Little Protein

What is the story of the protein redistribution diet? In the past, an increasing number of people with Parkinson’s reported that they felt better and more energetic during the day if they ate very little protein for breakfast and lunch. These patients ate their whole day’s protein at dinner, and because they slept at night, they did not need to worry about a lack of energy after dinner.

Researchers looked into these claims and learned that there was a basis for them. They learned that protein competes with the levodopa in Sinemet. The amino acids that make up protein interfere with levodopa’s ability to pass from the intestine into the bloodstream; these amino acids also interfere with the ability of levodopa to pass from the bloodstream into the brain. The researchers devised a diet that redistributes the protein that is eaten during the day.

In the protein redistribution diet, only about 7 grams of protein can be consumed during the day until just before the evening meal. During this time period, patients eat foods that contain only trace amounts of protein, including rice cereal; fresh and nutrition that affects our lives dried fruits; salad vegetables; cornstarch; jams and jellies; honey, oils, and fats; herbs and spices; vinegar; liquid or powdered nondairy creamer; crackers made of potato starch or rice starch (but no flour); coffee, tea, lemonade, fruit juices, sodas, and alcoholic beverages (except beer); hard candies, sugar, and condiments. If dieters have a low cholesterol level, they may add an egg yolk or two to the list, because there is no protein in the yolk. (The egg whites, which are pure protein, can be saved for the evening meal.) Not one of these foods provides more than a few grams of protein.