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Date Posted:	June 02, 2006
A Radical Dietary Approach to Fighting Parkinson's
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An experimental diet has had promising preliminary results for patients with Parkinson's disease. The diet consists of a menu high in fat, and nearly devoid of protein and carbohydrates. The diet could potentially be used to help treat several neurological disorders, and possibly also fight against brain tumors. When used on patients with Parkinson's disease, it resulted in improvements in balance, tremors and mood. There are various theories as to how it helps, including shifting the brain's metabolism from blood sugar to ketone bodies, a secondary energy source derived from fat metabolization. Brain tumor cells cannot burn ketones, so the shift may starve diseased cells while feeding healthy ones. USA Today May 15, 2006