 Brain Food Over Buzzwords: What Science Says About Diets and Parkinson’s Disease Written By: Renee Rouleau- B.S. Neuroscience, University of Buffalo I promised you we’d be back to talk about dieting, one of my favorite and least favorite topics. In today’s world, it feels like there’s a new diet trend every week—keto, juice cleanses, calorie restriction, “no-carb” plans and THE “SHOT” that promise longevity, a trim waistline, and overall better health. But when it comes to long-term brain and muscle health, especially for people with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), fad diets often do more harm than good. That’s why we’re here to set the record straight on dieting, and how a healthy, balanced diet including whole foods, a variety of nutrients, and balanced macronutrients, can help you effectively manage your Parkinson’s PD. A significant issue with fad diets is their tendency to eliminate entire food groups, citing the "carnivore diet" as an example which restricts carbs and emphasizes protein. It points out that while short-term results may be observed, these drastic restrictions can lead to unsustainable lifestyles and be nutritionally deficient specifically, a lack of essential nutrients such as fiber, healthy fats, and vitamins vital for brain and muscle function. Furthermore, there are potential negative side effects such as energy dips, constipation (already problematic for individuals with Parkinson's Disease), muscle weakness, fatigue, and worsened mobility and balance. Another key issue with fad diets is that they often restrict calories, which are essential for the body's energy needs. Cells, muscles, and especially the brain require energy for basic functions. A "fun fact" is provided: the brain uses about 20% of the daily energy intake from food (Padamansey & Rochefort, 2023). It poses the question of whether one wants to deprive their brain of this needed energy, stating that fad diets would not be helpful. Instead, it advocates for a balanced diet with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats to maintain proper brain energy use.
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