For most people, constipation may be just an occasional bother, but in the case of people with Parkinson's disease, it can become a distressing problem. However, it is no longer uncommon for people with Parkinson's disease. In order to help these patients cope with constipation, Dr. Yang Li shared some laxative tips from the perspective of diet.
1. Why are Parkinson's patients prone to constipation?
Constipation is a prevalent problem in people with Parkinson's disease. The reason behind this is mainly related to damage to the nervous system and intestinal system. The effects of Parkinson's disease don't stop there, it can also affect the smooth muscle function of the small intestine, causing intestinal peristalsis to slow down or weaken, which in turn affects the digestion and absorption of food. In addition, Parkinson's disease may also affect the normal function of the autonomic nervous system, leading to uncoordinated bowel movements and exacerbating constipation.
2. How to improve Parkinson's constipation?
1.Increase your intake of dietary fiber: Dietary fiber has an important function of helping the digestive tract retain water and store it to form soft stools. Therefore, increasing the intake of dietary fiber can effectively alleviate the problem of constipation. In our daily diet, there are many foods rich in dietary fiber, such as cereals, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, etc. Patients can try to gradually incorporate these foods into their daily diet, but pay attention to the appropriate amount and avoid consuming too much dietary fiber at one time, which may cause problems such as gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea.
2.Maintain adequate water intake: Hydration plays a vital role in keeping stools soft and easy to excrete. I advise patients to ensure adequate hydration every day, including water, soup and juice. Increasing the body's hydration can improve the smoothness of bowel movements and help reduce constipation symptoms. For individuals with a lighter taste or swelling issues, drinks such as herbal teas or luscious teas are a good choice to provide plenty of hydration while helping to regulate the body's water balance. When choosing a drink, make sure it's safe and meets your personal taste and health needs. 
3.Control fat and protein intake: Foods high in fat and protein do pose challenges for the proper functioning of the body's digestive tract. They can hinder the normal flow of food through the digestive tract, which can lead to constipation. Therefore, it is very important for patients to maintain a moderate intake of fat and protein. To maintain a healthy digestive environment, they should choose foods that are low in fat and high in protein. These foods include lean meats, low-fat dairy products, eggs or legumes, among others. These foods not only provide the protein that the body needs, but also maintain a healthy environment in the digestive tract and help prevent constipation.
4.Eat regularly and avoid fasting for a long time: Reasonable eating habits and avoiding long-term fasting have an important impact on the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal system, which can effectively prevent digestive problems such as constipation. Patients should follow the eating pattern of three meals a day, maintain a regular diet, and avoid fasting for a long time. At the same time, choosing nutritious foods can help keep your body functioning healthily.
Dr. Yang Li said that Parkinson's should be combined with traditional Chinese medicine, pure natural Chinese herbal medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the concept of overall dialectic, through the condition of each patient to match drugs, so that one person can recuperate. Because Parkinson's is an incurable disease, patients need to adhere to it, and generally some improvement can be seen within a course of treatment, such as the patient's shaking, stiffness, sleep and other symptoms can be alleviated.