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Diet & Parkinson’s
Published: March 1, 2024

In support of Nutrition Month, we’d like to share some Parkinson’s specific Nutrition information to support you in living your best.

The following resources and research will echo the thought that there is no one recommended way to eat with Parkinson’s disease. However, a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables promotes health and well-being for everyone. The first step in addressing some PD symptoms, like constipation, low blood pressure and swallowing difficulties, involves adjusting your diet. 

In addition, taking levodopa with high-protein meals may reduce how much of the drug gets into your system and how well a dose works. Learning more about diet and nutrition can mean ensuring your medications are working in an effective way. Several of the resources linked below will speak to this in further detail and we encourage you to speak with a dietician directly when possible.

  • Nutrition & Parkinson’s: U-TurnPD Educational Event with Registered Dietician & Diabetes Educator, Dawne LaChapelle (April 13th, 2022). Watch the 1.5 hour event to learn more about how high protein meals may impact your levodopa and get in-depth nutritional information from a registered dietician. 
  • Unlock Food: Unlock Food is an online resource provided by Dieticians of Canada that provides information and helps connect you to a dietician. Dieticians are passionate about the potential of food to enhance lives and improve health. They look beyond fads and gimmicks to deliver reliable, life changing advice.
  • Michael J. Fox Foundation: The MJFF provides great resources for diet and nutrition for Parkinson’s. Click above to learn more and download their Diet and Brain Health Guide for a more in depth look at how diet can impact PD.

  • Standford Medicine – Nutrition in PD: The Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach team provides those with Parkinson’s disease, their families, caregivers, physicians, and other healthcare professionals with education, assistance, and resources. Linked above are articles, research and resources related to diet & Parkinson’s.
  • Dial-a-Dietician: Dial-a-Dietician is a free, bilingual resource for all Manitobans that connects you to a registered dietician. Dial-a-Dietitian is here to help people of all ages understand how food choices can improve their health and prevent disease.