As many as one million Americans live with Parkinson’s disease, which is more than the number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and Lou Gehrig’s disease combined. Although there is no known cure or cause of this disease, the current evidence suggests that the ketogenic diet will provide the best results for general health and Parkinson’s disease symptom relief compared to any other diet. The key to improving the quality of life of these patients appears to be the combination of using ketones for fuel and restricting carbs.
However, if a strict ketogenic diet is too much for the Parkinson’s patient, then try increasing carbohydrates little by little to help them find a keto carb limit that allows them to produce ketones while making it feasible for them to stick to the diet for the long term.
Other ways to improve the results of treatment are:
- Exercising daily.
- Eating mostly whole foods and plenty of low-carb vegetables.
- Taking ketone boosting supplements like MCT oil and coconut oil every day.
- Implementing relevant therapies like speech therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy that can help with relevant symptoms.
- Accounting for potential issues like food aversions, GI tract problems, and unplanned weight changes.
- Monitoring your progress with your doctor.
Altogether, the combination of the ketogenic diet, Parkinson’s disease medications, and the other strategies listed above and in this article will help you or your loved one with Parkinson’s disease by reducing symptoms and improving quality of life.
If you’d like a take a closer look at the research and our recommendations, check out our recent article on Parkinson’s Disease and The Ketogenic Diet.