Table of contents:
- Various ways to prevent Parkinson's disease
- 1. Aerobic exercise
- 2. Avoid exposure to toxins
- 3. Expand to eat vegetables
- 4. Consume Omega-3 fatty acids
- 5. Increase your intake or exposure to vitamin D
- 6. Consume caffeine
- 7. Maintain normal uric acid levels
- 8. Take NSAIDs if necessary
- 9. Reduce stress
Parkinson's disease is a nervous system disorder that causes impaired movement of the body. This disorder causes various Parkinson's symptoms, which are generally related to motor skills, so that the sufferer will have difficulty carrying out daily activities. Therefore, it is very important to prevent Parkinson's disease to avoid these undesirable things. So, is it true that this disease can be prevented? Are there any specific ways to prevent Parkinson's disease?
Various ways to prevent Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease occurs when the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine are disrupted, lost, or even died. The dopamine itself is a chemical in the brain that plays a role in helping control body movements. When these nerve cells are disturbed, the dopamine in the brain becomes reduced so that interference with body movement control occurs.
However, the cause of the disruption of these nerve cells is not certain. Thus, there is no sure way that can prevent Parkinson's disease. However, you can still reduce your chances of developing Parkinson's by avoiding various risk factors.
Here are some ways you can reduce your risk of developing Parkinson's, which might help prevent this disease:
1. Aerobic exercise
Not only to improve the health of the heart, lungs, and bones, exercise also benefits the health of the human brain. One type of exercise that is good for brain health is aerobics, such as walking, swimming, or cycling. Regular aerobic exercise is believed to reduce inflammation in the brain, which can also be a cause of Parkinson's disease.
A study conducted at the University of Illinois in 2011 suggests that regular aerobic exercise can improve overall cognitive health. In the study, participants who exercised walking for 40 minutes, three days a week for a year, experienced an increase in the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain that plays a role in memory and learning.
In contrast, adults who did not exercise experienced a decrease in hippocampus size by about one to two percent each year. Meanwhile, Parkinson's sufferers often experience impaired cognitive function and memory during the development of the disease. Therefore, this method can be one way to prevent Parkinson's disease in the future.
2. Avoid exposure to toxins
Reporting from the Parkinson's Foundation, environmental factors, such as exposure to pesticides, herbicides, air pollutants, and metals, can increase a person's risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Therefore, one form of preventing Parkinson's disease is to avoid exposure to these dangerous compounds.
As is well known, pesticides, herbicides and metals are often used in plantations and industrial factories. If you work in any of these areas, you can wear gloves, shoes, and protective clothing while working. Then wash and place these tools in a special place so as not to pollute the environment, equipment, or even food around them.
However, you should reduce or not use these chemicals as much as possible. If necessary, choose organic foods, especially vegetables and fruits, which are much safer and avoid pesticides and herbicides.
3. Expand to eat vegetables
Vegetables are known for their health properties. Not only that, eating more vegetables is also known to be one way to prevent Parkinson's disease.
Studies show that increasing the level of folic acid in the body, especially those from vegetables, can significantly reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease. Some of the vegetables that are the best sources of folic acid are green vegetables, such as broccoli, spinach, or asparagus. In addition, you can also get this content from other foods, such as avocados or nuts.
4. Consume Omega-3 fatty acids
Several studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids play a role in preventing degeneration and cell death, which may be useful for preventing Parkinson's disease. The omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained from several foods, such as salmon and mackerel, eggs, and walnuts.
One of these studies was conducted in Canada in 2008, where a group was given an omega-3 supplement for 10 months. The result, this group of mice did not experience a decrease in dopamine levels in the brain and showed no signs of Parkinson's.
5. Increase your intake or exposure to vitamin D
The researchers found that about 70 percent of untreated early-stage Parkinson's patients had low levels of vitamin D. Therefore, consuming vitamin D at sufficient levels is considered to be one way to reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease.
However, additional research is needed to prove more about vitamin D as a prevention against Parkinson's disease. But certainly, vitamin D from sun exposure or consumption of animal fats can provide a number of good benefits for the body, such as improving bone health, immunity, energy and mood, or protecting against dementia.
6. Consume caffeine
You may often hear that consuming excessive caffeine can increase the risk of various diseases. However, several studies actually show that people who consume caffeine derived from coffee, tea (including green tea), or soft drinks, are less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who do not drink it.
However, it is still not known whether caffeine can actually protect you from Parkinson's disease. At this time, there is not enough evidence to suggest that you consume these drinks as a way to prevent Parkinson's disease.
7. Maintain normal uric acid levels
Having high levels of uric acid in the body can indeed cause gout to kidney stones. However, researchers have found that men with normal uric acid levels at the top were less likely to have Parkinson's disease than those with lower levels. However, the same was not observed in women.
8. Take NSAIDs if necessary
Although the exact cause is not known, several studies have shown that people who regularly take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's. However, you should not just take this drug. Always consult a doctor if you need to consume it because of certain symptoms.
9. Reduce stress
Reducing stress is believed to support long-term health in the human body. The reason is, stress can cause inflammation and various long-term damages throughout your body. Therefore, in addition to taking the precautions above, you also need to reduce stress in an effort to reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease in the future.
