglial are immune cells in the brain that act like a first line of defense. In Parkinson's, the microglia become chronically activated, releasing inflammatory molecules that can damage healthy brain cells.
Speaker 1:
The second area being studied in terms of inflammation is looking at alpha-synuclein, which is a protein that clumps or misfolds in the brain of people with Parkinson's. You may have seen a lot of that in the news lately. The protein has also been found in the guts as well, and studies suggest that chronic inflammation might contribute to the abnormal buildup of alpha-synuclein, leading to further neurodegeneration. And then, finally, the third area being explored is the gut-brain connection. Now, the gut microbiome is made up of trillions yep, I said trillions of bacteria living in your intestines. The gut microbiome communicates with the brain through the gut-brain axis, so think of this as a highway connecting your gut and your brain. An unhealthy gut microbiome can lead to chronic inflammation, potentially impacting brain health and contributing to Parkinson's progression.
Speaker 1:
So what are some of the foods that we can eat to help fight inflammation? Well, let's pull back the curtain and have a look Now. It's important to note that, while research is ongoing, certain foods are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. We'll start out with fruits and vegetables, my personal favorites. They're rich in antioxidants, and these foods combat oxidative stress, and that's an inflammatory process that's been linked to Parkinson's. So what are some of the best? Fruits and vegetables, berries, leafy greens and colorful vegetables are all excellent choices. Another type of food is fatty fish. Omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish like salmon, tuna and mackerel possess potent anti-inflammatory properties, so if you can try to incorporate fish into your diet. Olive oil Extra virgin olive oil is the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet and contains anti-inflammatory compounds. Nuts and seeds are good sources of not only healthy fats and fiber and antioxidants. Nuts and seeds can contribute to a reduced inflammatory state. Spices some of our favorites too, to give your food some kick Turmeric, ginger and garlic contain curcumin, another bioactive compound with anti-inflammatory effects.
Speaker 1:
Several diet patterns have been linked to reduced inflammation and might have beneficial effects for Parkinson's. The first two we'll be discussing in more detail in part two, and the first one being the Mediterranean diet, and this diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and fish, all known for their anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest it may improve symptoms and overall well-being in Parkinson's. The second is the MIND diet Again we'll be discussing in more detail in part two, and that combines elements of both the Mediterranean and the DASH diets, which the DASH diet stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and the MIND diet focuses on brain-healthy foods that might also reduce inflammation. The third type of diet that can benefit reduction in inflammation is the anti-inflammatory diet. Reduction in inflammation is the anti-inflammatory diet and this general diet approach emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats, while limiting processed foods, sugar and refined carbohydrates, all linked to increased inflammation. Now, remember it's important that you consult your doctor before you make any significant dietary changes to ensure that it's appropriate for your specific needs and you don't want to change to a diet without checking because it may interfere with your medications, particularly the absorption.
Speaker 1:
Okay, now that we've looked at how diet can affect tremors, let's turn our attention to rigidity, and we all know, and a lot of us experience rigidity or muscle stiffness both in the morning and throughout the day, and rigidity or muscle stiffness is a cornerstone of Parkinson's disease and it can significantly impact our movement and our daily activities our movement and our daily activities. Now, while there's no single dietary cure, research suggests that certain foods and diets may offer some relief from rigidity. So what's the link between food and rigidity? Let's start with some of the factors. Again, inflammation, which we just talked about I've heard that before. I think Chronic inflammation is thought to play a role in Parkinson's progression, potentially contributing to muscle stiffness.
Speaker 1:
Omega-3 fatty acids they're healthy fats that have anti-inflammatory properties. There was a 2016 study published in Neurology that found that Parkinson's patients who received omega-3 fatty acid supplements experienced improvements in rigidity Blood sugar levels. Rapid fluctuation in blood sugar levels can worsen stiffness and tremors. So let's look at some of the dietary strategies to help us reduce rigidity. The first one we talked about, well, the first two we talked about above being the anti-inflammatory diet and the Mediterranean diet. They both may help reduce rigidity. So you're probably starting to notice a pattern here, with healthy fruits and vegetables and other diets. And then the low glycemic index diet prioritizes foods that cause slower and steadier blood sugar rises, and there was a 2013 study in movement disorders that found that a low-glycemic index diet improved fatigue in Parkinson's patients, and some research suggests it might also benefit rigidity by preventing blood sugar crashes. So what are some specific foods that have a potential benefit for rigidity in Parkinson's and you may have heard these before, I'm just saying, but they include fatty fish, olive oil, fruits and veggies, and nuts and seeds. Now, research is ongoing and more studies are needed to definitely confirm the impact of diet on rigidity in Parkinson's. Now, remember, as with anything, individual responses to dietary changes can vary. What works for one person may not work for another, so it's important to find a personalized approach that works for you, and remember to review any significant changes with your doctor.
