Definition:
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disease affecting the nervous system.
Underlying cause is unknown, but symptoms appear when there is a
lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that
allows the brain cells to communicate with each other. In healthy
people dopamine is found in balance with another neurotransmitter
called acetylcholine. In Parkinson's the cells that produce dopamine
are lost, leading to the symptoms associated with this disease.
Parkinson's disease is one of the most diseases in our country.
It usually affects a person for around 20 years, ultimately resulting
in death. Death is usually from infection of some origin. While
the cause of this disease is unknown, some theories have been developed.
One hypothesis is that dopamine producing cell are destroyed by
toxin within the body that the liver can not filter out, metabolize,
or detoxify. Another theory points to the excess of chemical toxins
found in our food supply. Chemicals like herbicides, pesticides,
and fungicides have been found in high levels in body tissue in
people with Parkinson's disease. These chemicals not only are found
in our food, but they can leech into the ground and end up in our
drinking water.
Symptoms:
Parkinson's disease begins with a slight tremor of the hands while at rest.
A slow heavy feeling, muscular stiffness, and a tendency to tire
more often accompany this dreaded disease. As the disease progresses,
muscular rigidity, drooling, loss of appetite, shuffling gait, more
pronounced tremors, and impaired speech are more noticeable. The
body becomes rigid and the limbs stiffen, along with depression
and dementia, in the final stages of Parkinson's disease.
Holistic Treatment Plan:
Most people will benefit from reducing your intake of protein,
especially if you are taking levodopa. Limit your protein consumption
to 7 grams daily, this is about 3 lb. Lowering protein intake will
help to control coordination and muscle movements. Eat a diet that
consists mostly of raw foods, like fruits, vegetables, seeds, whole
grains, soy mils in place of cow milk is suggested. Include foods
like almonds, Brazil nuts, fish, pecans, pumpkinseeds, sesame seeds,
lima beans, chickpeas, and lentils. All foods should be organically
grown. Avoid exposure to toxic chemicals, especially if you enjoy
certain hobbies that could expose you to those chemicals.
References:
Balch, J., M. D., and Balch, Phyllis A., C. N. C., Prescription for Nutritional
Healing, 2nd ed., Garden City, NY: Avery Publishing Group, 1997; DiMonte, M. et. al.,
Glutathione in Parkinson’s disease: A Link Between Oxidative Stress and
Mitochondrial Damage, Annals of Neurology, 1992, 32:5111-5.
Disclaimer:
All information given here is for educational purposes only. For a proper diagnosis and
treatment plan you must consult your health care practitioner.
