Ringside

January 2020

 

 

In this issue:

 

  • PFU Friends Support Group | date claimers
  • PFU committee member Debbie talks about attending a 3 day retreat
  • PFU Symposium |learn a different way
  • Lauren weighs in with some facts about a plant-based diet
  • Animal theme in recognition of the estimated one billion native animals that perished in the fires

 

The PFU team wishes to acknowledge the significant loss of lives, property, livestock, flora & fauna as a result of the ongoing fires.  Our thoughts are with anyone impacted by this devastating event.

President's report

Happy New Year 2020!

May this be a lucky year for us.

As we settle into a new decade, our country has been ravaged with fires with such ferocity it is unbelievably sad to see. A reprieve is surely coming soon.

 

Support group meetings 

In this newsletter you will find the PFU Friends Support Group meeting dates, so please note these in your calendars.   The first meeting for this year is

3 February.  We will continue to send email reminders and rsvp details prior to each event.  

 

The PFU Symposium

A holistic mind/body approach to deal with Parkinson’s disease is on Saturday 15 February 2020 at Rydges Southbank.   Do you have your tickets?  Still undecided?

Read Debbie's reflections on her recent experience at a 3 day retreat, in this newsletter.

 

Classes

Exercise classes are back on schedule, if you are in a position to attend please do so.

Tell your friends about the benefits of attending a Parkinson’s specific class.

Some class times may have changed. Please check the website for details.

 

Madonna

Class times

PFU Symposium

We have been very fortunate to secure Dr Sanjay Raghav, a Victorian-based Neurologist who will share his holistic approach to  to dealing with Parkinson’s.

 

Dr Raghav's approach to treatment integrates yoga and meditation with mainstream medicine. 

 

The program will include information about PD and lifestyle, slowing the mind through meditation and breathing exercises, Yoga and a plant based diet. Practical sessions will give attendees the opportunity to have a go at Yoga and Meditation. 

 

 

Got questions?  Want tickets but do not have a credit card?

Need help?

Please contact: 

Adrien 0423 902 882

 

For registration and ticket purchase using a credit card click on the link below, then follow the prompts.

Purchase tickets

"If you are wondering whether to attend this Symposium, may I suggest that you take a chance, enjoy the day and take from it what you believe may work for you."  

Debbie

Empowering people with Parkinson's

 

In 2014 I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. This diagnosis came as a shock as I was only 53, and at that time I had only known much older people who had been given this diagnosis. 

The neurologist who first diagnosed me was not a movement disorder specialist. She was very kind and expressed that she would like to treat me, but as it was not her area of speciality, she felt it was best for me if she referred me on.

 

This diagnosing neurologist started me on a course of Madopar and provided me with a booklet titled "A Positive Approach to Parkinson's Disease." I started to read the booklet with interest, especially as the title gave me hope - a positive approach was just what I needed.  On the first page titled "What is Parkinson's Disease?" I read "'Parkinson's Disease is a degenerative neurological disease for which there is no cure."

My heart sank. I read on and as much as I found positive parts to the booklet this sentence stuck in my head for some time.

 

My new movement disorder neurologist was kind and helpful however there was one time when I asked a question, after a left sided symptom developed (until that time all symptoms had been right sided).  I asked, "I imagine if I have a left sided symptom it means the disease is progressing?"  The answer; "If it's not progressing it's not the right diagnosis."  Although she meant well my heart sank again; my medication dosage had increased and I was experiencing new symptoms.

 

It wasn't until I attended a 3 day retreat with Dr Sanjay Raghav that I began to feel much more positive about the impact I could have on this disease. Dr Sanjay recognises that medication is part of the treatment of Parkinson's disease. As a neurologist he prescribes medication, however he advocates that with lifestyle changes such as a plant based diet, regular exercise, meditation and yoga and by undertaking these practices regularly, I can have it impact on my own health. In his own words I had the opportunity to "Outpace Parkinson's Disease." 

 

After the retreat I did everything Dr Sanjay suggested and I was even able to reduce my medication by one tablet a day.  However, I tended to let some things go - I didn't do yoga every day, didn't maintain a plant-based diet and my exercise regime slackened. I found that I had to go back to the original medication schedule, even though I had continued daily meditation.

 

I am absolutely delighted that Dr Sanjay is coming to Brisbane to share his thoughts and recommendations with us. Of course we can't expect in one day to receive the same information or experience as in a 3 day retreat, however it will give every attendee an opportunity to learn a little more about what they can do to minimise the symptoms of the disease. Of course there's no guarantee, however the lifestyle changes that Dr Sanjay suggests may be beneficial to anyone, whether they have Parkinson's disease or not.

 

If you are wondering whether to attend the Symposium, may I suggest that you take a chance, enjoy the day and take from it what you believe may work for you. 

 

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain if it helps you in the future.

 

Debbie 

Have you visited our new-look website?

Check it out!

 
PFU website

PFU Friends Support Group - save the dates

PFU Friends Support Group 

Venue | QA hotel|James st|New Farm

When |6pm arrival drink and chat|Order meals before going to the boardroom for a 6:30pm start.

 

3 February|Speaker|Assoc prof Jane Nikles|Melatonin insomnia PD research

 

6 April*

1 June*

3 August*

12 October*

7 December*

*Guest speakers to be confirmed

Did you know?

 

PFU is run entirely by volunteers

(and we all have Parkinson's)

We welcome suggestions, new members & positive attitudes!

Food for thought

Lauren Roberts | Accredited Practicing Dietitian 

 

Vegetarian dietary patterns are gaining increasing popularity, with more people choosing to forgo meat and other animal products and increase their intake of plant-based foods.

 

If you’re considering making the change, it is important to ensure your new dietary pattern is nutritionally adequate.

 

Here are my top tips:

 

1.Substitute

Picture a roast dinner consisting of meat, potato and vegetables. To simply remove the meat from this meal and eat only the vegetables is not an appropriate vegetarian adaptation as it is no longer a nutritionally balanced meal. Instead, ensure you’re replacing the meat with an alternative protein source, such as tofu, legumes, beans or eggs. One serve of vegetarian protein looks like:

170g tofu; or

1 cup (150g) cooked or canned legumes or

beans; or

2 large eggs; or

30g nuts, seeds or nut butters/pastes.

The average adult needs between 2-3 serves of these foods every day.

 

2.Complement your proteins

Most non-meat sources of protein are incomplete proteins. This means that they do not contain all essential amino acids (i.e. the amino acids that your body cannot produce and therefore that must be consumed through food). Complementary proteins are two incomplete proteins that, when consumed together, contain all essential amino acids. Combinations of complementary proteins include:

Legumes + grains

Legumes + nuts/seeds

Legumes + dairy

Grains + dairy

Dairy + nuts/seeds

Try adding a scoop of natural yoghurt to your lentil dahl or a handful of nuts over your breakfast cereal to ensure your proteins are complemented.

 

3.Go back to basics

As the demand for meat-free products rises so too does the number of processed vegetarian substitutes like imitation meat products. Some assume that because a product is labelled 'vegetarian', it is healthier than its meat-based counterparts. But be warned - many of these products contain large amounts of salt, fat and additives. As much as possible, stick to whole, unprocessed foods to avoid hidden nasties and unwanted additives. 

Got suggestions?  Feedback?  Get in touch!

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