After last week’s heavyweight edition with our partners – which, by the way, got an amazing reaction from listeners – we have somewhat lighter fare this week.
Was at a lecture given by Tim Spector a couple of weeks ago, when he did his medical training many years ago, nutrition was a two hour lecture... that was it, nothing more. Apparently it hasn’t changed since then. I’ve asked my GP about diet and nutrition on occasion, he’s asked me what I eat, and when I give him a broad outline, his response is “well that’s sounds OK...”. It’s scary how little GPs understand nutrition. It’s all, low salt, low fat and nothing beyond that...
Hi Tim. Mucuna pruriens (fava beans) contain L-DOPA in varying amounts (3% on average). My sister is YOPD and we created a HPLC standardised Mucuna for her. Each capsules contains 100mg L-DOPA. It is called MacuDopa. Happy to answer any questions but egually aware about not wanting to puch a product here.
This was hugely helpful- no-one has told us anything about diet and it is nearly 10 years since my husband was diagnosed. Which probiotic is it that is most recommended, please? We're quite happy to give anything recommended a go!
Thank you Rory. That is utterly astonishing. Diet - specifically good nutrition is utterly essential. It’s amazing that there isn’t a more integrated approach to health - specifically gut health - and treatment.
Very good to hear this issue raised. I proactively got to see a dietician recently (9yrs diagnosed) who said she didn't know much about Parkinson's but would be happy to work with me. She did give me a specific NHS booklet! We'll see if it helps.
In your podcast I didn't hear mention of Vitamin D supplements not entirely a diet issue when we make it via sunlight but those with a diagnosis of PD should at least have a test for deficiency and supplement if required.
For Paul - chocolate contains magnesium and flavanols but dark chocolate much better than milk.
My husband, who has had PD for 13 years, found and ordered a book online about 11 years ago. He has followed the advice on diet and exercise ever since. Much of what the experts tell us now was in that book! It is 'Stop Parkin' and Start Livin' by John Coleman. Very good to hear on the podcast that the advice was good, but yes, it needs to be given to all Parkies. My suggestion is a leaflet which could be supplied to all PD nurses to hand out to all their patients. And it should be done straight away. We love the podcast and feel you are our friends in this battle with the disease! Please don't stop. Alison and Jack
Oh my goodness me!!! Thanks very much for such an informative and important subject this week! It’s disheartening to say in the 21 years since my husband’s parky diagnosis, diet has only been mentioned as an aside… nothing much more than “watch your diet”. This programme has been invaluable. Many heartfelt thanks. Davina and Mike Ware, Bath
Read The China Study by T Colin Campbell. (‘The most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted’). It addresses every single question raised in this podcast relating to diet, and the answer is embarrassingly obvious and simple - not that we want to hear it.
Applying the ‘Empty Stomach Rule’ to taking food on board at principal meal times threatens to introduce what amounts to anti-social behaviour to the dinner party. Your expert says that there should be a target of 30-45 minutes between pill-taking and
This is such a fabulous blog. My sister is YOPD and I use the resources here to keep myself updated and help her stay positive. I run an online naturopathic functional medicine clinic that specialises in PD (I have been a clinician for 38 years). I have noticed with my sister and other clients that certain foods have a major negative impact on their ability to walk and function. If she has any cow's milk she freezes! We tested her blood and found that she had an IgE and IgG allergic reaction to casein (the protein in cow's milk). A common allergy in PD, alongside gluten and sugar (also the sugars in alcohol I am afraid!).
I don't want to waffle on so this is a very short summary of what I recommend to my clients (as much of this is evidence-based, but some is empirical findings). Always check with your doctor, neurologist or practitioner for specific recommendations.
Cut out (or minimise) your intake of:
· Gluten (mainly from wheat in pasta, biscuits, cakes and breads)
· Cow’s milk and cow's cheese (butter and cream are ok)
· Added sugar in any form (including honey, jams)
· Simple carbohydrates – white bread, white rice, white pasta, etc
· Alcohol
Do’s:
· 3 meals a day – you must NEVER be hungry.
· 3 snacks a day between meals.
· Eat a varied protein intake – focusing on a daily portion of fresh fish, meat or chicken. Do not take
MacuDopa near a protein rich meal.
· Enjoy a plant-based diet - 45% of your diet is veg, either raw in salads or steamed. Wash your vegetables really well to get rid of pesticides. Dress with virgin cold pressed oilve oil and apple cider vinegar. and eat organic if you can.
· Low Gi fruit once a day – the best being berries, apples or pears (organic if possible and washed).
A VIP note regarding protein:
Protein competes with the L_DOPA in MacuDopa and the normal pharmaceuticals like sinimet for absorption, reducing the effect. This means that you should not eat a strong protein meal (meat, chicken, fish, tofu) 30 minutes before or after taking Mucuna/MacuDopa.
