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People with Parkinson’s Disease Should Be Eating This Longevity Food

Posted on by Landtiser

It’s been well documented that Parkinson’s disease has a brain-gut connection. So what foods are best for both?

Dr. Dean and Dr. Ayesha Sherzai, cutting edge brain scientists (Directors of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program at Loma Linda University Medical Center and Brain Health at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) were asked what foods are best for the brain. They said that, even above a fish-based diet, a plant-based diet is the best. Dark leafy greens and beans are essential.

Not only are beans great for the brain and the gut, they are also a great source of clean protein, complex carbohydrates, and help regulate blood sugar and reduce cholesterol (two very important functions for brain health).

Here are some great facts about beans:

  • Beans are a staple in the blue zones – Where people live the longest and are healthiest (including cognition): Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. These locations also have the highest concentration of centenarians.
  • The longest-lived people eat a full cup of beans every day – Americans eat about 4 tablespoons per day. U.S. Dietary Guidelines suggest ½ cup per day. Eat more beans!
  • Risk of death fell by 6 percent for every 20g intake of legumes (beans, peas, etc.), according to one study.
  • They’re Cheap! At about 98 cents per pound, beans are one of the most affordable protein sources available. Compare that to $4.60 per pound for beef, and $3.50 per pound for chicken.
  • Preparation is simple – Whether it’s in their dry form, from a can, or frozen, there are a multitude of ways to prepare them.
  • The Darker the Better – Like veggies, the more color the beans have, the higher the antioxidant content. Black beans contain 40 times the antioxidants found in white beans.
  • Help with digestion – All varieties of beans have high fiber content. Mung beans are easier to digest because they have lower levels of the specific carbohydrate that can cause gas.
  • Great for gardens – Even if you don’t harvest them, beans are great because they put nitrogen back into the soil. By enriching the soil, that leaves behind nutrients for the next crop and they are easy to grow.

Tips to Curb Stomach Gas (beans contain complex carbohydrates that can sometimes produce gas):

  • Slowly add beans into your diet. The gas problem usually evaporates after a week or so of regular bean-eating.
  • Cook beans with spices like turmeric, ginger, or fennel. The spices will also add great variety to your recipes.

This is a favorite of mine:

I cook a variety of beans with vegetables (like mushrooms, green, orange and yellow peppers, yams, zucchini and kale) in my InstantPot and serve it up like chili. YUM!!  

💜 Kimberly

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