In celebration of Nutrition Month, Dietitians of Canada are organizing a campaign.
The idea is to encourage you to think not only about what you eat, but also about how you eat it…
Healthy eating is more than just food!
Nutrition and Parkinson
Having Parkinson’s disease does not mean that you have to have a special diet. It is especially important to continue to eat well, while maintaining a balanced diet.
This behaviour allows :
- to reach a good nutritional state;
- maintain or achieve a healthy weight;
- maintain an optimal energy level;
- maintain adequate muscle strength;
- reduce susceptibility to infections.
The pleasure of eating
Another aspect related to food that is often neglected is the pleasure of eating. There are all
sorts of ways to stimulate the appetite:
- present attractive dishes – eat with your eyes first;
eating in good company; - season dishes well (herbs, spices, sauces, etc.);
- eat more frequently, eat small meals and supplement with nutritious snacks;
- promote nutritious and energetic foods by enriching, if necessary, dishes with cream, salt, sugar, saltwater, or other ingredients.
- butter, margarine, mayonnaise, honey, molasses, syrup;
- if necessary, take multivitamin and mineral supplements, meal replacements such as Ensure, Carnation Instant Breakfast, Boost, Resource, Nubasics, in the form of pudding, beverage, or bar.
Constipation problems
Constipation is a common problem in
people with Parkinson’s disease.
Among the causes:
- decreased appetite
- lack of exercise
- drug side effects
- effects of the disease on the intestines
To maintain regularity, increase your
water intake and your fibre intake and
be more active!
Tips and tricks:
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids a day:
soup, juice, milk, water. - Avoid coffee or alcoholic beverages.
- Favour foods with a high fibre content:
bran, whole grain breads and cereals, fruit and vegetables.
vegetables and beans, dried peas and lentils. - Consult your doctor if constipation
persists.
Drugs and nutrition
Conference on “Walking in the Rain” organized by Parkinson Quebec under the honorary presidency of Dr. Michel Panisset, neurologist at the CHUM Notre-Dâme de Montréal and speaker Lucie Lachance, clinical nurse specialized in movement disorders at the McGill University Health Centre.