If you have Parkinson’s, the cells in your brain that make dopamine have been damaged or destroyed. And as dopamine levels decline, the simplest movements become increasingly more difficult.
The good news is that there is a natural way to boost your dopamine: Eat fava beans.
A recent study conducted at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago found that Parkinson’s patients who ate large quantities of fava beans (10 ounces a day!) got the same benefits as they did when taking medication. That’s because fava beans contain levodopa – the same active component in medications like Sinemet, Madopar, Dopar, and Larodopa.
You don’t have to eat a bushel of favas to get the benefits. Three ounces (canned and drained) contains between 50 and 100 mg of levodopa. One note of caution: These healthful legumes can create problems for people who have a rare genetic defect. So check with your doctor before you load up.
[Ed. Note: Long before pharamaceutical companies started trying to make a buck, Mother Nature was serving up her own medications. Fava beans are just one type of food that can help you feel better. For more on the foods you should be eating to feel healthier and live longer, sign up for ETR's natural health e-letter. Get your free subscription here.
And for an all-natural dessert that tastes devilishly delicious, try nutrition expert Kelley Herring's special chocolate cake. Find out how to get a slice right here.]
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