Speaker 1:
Now, before we move on to part two, I just wanted to briefly touch on the gut-brain connection and how gut health may play a role in Parkinson's progression. I did a separate podcast focusing on this specific topic, so I'll just provide a guide and a quick overview here Now. The gut-brain connection is a hot topic in health research and Parkinson's is no exception. It refers to the two-way communication highway between the gut microbiome, which again are the trillions of bacteria living in your intestine and that's both good and bad bacteria, and that also includes fungi and any other organisms and the central nervous system, the brain. So it's the highway that connects your gut and your brain. That's the gut brain access. Now here's how it might be linked to Parkinson's.
Speaker 1:
The gut microbiome can influence inflammation throughout the body, so if you've got a lot of bad bacteria in your gut and you have an unhealthy gut, it has the potential to cause chronic inflammation and that's a suspect culprit in Parkinson's progression. When the gut isn't healthy, it might contribute to this inflammation. The other one we just talked about briefly was alpha-synuclein, which is the protein that clumps together in the brain of people with Parkinson's. And this protein has been found not only in the brain of people with Parkinson's but in the gut as well, and research suggests it might travel up the vagus nerve, which is a major gut-brain communication pathway for the brain, potentially seeding the development of Parkinson's. So think of the vagus nerve as a highway connecting your gut and your brain and, just like with tractor-trailer trucks, information and supplies can be transported back and forth. Now, some early warning signs with the gut-brain connection include constipation and other gut problems that often appear before movement symptoms of Parkinson's. This suggests that the gut might be involved early in the disease process. So it's important to note that research on the gut-brain connection in Parkinson's is still ongoing. Scientists are actually investigating these links, but we don't fully understand the cause-effect relationship yet. Now that's it for the gut-brain connection in a nutshell. Again, I just wanted to give you a brief overview. Now that's it for the gut-brain connection in a nutshell. Again, I just wanted to give you a brief overview and if you're interested in more, check out my podcast again on the gut-brain connection. All right, enough of all the scientific talk.
Speaker 1:
Let's move on to our next segment and talk about diets and Parkinson's. Now I'm not talking about dieting, which is something I need to do. Let's start by looking at the Mediterranean diet and its potential benefits for Parkinson's patients. What exactly is the Mediterranean diet? Well, it's a diet based on lifestyle inspired by the dieting habits or dietary habits of the Mediterranean countries like France, italy, greece and Spain, as well as a host of other vegetables, legumes, beans, fruits, nuts and seeds and healthy fats. It also includes moderate consumption of fish, seafood, dairy and poultry, and they're all part of the diet. Red meats and sweets are infrequently consumed, and the Mediterranean diet has several potential benefits for Parkinson's. The first one is it's an antioxidant powerhouse. It's rich in fruits and vegetables and healthy fats like olive oil, and the diet provides a wealth of antioxidants, and these antioxidants may help to combat oxidative stress, which is a cellular process thought to contribute to Parkinson's progression.
Speaker 1:
Like I mentioned before, the diet also has some anti-inflammatory effects, and we talked a little bit about how chronic inflammation is suspected to play a significant role in Parkinson's. The Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes whole foods and limited processed foods, may help reduce inflammation throughout the body, potentially impacting Parkinson's symptoms. Gut health support the fiber and diverse range of plant foods in the Mediterranean diet help to promote a healthy gut biome. As discussed earlier, a healthy gut biome may be linked to better management of Parkinson's Improved cognitive function. Some studies suggest that the Mediterranean diet might benefit cognitive function, which can decline in some Parkinson's patients. This could be due to the diet's impact on blood flow and brain health. And then, finally, overall well-being the Mediterranean diet is generally heart-healthy, promoting weight management and helping to reduce the risk of other chronic conditions. The overall improvement in health is an indirect benefit of Parkinson's management.
