SAN ANTONIO — Could a plant based diet really keep serious diseases at bay? That is the subject of tonight's Verify. The number of people with dementia and Parkinson's disease across the world is rising quickly thanks to people living longer lives.
THE QUESTION
Is it true that a plant-based diet could lower your risk of developing Parkinson's disease?
THE SOURCES
- Alex Martinez, the CEO and Co-Founder of Intrinsic Medicine
- Dr. Okeanis Vaou, an Associate Professor of Neurology at UT Health San Antonio, and the San Antonio Chief of the Movement Disorders Division
THE ANSWER
TRUE
WHAT WE FOUND
Martinez said several studies say yes and told us, "A healthy, plant based diet is, I think, what the average person would think about whole grains, whole fruit, vegetables, nuts and beans. So that's really where a difference was seen that people eating the healthy plant based diet had a reduced risk of Parkinson's."
Dr. Vaou says a healthy diet can keep other diseases at bay too. She added, "We can delay diseases such as high blood pressure, which eventually can lead to heart disease and stroke, diabetes and even depression and dementia can be delayed by good, healthy diet."
So yes, it is true. A plant-based diet could lower your risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Both added the plant-based diet reduces inflammation which is likely one of the driving forces in developing Parkinson's.
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