{"id":13190,"date":"2021-07-03T11:49:20","date_gmt":"2021-07-03T09:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.medwellness.it\/?p=13190"},"modified":"2021-07-11T13:12:45","modified_gmt":"2021-07-11T11:12:45","slug":"parkinsons-disease-integrated-nutrition-clinic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medwellness.it\/en\/parkinsons-disease-integrated-nutrition-clinic\/","title":{"rendered":"How to reduce Parkinson\u2019s disease symptoms with the help of nutrition"},"content":{"rendered":"

How to reduce Parkinson\u2019s disease symptoms with the help of nutrition<\/strong><\/p>\n

by\u00a0Raffaella Quieti Cartledge<\/p>\n

Author, award-winning nutritional therapist, lecturer and the Nutrition Director of the Parkinson\u2019s Disease Integrated Nutrition Clinic in London, Lucille Leader has <\/em>served as the Nutrition Director of the London Pain Relief and Nutritional Support Clinic at The Highgate Hospital in London which has now been replaced by the <\/em>Parkinson\u2019s Disease Integrated Nutrition Clinic\u00a0<\/em>in central London. <\/em>The clinic\u2019s medical director Dr Geoffrey Leader, was an early pioneer of the integrated, team approach to the management of chronic illness, with a special interest in the management of Parkinson\u2019s Disease.<\/em><\/p>\n

Mrs Leader, how does nutrition influence functional health and Parkinson’s in particular?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The influence of nutrition on functional health in Parkinson Disease (PD) is widespread. \u00a0Cellular functions are dependent on the adequate nutritional status of cells. Vitamin C deficiency may cause scurvy, iron with anaemia, essential fatty acids with inflammatory disease. Similarly, dopamine deficiency is cardinal in PD.<\/p>\n

Dopamine is metabolised from dietary protein. Specific enzymes are necessary for dopamine metabolism. In order to be activated, those enzymes need coenzymes which are the nutrients zinc, folate, iron and vitamin B6. Their deficiency may therefore compromise this metabolic pathway and the adequate production of dopamine.<\/p>\n

However, supplementing these nutrients is very specialised because in Parkinson\u2019s there can be problems with the way the cells handle these.<\/p>\n

Therefore all nutritional support must always be with the guidance and prescription of the healthcare team of each patient.\u00a0 There are medical laboratory tests available to assess the need for any supplementation.<\/p>\n

What is the role of stress in PD ?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Stressors – mental, emotional and physical stress are not comfortable for the body. When we need to control any form of stress, our bodies need to produce adrenaline…but adrenaline is produced from dopamine!<\/p>\n

People with PD have trouble with production of dopamine and consequently of adrenaline.<\/p>\n

It is then therefore understandable that this metabolic pathway is compromised.<\/p>\n

Even though a person is taking \u00a0the correct dopaminergic drugs to help regulate movement,\u00a0 when there is stress of any kind, control of movement becomes problematic.<\/p>\n

I therefore recommend acquiring stress management techniques as essential in support and management.<\/p>\n

There is an excellent technique specific for Parkinson\u2019s Disease by David Uri, available as a CD. It is called Parkinson\u2019s Disease Relaxation.<\/p>\n

(www.denorpress.com)<\/p>\n

I also recommend learning Autogenic Training Techniques which can be used at times of stress. These techniques, as well as the CD by David Uri, are very helpful in PD for both patient and carer or family.<\/p>\n

Is there a nutrition protocol to support the efficacy of PD medications ?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Specific amino-acids in dense protein-containing food compete with L-dopa for the carrier at the absorption site of the L-dopa medication through the intestinal absorption site and through the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) into the brain where it metabolises to dopamine.<\/p>\n

Separating the timing of any meals containing dense protein foods from the time of taking L-dopa, may optimise absorption of the drug, which could optimise its effectiveness.<\/p>\n

The foods containing a high amount of protein containing the competitive\u00a0 amino acids are : meat, poultry, fish, dairy (except for butter) eggs, soy, pulses, semolina, avocado, asparagus, coconut, nuts and seeds, gluten-containing products such as wheat, rye, oats, barely, spelt, bulgar wheat and couscous.<\/p>\n

If you have eaten from the dense protein list above, I recommend that you wait 2 hours before taking L-dopa.\u00a0 Wait until the drug has \u2018kicked-in\u2019 before eating.<\/p>\n

A snack or meal can be taken immediately after the drug has had its effect.<\/p>\n

Protein foods can at this point be included as the drug has already entered the brain and therefore there will be no competition at the absorption sites.<\/p>\n

If you have eaten any other food that is not on the above list\u2013 fruit , vegetables, oils, I recommend that you wait only 1 hour before taking L-dopa.<\/p>\n

Other protocols for dopaminergic drugs are listed in PARKINSON\u2019S DISEASE – Reducing Symptoms with Nutrition and Drugs (www.denorpress.com<\/a>).<\/p>\n

What are your basic nutrition recommendations ?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n