Speaker 1:
Now, remember, always consult your doctor before making any significant dietary changes. So now that we understand the Mediterranean diet and some of the benefits it can provide, let's look at another complementary diet that has demonstrated some benefits with Parkinson's the MIND diet. That's M-I-N-D. It's like the mind the mind is a terrible thing to waste. Yes, you heard that correctly, the MIND diet. So what are we talking about? Most of you, like myself, have probably never heard of the MIND diet. Well, the MIND diet stands for Mediterranean-Intervention, for Neurodegenerenerative delay. That sounds kind of technical, doesn't it? So let's quit beating around the bush and tell you what it is.
Speaker 1:
The MIND diet combines elements of the two other well-established dietary patterns the Mediterranean and the dash diet, which is dietary approaches to stop hypertension diet. And let's look at how the MIND diet might benefit Parkinson's patients. Where they're different is that the MIND diet's primary focus is on brain healthy foods, and the Mediterranean diet's overall goal is overall health and longevity. So the MIND diet emphasizes specific brain-boosting foods, including green leafy vegetables, berries, nuts, whole grains, olive oil, fish and poultry, and these foods are all rich in antioxidants and vitamins and includes healthy fats all potentially beneficial for brain health. The MIND diet also limits unhealthy options. The diet recommends limiting red meat, butter, margarine, cheese, pastries and fried foods, because these foods might contribute to inflammation and other processes potentially linked to Parkinson's progression.
Speaker 1:
Now, the potential benefit of the MIND diet for Parkinson's includes reduced inflammation, and the emphasis on whole foods and limited processed foods in the MIND diet may help reduce inflammation, which is a suspected contributor in Parkinson's, and then it's also involved in improved gut health. Similar to the Mediterranean diet, the MIND diet promotes a healthy gut microbiome with its focus on fiber-rich plant foods. This gut health may positively impact Parkinson's symptoms. And then, finally, cognitive protection. Studies suggest that the MIND diet might slow cognitive decline. Now, while the Mediterranean and MIND diets are similar because they stress eating fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish and poultry, olive oil and healthy fats, again they're different in their focus. The MIND diet's focus is on brain health and also lists foods to avoid, again butter, cheese, red meat, fried foods, pastries and sweets. The Mediterranean diet's focus is on overall health and longevity and has no specific restrictions on fat and sodium like the MIND diet does.
Speaker 1:
So you may be asking yourself is one better than the other for Parkinson's symptoms? That's a good question. So I did a search and found a 2002 study called the Comparison of Association Between the MIND and the Mediterranean Diet Scores with Patients' Reported Outcomes in Parkinson's Disease, which compared the two diets in about 1,200 study participants. And what the study found was that people that adhered to the MIND diet significantly reduced total non-motor and motor pro-PD scores. And what are pro-PD scores? Well, they're based on a questionnaire of 33 common PD symptoms. So these symptoms are ones that people experience on a regular basis, and the study suggested that the MIND diet had a greater impact on symptom severity compared to the Mediterranean diet. Also, the MIND diet scores produced significantly reduced symptom severity in constipation, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, forgetfulness and sexual dysfunction, compared to the Mediterranean diet.
Speaker 1:
Now here's one of the key findings I wanted to share with you from this study. This study or analysis showed that specific diet categories significantly reduce symptom severity. I'll say that again, the study or analysis showed that specific diet categories significantly reduce symptom severity. Significantly reduced symptom severity. Higher consumption levels of butter, margarine, red meat cheese, fast food, carbonated and sweet beverages, pastries and sweets were associated with greater severity of PD symptoms. On the other hand, greater consumption of nuts, vegetables and berries, beans and non-fried fish were associated with lesser severity of PD symptoms. So again, the greater consumption of healthy foods the nuts, berries, beans, non-fried fish were associated with lesser severity of PD symptoms. I think that's really a key finding, and this was the first study that compared the effects of the MIND and Mediterranean diet on both motor and non-motor symptoms and their severity in PD.
Speaker 1:
Now you may be thinking that's interesting, but can you provide some more details on the MIND diet, since significant reductions in motor and non-motor symptoms were observed in the patients with Parkinson's? All right, so let's talk a little bit about the MIND diet. The MIND diet suggests nine specific foods that you're to eat regularly and five foods to avoid. Foods to include on the MIND diet are green leafy vegetables, and they recommend a cup of raw or a half a cup of cooked green leafy vegetables, six or more servings per week. And then vegetables other than green leafy half a cup of raw or cooked, and they suggest one serving per day. Nuts a third of a cup or one and a half ounces, or two tablespoons of nut butter or two tablespoons or a half ounce of seeds they recommend five or more servings per week. Beans a half a cup of cooked or frozen or a quarter cup of dried Berries, two or more servings per week. Poultry three ounces two or more servings per week. Fish three ounces, one or more servings per week. And then olive oil as the main source of fat two tablespoons, one serving or, I'm sorry, two teaspoons, one serving per day. Now foods to avoid on the MIND diet butter and margarine, cheese, red meat, fried foods and pastries and sweets, and most of those foods they recommend less than one per day or one per week.
