By Kate Fiorianti | January 25, 2021

Parkinson’s (PD) can increase an individual’s sensitivity to cold temperatures, and winter weather can make it harder to stay warm.

Here are a few tips to prepare during this winter:

Keep a winter emergency kit handy in your home.

Be sure to include several emergency light sources like battery-operated lanterns, as well as spare batteries. Navigating a dark home can be particularly dangerous with balance difficulties.

Watch out for depressive symptoms.

Depression is fairly common in PD patients. Everyone feels sad from time to time and people with PD should be conscious of their increased susceptibility to seasonal depression, which can be brought on with shorter days and colder winters.

Read more about combatting depression and PD:  https://www.parkinson.org/sites/default/files/attachments/Combatting%20Depression.pdf

Be careful of slippery conditions and ice.

Speaking of colder weather, ice and slippery conditions can be particularly hazardous if you’re having trouble with balance. Walk in cleared walkways as much as possible, wear shoes with non-slip tread and bring along a cane or walker. Fall prevention is an important component of living with PD. By talking to the healthcare team, exercising, and making the home safer, a person with PD can decrease his or her risk of falling and increase quality of life.

Read more about fall prevention: https://www.parkinson.org/sites/default/files/attachments/Falls-Prevention.pdf

Keep yourself and your house warm.

PD affects the nervous system, which controls body temperature, so people with PD can be more sensitive to heat and cold. Make sure you wrap up warm – inside and outside the house and keep active, getting some light exercise will help you keep warm.

By Sarah Rink | January 22, 2021

‘Tis the season – for colds, flu, and the continuation of the Covid-19 pandemic. By this point we all know to wash our hands, wear masks, and socially distance to help reduce the spread of germs, but what about boosting the immune system? Our immune system is designed to help prevent or limit infection within our body. When our immune system is working overtime without adequate support (i.e., proper nutrition) we are at a greater risk of one of those unwanted germs taking hold. By building a healthier immune system, we can help our bodies fight off many infections, and in cases where we still end up sick, having a healthier immune system can lend itself to lessening the severity of the illness.

There are a few easy ways you can start to boost your immune system as soon as today. These are not just tips for people with Parkinson’s but can benefit care partners, family, and everyone else to fight off infections this season.

Immune boosting properties can be found in various nutritional sources. These are listed below along with seasonal foods and ideas to help incorporate into your daily routine.

• Vitamin A – found in carrots, broccoli, spinach, and sweet potatoes. Roasted carrots and broccoli tossed with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper are an excellent winter dinner side dish. Swap out white potatoes with baked sweet potatoes for added flavor and nutrition. Add some spinach to your salad or sauté into eggs with breakfast.
• Vitamin C – is in citrus fruits such as oranges, tangerines (which come in several easy to peel varies such as Halos and Cuties), and lemon. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into hot tea or add orange wedges to any meal or snack.
• Vitamin E – prevalent in nuts and avocados. Add sliced avocado or a handful of walnuts to any salad for an immune and flavor enhancing boost.
• Zinc – found in nuts and poultry. Have a handful of almonds as a snack, or just keep adding walnuts to your spinach salad!
• Protein – sometimes overlooked by fruits and vegetables, but adequate protein will help keep your immune system strong. Good sources of protein include zinc rich poultry, eggs, and again nuts. Remember that spinach you added to your breakfast eggs?
• Hydration – in addition to consuming foods that are packed with nutrients, having adequate water intake is key. Being properly hydrated will help your body flush out toxins the immune system is working to fight off. Sometimes in the winter it can be harder to drink enough water, decaffeinated tea also works as a hydration source, just remember to add that lemon juice in!

Tips:

• Looking for one recipe to give you the most bang for your buck? How about homemade chicken soup, be sure to load it up with lots of carrots, add in some spinach, and use a low sodium broth, or a spinach salad with roasted chicken, tangerine wedges, walnuts, and avocado.
• Check out frozen versions of vegetables such as broccoli and carrots to keep on hand and eliminate the risk of spoilage.