Diets rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids may benefit people with Parkinson’s. Eating or limiting other foods may also help, but research is ongoing.

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Parkinson’s disease affects nearly 1 million peopleTrusted Source in the United States, and the number of new diagnoses each year is risingTrusted Source.

Symptoms vary from person to person but commonly include muscle spasms, tremors, and soreness. Researchers are still investigating the causes and triggers that activate Parkinson’s.

Since there’s no cure for Parkinson’s, and the drugs prescribed to manage symptoms sometimes have side effects, some people may be interested in complementary remedies.

Here, we’ll explore how diet can affect people with Parkinson’s, as well as which foods may help or worsen symptoms.

While diet won’t cure Parkinson’s, early research suggests that certain dietary changes may help relieve symptoms for some people.

Because research links Parkinson’s to a lack of dopamine in your body, scientists are looking for ways to increase dopamine naturally through your diet.

Diet may also help your body handle Parkinson’s medications better. Research suggests that diet may play a role in boosting the efficacy of drugs like levodopa and in helping to manage side effects.

Lifestyle changes, like diet and exercise, may also help reduce cognitive symptoms of Parkinson’s, like dementia and confusion, and slow disease progression.

Foods high in antioxidants may also help reduce oxidative stress in your brain, which may be responsible for some of the mental decline seen in Parkinson’s.

Additionally, you may be able to relieve constipation — another potential symptom — with fiber supplements and probiotics, although research is mixed.

Finally, taking magnesium may relieve muscle cramps that can occur in Parkinson’s, though supporting research is lacking. Still, scientists think low levels of this mineral may contribute to the development of Parkinson’s, so magnesium remains important.

Overall, further research is necessary.

Summary

While diet won’t cure Parkinson’s, certain dietary changes — such as consuming more antioxidants, fiber, and magnesium — may help improve symptoms.

Some research focuses on proteins, flavonoids, and gut bacteria as potential treatments for Parkinson’s symptoms, but the research is ongoing and still inconclusive.

More research has shown that diets high in antioxidants may provide brain-protective benefits and slow the progression of the disease in older adults.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect against oxidative stress in Parkinson’s disease. Oxidative stress is an imbalance of antioxidants and unstable compounds called free radicals.

Foods containing large amounts of antioxidants include:

  • Nuts: walnuts, Brazil nuts, pecans, and pistachios
  • Berries: blueberries, blackberries, goji berries, cranberries, and elderberries
  • Nightshade vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant
  • Leafy green vegetables: spinach and kale

Eating a plant-based diet high in these types of foods may provide the highest antioxidant intake.

Researchers are also exploring an antioxidant treatment for Parkinson’s, though studies remain inconclusive.

Can fava beans help people with Parkinson’s?

Fava beans can boost antioxidant activity, but some people eat them for Parkinson’s because they contain levodopa — the same compound used in some Parkinson’s drugs. However, no definitive evidence shows that these beans help reduce symptoms.

Additionally, because you don’t know how much levodopa you’re getting when you eat fava beans, you shouldn’t use them as a substitute for prescription treatments.

Omega-3 foods

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are types of healthy fats, may help reduce symptoms and slow the progression of Parkinson’s. These fats are found in foods like:

Certain nutrient-dense foods

People with Parkinson’s may be more likely to experience malnutrition, a risk factorTrusted Source for cognitive decline.

Here are some food sources of nutrients that many people with Parkinson’s may not have enough of:

  • Iron: spinach, beef, tofu, and fortified breakfast cereals
  • Vitamin B1 (thiamine): pork, beans, lentils, and peas
  • Zinc: whole grains, red meat, oysters, and chicken
  • Vitamin D: salmon, tuna fish, fortified dairy products, and cod liver oil
  • Calcium: dairy products, green leafy veggies, and fortified soy products
Summary

Eating more foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3s, as well as correcting any nutrient deficiencies, may help relieve some Parkinson’s symptoms. Although many people also eat fava beans, there’s no evidence for their efficacy.

You may want to avoid or limit your intake of certain foods if you have Parkinson’s.

Foods high in saturated fat

Although scientists are still studying the specific role of saturated fat in Parkinson’s, research suggests that a high dietary fat intake may increase your risk of this disease. A 2022 study identified saturated fat as a specific risk factor.

ResearchTrusted Source has linked diets high in saturated fat to chronic conditions like heart disease. As such, you may wish to keep these foods in moderation.

Some foods high in saturated fat includeTrusted Source:

Conversely, some studies note that the keto diet — which is high in fat — is beneficial for some people with Parkinson’s.

Foods that are hard to chew

Another Parkinson’s symptom is difficulty chewing and swallowing. More than one-third of people with this condition experience difficulty swallowing, with the risk increasing as the disease progresses.

Choosing foods that are easy to chew and swallow may be important, as may working with a speech-language therapist.

Processed foods

Lastly, experts recommend limiting or avoiding processed foods as research links them to a more rapid progression of Parkinson’s. Examples of processed foods include:

Processed foods may also impair gut health, which may affect symptom severity.

Summary

People with Parkinson’s may need to avoid or limit processed foods and foods high in saturated fats, as these may exacerbate symptoms.

There’s no one specific “Parkinson’s diet,” but people with the disease may benefit from following other established diet plans.

Mediterranean and MIND diets

Some researchTrusted Source suggests that the Mediterranean diet, which tends to be high in antioxidants and omega-3s, protects against dementia in Parkinson’s disease.

Experts also recommend the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet to slow Parkinson’s progression. The MIND diet combines the Mediterranean diet with the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet.

A 2022 study of 1,205 people with various forms of parkinsonism found that both the Mediterranean and MIND diets were effective at reducing symptoms and slowing disease progression but that the MIND diet was more effective.

Ketogenic diet

Recent research suggests that the keto diet may also benefit people with Parkinson’s.

A keto diet increases the production of ketone bodies, which may help reduce muscle symptoms like tremors and stiffness. It may also help boost cognitive function.

However, a keto diet also poses some risks to older adults with Parkinson’s, such as constipation and high uric acid levels. Other associated risks of the keto diet for people in this age group include hypertension, high cholesterol, and heart disease. More research is needed.

Summary

There’s no “Parkinson’s diet,” but experts often recommend the Mediterranean or MIND diets for people with this condition. The keto diet may also provide benefit but more research is needed, and it can pose serious health risks.

Here are a few basic lifestyle tips that may help ease Parkinson’s symptoms:

Summary

Healthy lifestyle habits, such as staying hydrated, getting outside, and keeping active, may help relieve Parkinson’s symptoms.

There’s no specific diet experts recommend to treat Parkinson’s disease. However, a nutritious diet — alongside regular exercise — may help improve symptoms.

Keep in mind that certain foods and supplements may interfere with prescription drugs for this disease, so make sure you consult your doctor before changing your treatment routine.