In this evidence-rich session from The Parkinson’s Conference 2025, Associate Professor Dr Fiona Prof Fiona Lithander (University of Auckland, NZ) breaks down the exact nutrition strategies that help people living with Parkinson’s protect brain health, manage symptoms, and improve quality of life.
About This Video
Dr Lithander covers the full spectrum of nutrition for Parkinson’s, including:
- Weight Management & Why Weight Loss Matters
- Why people with Parkinson’s commonly lose weight
- The risks of unintentional weight loss (malnutrition, worsening symptoms, cognitive decline)
- Practical strategies to maintain or regain weight, including snacks, smoothies, fortified meals and medication side-effect management
- Protein Timing with Levodopa
- Which foods contain protein (animal & plant)
- Why protein competes with levodopa absorption
- The 30–45 minute rule for taking levodopa on an empty stomach
- Common mistakes (e.g. taking medication with milk)
- Gut Health, Constipation & Fibre
- Why up to 80% of people with Parkinson’s experience constipation
- How to add fibre safely (fruit, veg, wholegrains, lentils, nuts, seeds)
- Budget-friendly options (frozen, canned, dried fruit)
- Why increasing fibre must be combined with adequate fluids
- Tea, coffee and hydration myths
- Probiotics, Prebiotics & Symbiotics
- What each one is and how they work
- Latest evidence on probiotics for constipation
- Why you should always check probiotics with your PD team
- Limitations of current research (dose, strain, safety)
- Mediterranean vs Ketogenic Diets
- Why the Mediterranean diet shows the strongest evidence for brain and gut health
- What it includes (fruit, veg, wholegrains, legumes, oily fish, healthy fats)
- Why ketogenic diets are not ready for clinical recommendation
- Early mixed findings from Mediterranean–ketogenic combination trials
- The Three Key Takeaways
Dr Lithander summarises the most powerful actions you can start today:- More dietary diversity (using Australia’s Healthy Eating Guide)
- More fibre, slowly and consistently
- Maintaining a healthy weight with regular monitoring
- Includes a live audience Q&A on macronutrient balance, supplements, practical application and debunking nutritional myths.
Key Themes & Keywords
Parkinson’s nutrition, Dr Fiona Lithander, Mediterranean diet Parkinson’s, constipation Parkinson’s, levodopa protein timing, gut health Parkinson’s, probiotics Parkinson’s, weight loss Parkinson’s, dietitian Parkinson’s, PD diet, macronutrient balance, Parkinson’s supplements, Australian Healthy Eating Guide, fibre for constipation, ketogenic diet Parkinson’s.
Who This Video Is For
- People with Parkinson’s
- Carers and partners
- Dietitians, allied health clinicians & PD nurses
- Neurologists and researchers
- Families seeking practical, evidence-based guidance
- Anyone wanting actionable nutrition strategies for brain health