Dr Batzu was talking about Symprove - not clear about the dose
Thank you! Exactly what I was searching for. 👍
Was at a lecture given by Tim Spector a couple of weeks ago, when he did his medical training many years ago, nutrition was a two hour lecture... that was it, nothing more. Apparently it hasn’t changed since then. I’ve asked my GP about diet and nutrition on occasion, he’s asked me what I eat, and when I give him a broad outline, his response is “well that’s sounds OK...”. It’s scary how little GPs understand nutrition. It’s all, low salt, low fat and nothing beyond that...
What about Fava beans? Meant to have a positive effect on Dopamine
Hi Tim. Mucuna pruriens (fava beans) contain L-DOPA in varying amounts (3% on average). My sister is YOPD and we created a HPLC standardised Mucuna for her. Each capsules contains 100mg L-DOPA. It is called MacuDopa. Happy to answer any questions but egually aware about not wanting to puch a product here.
This was hugely helpful- no-one has told us anything about diet and it is nearly 10 years since my husband was diagnosed. Which probiotic is it that is most recommended, please? We're quite happy to give anything recommended a go!
Thank you Rory. That is utterly astonishing. Diet - specifically good nutrition is utterly essential. It’s amazing that there isn’t a more integrated approach to health - specifically gut health - and treatment.
Very good to hear this issue raised. I proactively got to see a dietician recently (9yrs diagnosed) who said she didn't know much about Parkinson's but would be happy to work with me. She did give me a specific NHS booklet! We'll see if it helps.
In your podcast I didn't hear mention of Vitamin D supplements not entirely a diet issue when we make it via sunlight but those with a diagnosis of PD should at least have a test for deficiency and supplement if required.
For Paul - chocolate contains magnesium and flavanols but dark chocolate much better than milk.
My husband, who has had PD for 13 years, found and ordered a book online about 11 years ago. He has followed the advice on diet and exercise ever since. Much of what the experts tell us now was in that book! It is 'Stop Parkin' and Start Livin' by John Coleman. Very good to hear on the podcast that the advice was good, but yes, it needs to be given to all Parkies. My suggestion is a leaflet which could be supplied to all PD nurses to hand out to all their patients. And it should be done straight away. We love the podcast and feel you are our friends in this battle with the disease! Please don't stop. Alison and Jack
Sorry me again! SURELY dietary information and guidance is IMPERATIVE and ESSENTIAL from first diagnosis?
Oh my goodness me!!! Thanks very much for such an informative and important subject this week! It’s disheartening to say in the 21 years since my husband’s parky diagnosis, diet has only been mentioned as an aside… nothing much more than “watch your diet”. This programme has been invaluable. Many heartfelt thanks. Davina and Mike Ware, Bath
Google Prof Tim Spector @kcl about food and health. You will find it interesting especially gut health.
Read The China Study by T Colin Campbell. (‘The most comprehensive study of nutrition ever conducted’). It addresses every single question raised in this podcast relating to diet, and the answer is embarrassingly obvious and simple - not that we want to hear it.
Very informative podcast, thank you. I've been 16 years diagnosed at 50 and fighting the good fight that we all take part in.
I would like to learn the name and dosage of the probiotics that Dr. Batzu was making reference to.
Possibly you could share the information on your next podcast,
Ciao for now
Applying the ‘Empty Stomach Rule’ to taking food on board at principal meal times threatens to introduce what amounts to anti-social behaviour to the dinner party. Your expert says that there should be a target of 30-45 minutes between pill-taking and
This is such a fabulous blog. My sister is YOPD and I use the resources here to keep myself updated and help her stay positive. I run an online naturopathic functional medicine clinic that specialises in PD (I have been a clinician for 38 years). I have noticed with my sister and other clients that certain foods have a major negative impact on their ability to walk and function. If she has any cow's milk she freezes! We tested her blood and found that she had an IgE and IgG allergic reaction to casein (the protein in cow's milk). A common allergy in PD, alongside gluten and sugar (also the sugars in alcohol I am afraid!).
I don't want to waffle on so this is a very short summary of what I recommend to my clients (as much of this is evidence-based, but some is empirical findings). Always check with your doctor, neurologist or practitioner for specific recommendations.
Cut out (or minimise) your intake of:
· Gluten (mainly from wheat in pasta, biscuits, cakes and breads)
· Cow’s milk and cow's cheese (butter and cream are ok)
· Added sugar in any form (including honey, jams)
· Simple carbohydrates – white bread, white rice, white pasta, etc
· Alcohol
Do’s:
· 3 meals a day – you must NEVER be hungry.
· 3 snacks a day between meals.
· Eat a varied protein intake – focusing on a daily portion of fresh fish, meat or chicken. Do not take
MacuDopa near a protein rich meal.
· Enjoy a plant-based diet - 45% of your diet is veg, either raw in salads or steamed. Wash your vegetables really well to get rid of pesticides. Dress with virgin cold pressed oilve oil and apple cider vinegar. and eat organic if you can.
· Low Gi fruit once a day – the best being berries, apples or pears (organic if possible and washed).
A VIP note regarding protein:
Protein competes with the L_DOPA in MacuDopa and the normal pharmaceuticals like sinimet for absorption, reducing the effect. This means that you should not eat a strong protein meal (meat, chicken, fish, tofu) 30 minutes before or after taking Mucuna/MacuDopa.