I came across a good article on Medscape Nov 21/24 that I thought I would summarize and put on my blog. I do not treat PD but I refer to others that are treating this condition. Nutrition is a method to potentially help in preventing neurodegeneration in PD. Nutritional approaches within a broader program that includes medication review, stress management, social connections, adequate sleep and physical exercise could make a big difference.

Observational studies have shown an inverse association between dietary patterns and PD risk particularly with the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) and the MIND diet which combines elements of MeDi and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

A healthy diet emphasizing vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains was inversely associated with prodromal symptoms of PD including constipation, excessive daytime sleepiness and depression. In addition, lower rates of PD have been found in populations following vegetarian and vegan diets.

PD is characterized by decreased short chain fatty acid producing bacteria and increased proinflammatory species linked to intestinal inflammation and a-synuclein aggregation. There are reasons to believe that a-synuclein accumulation may start in the gut. Numerous studies implicate gut microbiome dysbiosis as a pathogenic mechanism in PD, with gastrointestinal symptoms predating motor symptoms.

Some of the benefits conferred by the MeDi and other healthy diets may be mediated by improving the gut microbiome.

 Malnutrition affects closed to 25% of those with PD partly because of diminished olfaction. It is recommended to increase herbs, spices, and other flavors in food. High caloric foods including nuts, nut butters, and seeds can boost weight.

Constipation affects up to 66% of PD patients. Increase fluid intake. Exercise and dietary fiber such as psyllium husks and use of stool softeners can be supportive. The MeDi may reduce constipation and have a beneficial effect on the microbiome. Coffee may also be helpful for sleepiness in PD and may confer neuroprotective, motor and cognitive benefits. Max benefit reached at 3 cups/day. Deleterious effects of ultra-processed foods so avoid them as they have been linked to cognitive decline and stroke.

Consuming polyunsaturated fatty acids along with reduced saturated fatty intake has been tied to a reduced risk for PD.

Certain foods may offer a protective effect including green and black tea with consumption of three or more cups per day associated with a delay in motor symptom onset by 7.7 years. Foods high in nicotine content including peppers, tomatoes, tomato juice and potatoes have also been linked to potential protective benefits.

Diets rich in antioxidants including carotenoids, lutein and vitamin E and C have been linked to reduced risk for PD. Increasing the dietary flavonoids particularly tea, berry fruits, apples, red wine (or red grapes) and oranges can reduce PD risk. Flavonoids have been shown to stabilize alpha-synuclein in vitro. Caffeine, curcumin, resveratrol, and eliminating meat and dairy inhibit mTOR which results in increased autophagy that may help clear alpha-synuclein. Genestein, an isoflavone in soybeans protects dopaminergic neurons by inhibiting microglia activation. Flavonoids inhibit inflammation by release of nitric oxide and proinflammatory cytokines.

Choose oatmeal and more whole food plant based meals as a strategy moving forward.

Reference: Medscape Medical News Nov 21/24 Food as Medicine: Diet’s Role in Parkinson’s Disease

Batya Swift Yasgur, MA, LSW

I was watching an old interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was talking about the decline in his physical body and how he could not get as muscular as he could in his past. If we look up the word immortal in the dictionary, we see that it is defined as living forever, likely to be a person worthy of enduring fame. This is not a realistic view of life. We are all getting older. We can’t always afford to get expensive tests to look under the hood, but we can tune into our intuition as to what we presently need. Everything changes according to Buddhist philosophy. That is true.

How empowered can we get in every area of our life? Yes relationships change and need to be evaluated. It is true that if you put attention on different areas of your life that they will improve just by putting a little more care and attention on them. I would add putting love into the action is imperative. Most people respond more openly if they feel loved. We all feel somewhat vulnerable as we age. I am doing everything I can to age as gracefully as I can. 

How can be empowered in my career despite being laid off after 26 years of employment downtown? I need to keep on with my continuing education. Ask myself what I am still passionate about. It always come back to health being my highest value. I walk what I talk and am extremely genuinely interested in improving my patient’s lives in terms of their health.

Being a naturopathic doctor, my number one value is health so I spend a lot of time, money and energy on living the most healthy lifestyle that I can. As I blogged last time, I just took the course Eat Real to Heal as my intuition told me I needed to ramp up my personal effort into healing my body again. I realize too that I am immortal and I can only do what I am guided to do. I give the rest to God. Having a faith is imperative for me. I was raised Christian but I realize that spirituality is very personal and unique for each individual…enough said.

Taking out the lens and evaluating your life in terms of your relationships, your diet, your exercise, your strength, your energy, your vitality, your passion for career, your hormone balance, your spiritual life, your friendships, your finances, your social connections, the list is endless once you bring the spotlight out. I know for a fact that I am much more even in my mood and happier since I have been on the eat real to heal plan and I am juicing every day. 

I wanted to add that I was at my UVic alumni weekend. I attended my alumni appreciation dinner with my sister in tow. Humor is so important in our life to offer a perspective on things. I was laughing with my coach Lynne Beecroft; she said that she uses her field hockey stick as a cane now. She was joking but we all have to find the humor in life as things change as we get older. Laughter is often the best medicine!

I wanted to tell you that the food revolution summit is on starting today. It is a free online summit put on my Ocean Robbins and his team. I am definitely tuning in and recommend it to all my patients.

If you are interested in booking in with me, go to www.robinvinge.com then click on contact to be led to my Jane booking site. Happy spring out there. I believe it is officially here!

As many of you know, I have been living with multiple sclerosis since I was 21 years old. I started Ocrevus three years ago because my family members were not happy that I was having flares that were very challenging to recover from. I only agreed to the medication if my neurologist could say it was objectively helping me. He says that it is helping stabilize me and prevent flares so that is a good thing. I still feel that although I have been able to live in balance with my condition I would like to further heal what is going on. I am now 55 and I am menopausal so I want to age with the least inflammation possible.

So one of my acquaintances was recently diagnosed with cancer. He decided to do the Eat to Heal program to reverse chronic disease. I decided to look into it to see if it would help me reduce my inflammation. I promptly bought the book Eat to Heal on Kindle for minimal cost and started reading.  I am working through the course and applying the knowledge to my own life. It is increasing the nutrient loading by following an exclusive plant based diet and adding juicing which I have never done consistently in such a high volume. I am currently juicing three times daily. I am using a Jack Lalanne sp? juicer that my partner gave me. I juice 5 carrots to one apple three times daily. I am feeling symptom free with a good amount of energy and a happier mood. The body is always seeking homeostasis. Physician Heal Thy Self…

There is a major detoxification plan that involves enemas. The Gerson plan to reverse chronic disease. Because I specialize in biotherapeutic drainage. I am currently using Unda numbers 1,20, 243 at eight drops twice daily to complement the meal plan. If I went to a healing retreat led by Nicolette Richer I would do the enemas too. For now this is what I have committed too. Nicolette has reversed chronic disease in many people. She thinks it would take me 1.5 years to reverse my chronic disease. I have no expectations but I believe wholeheartedly in the food as medicine concept. This plan aligns perfectly with what I believe and teach as a naturopathic doctor.

You can buy Eat to Heal on Kindle. To work with me, book an appointment on Jane (robinvinge). I am a licensed naturopathic doctor doing telemedicine on the Jane platform. You can always heal your life! It is getting lighter and warmer out there. Happy Spring Equinox in a few days!