Exercise and Healthy Eating When You Have Parkinson’s Disease

Healthy eating and regular exercises are two important aspects of managing your disease. Exercise helps you to better cope with Parkinson’s and can help you to maintain your flexibility and good posture. Exercise can also help keep your muscles strong and your joints supple. Exercise can also improve your circulation, which helps your heart and your lungs.

The role exercise plays:

Exercise can also reduce your stress level. Pretty much any activity that you enjoy can be exercise such as walking, gardening, or swimming. You can exercise solo or in a group. Some good exercises include yoga, tai chi, and Alexander technique. The Alexander technique can help with the control of both balance and coordination. Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art that strengthens the body and can also give you more energy, and improve both your balance and your flexibility. When you attend physical therapy sessions you can learn new stretches that may help when it comes to walking.

It is important to choose a time to exercise when you are feeling well rested and your symptoms are under control by the medications that you are taking. It is important to warm up before exercising by stretching. You do not want to aggravate your stiffness. Take it easy and work at your own pace; you are not in a race. If you get tired, stop to rest. Don’t forget to stretch at the end to cool down.

What to eat when you have Parkinson’s disease?

To stay as healthy as possible someone with Parkinson’s disease should strive to have a healthy diet and stay as active as possible. Your meal plan should consist of fruit and vegetables, high-protein foods, cereals and dairy products. It is vital that you stay well hydrated by drinking lots of fluids, especially water. Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks and alcohol as they contribute to dehydration.

Your diet should allow you to get many of the vitamins and minerals you need from the foods you eat. The best sources of vitamins and minerals are colorful fruits and vegetables, fruit juices, eggs, some cereals, and eggs. Talk to your doctor about supplementing your diet with multivitamin and mineral supplements. Your doctor may refer you to a nutritionist for dietary advice.

Parkinson’s disease can lead to problems with nutrient absorption and may also affect the way your body digests food. Your doctor and dietician can discuss these special aspects of Parkinson’s with you. Parkinson’s may cause you to lose weight unintentionally, lose the sense of taste and smell and make swallowing food difficult. Because of these difficulties make every bit of food count don’t fill up on junk foods that do not contain the nutrients your body needs.

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