Parkinson’s disease , as a common degenerative disease of the nervous system, it causes great distress to patients in their daily lives. Its main symptoms include quiescent tremor, muscle rigidity, and bradykinesia, and in severe cases, it can even cause muscle stiffness throughout the body and the inability to take care of oneself. And behind all this, it’s often closely related to the lack of dopamine, a neurotransmitter. Dopamine plays a crucial role in the nervous system, and it is not only able to influence a person’s mood, memory, and learning abilities, it is also involved in regulating motor control. Therefore, for patients with Parkinson’s disease, how to effectively supplement dopamine becomes the key to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. Next, let’s explore together five natural foods that are able to help Parkinson’s patients easily fill their missing dopamine.
1. High-quality protein: a treasure house of amino acids and a raw material for the synthesis of dopamine
The raw material for the synthesis of dopamine is amino acids, and high-quality proteins are an important source of amino acids. Patients with Parkinson’s disease should increase their intake of high-quality protein such as milk, eggs, meat, and beans in moderation. Foods such as milk, eggs, lean meats, and sea fish are not only rich in high-quality protein, but also easy to digest and absorb, making them an ideal diet for Parkinson’s patients. After the amino acids in these foods enter the body, they can promote the synthesis of dopamine like a catalyst, thereby increasing the concentration of dopamine in the brain and helping to relieve Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
II Antioxidant-rich foods: protect dopamine from oxidative damage
Dopamine is highly susceptible to oxidation, and oxidative stress is an important link in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. Therefore, the intake of foods rich in antioxidants can alleviate the oxidative damage of free radicals to dopamine to some extent. Foods such as almonds, sesame seeds, bananas, avocados, pumpkin seeds, strawberries, oranges, cabbage, tomatoes, and grapes are rich in antioxidants, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene. These foods are able to not only promote the secretion of dopamine, but also protect it from oxidative damage like a loyal guard, thus prolonging the action time of dopamine in the brain.
3. “Green tea: a natural cognitive enhancer and a treasure chest of dopamine”
Green tea, a drink that originated from the East, not only tastes fresh, but also contains a variety of health benefits. One of them is that it contains dopamine, which directly supplies this valuable neurotransmitter to the brain. In addition, the catechins in green tea are able to improve emotional stability and reduce anxiety and depression. For people with Parkinson’s disease, drinking green tea in moderation undoubtedly kills many birds with one stone: it increases dopamine intake, improves cognitive function and emotional state, and improves quality of life.
4. Deep-sea fish: rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, promoting dopamine synthesis and release
Deep-sea fish, such as cod, eels and salmon, are important sources of Omega-3 fatty acids. This fatty acid has been shown to prevent degenerative diseases of the nervous system and is particularly important in Parkinson’s patients. Not only does it promote the synthesis and release of dopamine, it also reduces the inflammatory response and helps keep the nervous system healthy. Eating fish at least twice a week can reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease by about 50%. Therefore, deep-sea fish are undoubtedly the preferred delicacy on the table for Parkinson’s patients.
V. NUTS AND DARK CHOCOLATE: A GIFT OF NATURE, A PROMOTOR OF DOPAMINE
Nut-based foods, such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, etc., not only have a crispy texture, but are also rich in dopamine substances as well as unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants. These ingredients are able to boost blood circulation in the brain, enhance memory, and effectively reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. And “dark chocolate, this sweet temptation, also contains tyramine bases that promote dopamine production”. Eating dark chocolate in moderation is able to stimulate the release of dopamine and make Parkinson’s patients feel more happy. By dark chocolate, of course, we mean varieties with a high cocoa content, not those sweet traps with a lot of added sugar and fat.
Disclaimer: All photos used in this blog are generated by artificial intelligence (AI). These images are original creations produced by AI technology and do not depict real people, places, or events. They are provided for illustrative purposes only and cannot be claimed or used as real photographs.
Dr. Ashish Singh is not just a consultant orthopaedic surgeon but a visionary leader in the field. Serving as the Medical Director at Anup Institute of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation in Patna, Bihar, he holds an illustrious academic background with MBBS, MS Ortho, MCh.Orth. (UK), PG Diploma CAOS (UK), and SICOT Diploma Orth. (Sweden).
