----- Original Message ----- From: "NILO A SARMIENTO" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Friday, March 29, 2002 11:06 PM Subject: Fava Beans Produce L-Dopa...A natural alternative to prescription drugs for Parkinsons???? > Several days ago, I posted a query re Fava Beans. Only one in the > listserv picked it up: Kathrynne Holden, who has written about it, and > whose article I had printed off the Net. I responded to Kathrynne at > length...and not one picked it up, again. > > The lack of response could have been due to one or more of the three > reasons: (1) those on the listserv know next to nothing about Fava, which > supposedly naturally produces L-dopa, the very same L-dopa that is in the > chemically manufactured (? is that the term to use) levodopa in sinemet > and the like prescription drugs; or (2) those on the listserv know much > about it, have tried it, found it not effective, saw my post and query, > and have chosen to remain silent, and wait until I have tried it and > found out for myself; or maybe (3) my subject "Fava Bean" was not > descriptive enough. > > I was/am hoping (still!!) that there would respond a few, especially > those just getting started on sinemet or the like, who would try Fava > with me, and share experiences; or from amont those who have tried it, > even warn me I am treading on dangerous territory... > > I ruled out reasons (1) and (2) as preposterous, I decided that the > reason could be (3). And so, on this third try, I am making the subject > more descriptive: > > Let me recap what I wrote to Kathrynne: > > I was diagnosed with Parkinsons in late February 2001; was put in sinemet > 25/100 (3 times a day); was not happy with the results and was told by > my physician and neurothat maybe a change either in the type of med > and/or quantity is needed. > > I do not want to be dependent on any drug, and I saw (rightly or wrongly) > that what they were thinking of doing was taking me down the path of > no-return. > > Without telling them, I decided to gradually decrease my sinemet from 3 > to 2 to 1 and 1/2 from around October 2001 thru February 2002 (my > anniversary). By February 2002, I was fully off sinemet, and instead > went on a Vitamin-B complex regimen + 7-8 hours of rest at night (instead > of my usual 5-6) + exercise. I kept looking for "something" that I could > use as an alternative to sinemet. > > Two weeks ago, while at Costco, my wife picked up a book "Prescription > for Herbal Healing" by Phyllis Balch. I went to the Index and looked for > Parkinsons, and "discovered" Fava (Broad) Beans: "A 3-ounce serving of > broad beans contains as much as 250 milligrams of L-dopa." At least I > found the "something" that I could use as an alternative, a natural > alternative, to sinemet. Went on the Net to find out more about Fava, at > least what it looked like! > > Last week, I bought 5 lbs of fresh fava beans, and steamed a few pods at > a time, took the beans, and weighed 6+ ounces which I then divided into > three servings of 2+ ounces each. The empty pods I did not know what to > do; I decided to put them in a plastic bag and store in the freezer, > until I found out more about the beans. > > The other day, I went on Google and searched for "Fava beans produce > L-dopa" and printed an article by Kathrynne Holden at: > http://www.scienzavegetariana.it/nutrizione/favabeans.html > > I then re-activated my listserv membership, and did my first post: Fava > Bean, and I got an underwhelming response of <1>, from Kathrynne herself. > > and so, here goes ... > > Nilo > > On Thu, 28 Mar 2002 07:28:06 -0500 "Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD" > <[log in to unmask]> writes: > > Dear Friends, > > I came across information on a reminder watch, a topic that > > sometimes > > comes up on Parkinsn; I've posted it on "Ask the Parkinson > > Dietitian" > > and thought some Parkinsn folks might be interested, too. I don't > > have > > any personal experience with it, don't endorse it, and don't receive > > any > > money from the company; just passing it on FWIW. > > > > Cadex Medication Reminder Watch > > Beep...it's time for your pill! Relax. You won't forget to take > > your > > medication any longer. Set this easy to use watch and let the > > state-of-the-art reminder system do the work. It can handle up to > > 12 > > reminders each day. The digital display is large and easy to read. > > Doctor recommended, it gives you back your independence and peace > > of > > mind. Don't let a missed dosage threaten your health. Set it and > > forget > > it! Available in Black or Silver. Battery included. On sale. > > > > > http://www.ihcatalog.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=131&itemT > ype=PRODUCT&sSearch=YES&sortby= > > > > > > -- > > Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD > > "Ask the Parkinson Dietitian" > > http://www.parkinson.org/ > > Author: "Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease" > > "Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy for Parkinson's disease" > > http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/ > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > >THIS DON MCKINLEY(I.Y.Q.) I DID NOT ANSWER U BECAUSE I HAVE NOT USED THEM. HAVE HEARD BOTH FOR AND CON ON THEM SO WHEN U DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SOMETHING I KEEP MY MOUTH SHUT. AFTER 32 YEARS MED'SS IS 1 THING I DON'T TAALK ABOUT I.Y.Q. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn