How to Reduce Your Risk of Parkinson’s Disease−Naturally.

In Parkinson’s Disease−Defined, you became familiar with this progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that impairs motor function due to the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine. In Can Your Prevent Parkinson’s Disease you learned about the various risk factors for this disorder.

While there is no guaranteed means of preventing Parkinson’s disease, there is room for optimism. A growing body of evidence suggests that specific lifestyle changes may help lower your risk and potentially delay the onset or slow the progression of symptoms. For example:

Adopt a whole food, plant-based diet – Prioritize nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods with a plant-based take on the Mediterranean or MIND diet − Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay – which combines healthy eating habits to potentially slow Parkinson’s progression and delay its onset.

Emphasize fresh fruit, vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds, all of which are rich in cell-protecting antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These healthy foods are also anti-inflammatory, making them extremely beneficial for any inflammation-driven disorder.

Seek out healthy fats – Exchanging dangerous, inflammatory saturated fats from fried foods, meat, and animal products for healthy, anti-inflammatory whole food fats is vital. Unsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids support optimal brain health, reduce neuroinflammation, and potentially slow Parkinson’s progression.

Cleanest sources include avocado, olives, olive oil, nuts like walnuts, almonds, pecans, and Brazil nuts, as well as seeds such as hemp, chia, and flax. These plant super foods provide neuroprotective benefits while managing cholesterol.

Choose organically grown foods – Research suggests that exposure to certain pesticides and herbicides may be a contributing factor to the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease. Buying organic fruits and vegetables can help reduce this dangerous exposure. Avoid or limit use of these chemicals in your home and garden too, seeking safer natural alternatives.

Organic products often contain more beneficial nutrients like antioxidants, which help protect brain cells from damage caused by oxidative stress and inflammation. Additionally, organic foods support a healthy gut microbiome, which is increasingly recognized as playing a role in neurological health via the gut-brain axis.

Hydrate smart – Dehydration in Parkinson’s disease is a major concern because the risks associated with becoming dehydrated can significantly worsen already compromised neurological function. Complicating matters even more, it is very easy to misread symptoms of dehydration for symptoms common to Parkinson’s.

Dehydration is always a risk of disease and aging as the body’s mechanism for signaling thirst and distributing water to the cells becomes compromised over time. In the United States, dehydration is responsible for 1.8 million days of hospital care each year and costs more than $1 billion annually. Quench smart with plain or sparkling water, hot or iced caffeine-free tea, diluted fresh juices, light, clear soups, etc.