HEALING OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE THRU GOOD NUTRITION

How Can A Vegetarian Diet Be Of Help To PD Patients


By Nona Lema


(Last of a 3-part article series)

The amount of  protein that the PD patient takes can have a major impact on the symptoms of the disease.  So experts say  ‘go high-carb, low-protein’ . They say PD patients who are taking levodopa need to limit the amount of proteins they eat.  Protein is made up of amino acids, and the amino acids in food interfere with levodopa getting into the brain. (Levodopa is also an amino acid). What better way to lessen protein intake than to adapt a vegetarian diet.  For a clear understanding of just how much protein an average person needs, I’m quoting here the whole of Chapter 2 of GULAY cookbook, wherein I discussed in detail about protein.

…Chapter 2    How Much Protein?

In my many years of teaching about the vegetarian diet, the most frequently asked question is, “where do you get your protein?”  Oftentimes, people are reluctant to eliminate meat from their diet because they are worried that if they do, they will somehow be protein deficient.  There is no need to be worried about protein deficiency.  This fear of ‘not getting enough protein’ from vegetable sources is not only unfounded but it actually leads to an even more serious problem.  It is how not to get too much!  Having too much protein in one’s body is actually as dangerous as not having enough.

In the world today, meat is generally thought to be the ideal source of protein.  Quality-wise, quantity-wise.  That is why nowadays whenever people say ‘protein’, it is usually associated with meat.  We were brought up thinking this way - - an idea widely propagated by major meat companies.

However,  we should be asking, is meat really the ONLY source of protein?  If we are supposed to have protein, how much is enough?  How much is too much? It is very important to know these things so that we don’t become too paranoid about so-called not getting enough.

Actually, the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) of protein for an average adult is only between 40 to 65 grams daily.  Our daily needs of protein ranges from only TWO AND A HALF percent of our total daily calories up to about EIGHT percent.  So if we look at the percentage of calories from protein based on nutritive values of our local food, we will find  that if we eat, for example, an average serving of rice (16% protein) with Ginisang Mongo (29(%), our daily protein requirement is more than fully satisfied.  If we eat rice (16%) with Pritong Tokwa (43%) and some tomatoes (18%), our protein needs for the day is easily taken care of.  Even if we eat nothing but oatmeal (16%) or camote (8%) or saging na saba (8%) for the day, still we would have more than enough protein for our needs.  So here I’m showing you just how low our protein needs really are. And almost all plant food provide protein.

Once the daily requirement is met, the excess protein foes to waste.  Consuming more that what the body requires places a heavy burden on our whole system as it tries to rid the body of the excess. Meat is definitely high-protein food.  All flesh foods and eggs are considered so because they contain all the essential amino acids.  But in fact,  meat is so high in protein content that it is no longer necessary.  The body cannot absorb that much protein anyway.  For example,  an average serving of pork chop has about 180-200 grams of protein.  That’s far, far more than the daily requirement! Therefore,  if we are on a regular meat diet daily,  where does this huge amount of excess protein go?  It is broken down in the liver and excreted through the kidneys.  This causes the liver and the kidneys to work harder.  If the liver and the kidneys are overworked,  we eventually become ill.

So the point is: don’t worry.  First, we simply don’t need as much protein as we have been led to believe.  Second, whatever little amount we need, it is abundantly available in the vegetable kingdom in the form of legumes, beans, and many other vegetables.  Actually, vegetable protein is not only equal in quantity to meat protein, it is even superior in quality because none of the legumes, seeds, grains, or nuts contain cholesterol and saturated fats. Also,  they are nature-packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and carbohydrates, whereas all flesh foods and eggs are packed with cholesterol and saturated fats.  So, we simply have to learn how to combine and balance different vegetable protein foods.  By mixing grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds in a meal, it is easy to get an adequate supply of protein containing all eight essential amino acids.

So, to summarize: Protein is an essential nutrient. We cannot just eliminate protein from the PD patients’ diet just because it interferes with levodopa.  So what do you do? The solution is to avoid high protein food such as meat and eggs AND make sure the PD patients eat enough protein from vegetable sources.

Grab the chance to meet the author, Ms. Nona Lema, in person, during the First Annual Convention of Pinoy Parkinson's Disease or Pinoy PD on October 22, 2011 in Makati City.

P.S. FINAL EXTENSION OF FREE REGISTRATION! Register for FREE on or before OCTOBER 15, 2011.

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