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Lifestyle and Home Remedies for Parkinson's Disease

Your doctor will help you to devise a treatment plan to manage your Parkinson's disease. Your input in this plan is necessary as part of the treatment may be lifestyle changes or home remedies of which you're input will be valuable. You want to choose a treatment plan that will contain the least amount of possible side effects. Parts of the treatment plan such as lifestyle changes won't look good if they are adhered to only on paper. You have to make a commitment to everyone on the treatment plan. Having a treatment plan that you helped design will encourage you to stick to the plan and make living your life with this disease called Parkinson's easier. Your plan may include healthy eating, exercise, avoiding safety issues especially falls, and being able to do daily tasks with a minimal of frustration and discomfort.

Food is your body's energy and keeping a good energy level is critical to maintaining an active life for as long as possible. You should eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of raw fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Make sure that you increase fiber slowly and up your water intake at the same time. Your doctor may suggest taking a fiber supplement such as psyllium powder, Metamucil, or Citrucel. Make sure you drink plenty of water with these supplements.

Exercise is important to improve mental clarity, improve depression, and give you a better outlook on life. Because Parkinson's can affect your balance you need to be especially careful when exercising so you don't lose your balance and also to prevent falls. Tips for exercising and walking with care include taking your time and not trying to move too rapidly, strike the floor with your heel first and then your toe. Check your posture if you notice that you are shuffling when walking. Stand up straight with your head held high and her head over your hips. Your feet should be between eight and ten inches apart.

It is important to do all you can to avoid falls by having good posture, watch to be sure that you don't pivot our body over your feet while turning. You should instead make a U-turn. Watch to be sure that you are not leaning over or reaching and throwing off your center of gravity. While walking your should not be carrying anything. This may sound silly, but do not walk backwards as accidents can happen when you can't see where you are going.

Dressing yourself can be frustrating especially as the disease progresses. When you lose the fine-motor control of your fingers and hands it makes dressing and undressing most difficult. When you go to your physical therapist they can help you to allow plenty of time completing a task. Give yourself plenty of time so doesn't rush. Choose clothing to wear that is easy to apply. Replace buttons with Velcro when possible.