Speaker 1:
Now let's look at the Mediterranean diet foods, and they include fish and seafood three to four ounces two or more times per week. Olive oil one tablespoon one to four times per day. Fruit half a cup to one cup, three servings per day. Vegetables half a cup cooked or one cup raw, three servings per day. Holtry three to four ounces, one to two times per week. Eggs one egg up to four times per week. Dairy cheese 1.5 ounces. Greek yogurt one cup one to three times per week. Nuts a quarter cup three times per per week, and that also includes the two tablespoons of nut butter, whole grains and starchy vegetables. One ounce of sliced bread or half a cup of cooked pasta, rice or oatmeal three to six times per day. And foods to avoid on the Mediterranean diet include red meat, processed meat completely avoid, and sweets less than once a week, and then same with the red meat less than once a week. So as you can see, both are similar but different in some of the types of foods.
Speaker 1:
Now I want to stress that it is important that you review your diet plans with your doctor to make sure that they meet your specific needs and they're not going to interfere with your medications. I can't state that enough Now, based on a lot of the research I've done for the podcast. I'm going to talk to my doctor about potentially moving to the MIND diet, and for two reasons. The first is it's focused on brain health and some of the improvements that were seen in motor symptoms and Parkinson's. And second, I've struggled with weight my whole life. I bought the lifelong pass to the roller coaster weight loss plan. I lose weight, I tell myself I'm not going to let myself gain weight again. And sure enough, six months later I say to myself let's hop on that roller coaster ride again and go for a ride. In a short time I put the weight back on. So to get around this and break the cycle, I'm going to start doing a food journal and log and logging everything I'm eating daily. I'm going to follow the specific guidelines of the diet and do a one-week meal plan and a shopping list and I'm only going to buy what's on the list and then I'm going to set some weight loss goals and track both weight loss and symptoms. So there's some goals, so they're going to help keep me on track, but I'm going to use the one week meal plan and shopping to make sure that I'm not going out and buying a lot of junky type food.
Speaker 1:
So let's look briefly now at the gluten-free and the dairy-free diets and their potential benefits and drawbacks for Parkinson's. Gluten-free diets eliminate foods containing gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Now what are some of the potential benefits to PD? Well, one is neuroprotection. Some research suggests that gluten may and that's the key word, may contribute to neurotoxicity, and a case study reported a significant improvement in Parkinson's symptoms after three months, according to an article in parkinsonsresourcesorg. Now remember, it's a case study and not a clinical study, so that doesn't mean you don't want to run right out and do the gluten-free diet because it showed a three-month reduction. Again, that was just based on a case study.
Speaker 1:
Another benefit is reduced inflammation. Gluten can trigger inflammation in susceptible people, and by avoiding gluten you may reduce the overall inflammation in your body. So some drawbacks include nutrient deficiencies. Some of the gluten-free products often lack essential vitamins like B vitamins, iron and fiber, and then they're often more expensive. Now let's take a look at dairy-free diets. This type of diet excludes all dairy products, including milk, cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. And the benefits include reduced inflammation in people who are lactose intolerant, and eliminating it may help manage inflammation. Now. Drawbacks include a potential for calcium and vitamin D deficiency, since dairy is a major source of both of these important vitamins and minerals, because calcium is important in bone health as well as other functions is important in bone health as well as other functions. And protein intake may be reduced, since dairy products provide protein and it requires other sources of protein if you're going to not include dairy in your diet.
Speaker 1:
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Speaker 1:
So let's round out our nutrition for Parkinson's discussion by providing some practical tips. First, I wanted to discuss managing interactions with food. Let's start with protein, because protein can have effects on how well your Parkinson's medications are working, particularly those of us that take levodopa. Protein competes with levodopa for absorption in the small intestine. This means that a high-protein meal can delay or reduce the effectiveness of your medication. So what are some of the strategies you can use? Well, first, you can take levodopa on an empty stomach, ideally 30 to 60 minutes before the meal or two hours after meal to allow for maximum absorption without any competition from protein. Second, you can plan your protein intake. If taking levodopa on an empty stomach causes nausea, consider a small low-protein snack like crackers. Also, space out your protein intake throughout the day and take carbidopa or levodopa when your stomach is less full of protein, because, again, protein is going to block the absorption of the levodopa. High fiber foods can also slightly delay levodopa absorption, so consider spreading out your fiber intake as well throughout the day.
Speaker 1:
Now let's look at some common challenges faced by people with Parkinson's. Challenge number one tremors and difficulty holding utensils. When you're eating, explore using weighted utensils that have specialized grips or that offer better control. Also, rocker knives are another example that or offer better control. Also, rocker knives are another example. I just recently did a podcast on some of Parkinson's power tools and I talked about weighted utensils and rocker knives. So if you need additional information, please check that out. You can use thicker straws for liquids and they can help when trying to manage tremors, and then also you can use a weighted glove as well to help control your tremors.
Speaker 1:
Challenge number two is slowed movement and stiffness. Now, one of the ways you can get help to alleviate this problem is to take smaller bites for better chewing and swallowing and allow yourself more time without feeling runnished. So when you're sitting down, if you're having a stiffness and rigidity, take small bites. You know, make sure you chew it up thoroughly and just take your time. You know, enjoy the company that you're eating with, and that should help to alleviate some of the challenges you may have with rigidity. And then the third challenge is drooling. If you happen to experience a lot of drooling during the day, opt for thicker foods like soups, stews and pureed foods, because they're easier to manage is one example of why those foods are better options. And then another thing you can do is keep an upright posture. So while you're eating, try to make sure you sit up, because that's going to help with swallowing and it's going to also help minimize drooling.
Speaker 1:
Now, finally, let me give you some fast and easy tips that I use for meal planning and grocery shopping. I'll just come right out and say it I use AI to help me generate a shopping list and a seven-day meal plan, and it's all done in less than 10 seconds. Yep, you heard that right, 10 seconds. I use Gemini, which is a Google-based AI, and Copilot AI from Microsoft. Now they're free to use. So all you need to do is just go do a search for Gemini or Copilot, and once it comes up, there'll be a little box in there and I simply type in please create a shopping list for the Mind or Mediterranean diet and a seven-day meal plan, and I hit the enter button and then, in less than 10 seconds, I have a shopping list and a seven-day meal plan that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and any snacks. Now I highly recommend AI. It's a lifesaver, it's going to save you a lot of time and it's going to help you save time from poring over cookbooks and recipes and just going online and searching for recipes. You can do it in a matter of seconds with the help of AI. So, again, I highly recommend it.
Speaker 1:
So living with Parkinson's doesn't have to mean feeling powerless. In this episode, we looked at nutrition's role in managing Parkinson's symptoms and the surprising connection between what you eat and how you manage your symptoms. We explored the gut-brain connection and how gut health might play a role in Parkinson's progression, and we explored the mind and Mediterranean diets and how they can be used to help manage Parkinson's symptoms. We looked at managing medications with food and discussed some easy tips for meal planning and shopping. So take action today. Talk to your doctor and discuss how dietary changes can complement your existing treatment plan. You can also consult a registered dietitian to get personalized guidance in creating delicious and nutritious diets and meal plans that are personalized just for you. Now, remember you're not alone in this fight. By optimizing your nutrition and adding these strategies, you can take control of your health and experience a better quality of life with Parkinson's.
Speaker 1:
I would ask that you please visit my website, liveparkinsonscom. There's a lot of free resources on there, including a Parkinson's symptom and medication tracker that you can use to help you prepare for your doctor visits. There's a one-stop resource guide that includes national, local and regional Parkinson's organizations and information with links that you can click on, especially if you're newly diagnosed with Parkinson's. You can just click on the links and it'll take you to the different sites, and then you can also sign on the links and it'll take you to the different sites, and then you can also sign up for the free monthly newsletter, and there's a lot of articles on there that I've written to help people live a great quality of life with Parkinson's.
Speaker 1:
If you're interested in learning more about the strategies that I use for living with Parkinson's, my book is available on Amazon. It's called Spectacular Life Four Strategies for Living with Parkinson's. My book is available on Amazon. It's called Spectacular Life Four Strategies for Living with Parkinson's and it's called my Journey to Happiness. So I really appreciate you taking the time to listen and be a part of the audience. It really warms my heart to know that I can hopefully help people based on my personal experiences. But again I want to thank you for being a listener and I hope you all have a spectacular day. Thanks again and hope to see you on future podcasts.