Courtenay Pharmacy

08/03/2025

If you have Parkinson’s, you may find that simple changes to your eating and drinking can help you manage your symptoms more effectively, and can improve your general health and wellbeing.

Constipation is a common problem in Parkinson’s. You can ease constipation by drinking more fluid, keeping active, and eating fibre-rich foods.

Fibre at breakfast.
Two thick slices of wholemeal toasted bread topped with one sliced banana and a glass of fruit juice

People with Parkinson’s can experience changes to their blood pressure, sometimes related to medication. Low blood pressure symptoms include feeling dizzy, weak or confused and are more likely after large meals or when you’re dehydrated.

You may find it helps to avoid large meals and reduce your carbohydrate intake (especially sugary foods). Stay hydrated by increasing your fluid intake and reducing the amount of alcohol you drink.

Many people with Parkinson’s have poor bone health and low levels of vitamin D.

You can improve bone health by increasing your intake of calcium and vitamin D. Much of your vitamin D comes from the sun but you can boost it by eating oily fish, cereals, eggs and red meat.

Swallowing problems and dyskinesia can lead people with Parkinson’s to be underweight. Try to eat three meals a day and snacks in-between. You can also add extra cream, butter or honey to foods.

Some people with Parkinson’s find that it’s harder to be active and so they gain weight instead. Try boiling, grilling, baking or steaming foods rather than frying and cut down on high fat, sugary foods.

Protein can interfere with some Parkinson’s medications, such as levodopa.
You can avoid this by taking your medication 30-45 minutes before or after eating a large meal.

08/03/2025

Sneak peek number 1

08/01/2025

Spending time in nature is something that brings a lot of people happiness and it can really help with our mental health.

One such technique, Forest Bathing, an ancient Japanese process of relaxation - know in Japan as shinrin yoku. The simple method of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, observing nature around you whilst breathing deeply can help both adults and children de-stress and boost health and wellbeing in a natural way🌲🌳🌿

Tips for beginners...

Turn off your devices to give yourself the best chance of relaxing, being mindful and enjoying a sensory forest-based experience.

Slow down. Move through the forest slowly so you can see and feel more.

Take long breaths deep into the abdomen. Extending the exhalation of air to twice the length of the inhalation sends a message to the body that it can relax.

Take in your surroundings using all of your senses. How does the forest environment make you feel? Be observant, look at nature’s small details.

Sit quietly using mindful observation; try to avoid thinking about your to-do list or issues related to daily life. You might be surprised by the number of wild forest inhabitants you see using this process.

Keep your eyes open. The colours of nature are soothing and studies have shown that people relax best while seeing greens and blues.

Stay as long as you can, start with a comfortable time limit and build up to the recommended two hours for a complete forest bathing experience.

Stop, stand or sit, smell what’s around you, what can you smell?

07/31/2025

Did you know? Chia seeds make an egg-cellent egg replacement for cakes, puddings, cookies, pancakes and other bakes.

Because chia seeds are pretty much flavourless, chia eggs can be better than other vegan egg alternatives such as banana and oil in some dishes.

How to make a chia seed egg:

Simply mix 1 tablespoon of chia seeds and 3 tablespoons of water in a small bowl or cup.
Give it about 5 minutes to rest until it becomes gel-like.
Use it in your recipe as you would a normal egg.

07/29/2025

The brain doesn't merely register time—it structures it, according to new research which identifies a hierarchical coding scheme for organizing events in time.

The brain doesn't merely register time—it structures it, according to new research from the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience published in Science.

07/28/2025

Looking to nurture the gut microbiome? 🌱 Here’s a good way!

Eat a diverse range of prebiotic foods such as onions, chicory root, leeks, asparagus, bananas, oats, avocados and apples daily to feed the good gut bacteria 🥑🍏🍌

07/27/2025

⏰ Medications are time-sensitive for various reasons. Some can cause unpleasant side effects such as nausea, insomnia, or drowsiness which may interfere with your daily routine.

🥗 Some medications are better taken around mealtimes or before bed, whereas others are more suited to morning hours.

🥣 Encouraging a routine is good practice. For example, you may find taking your medication with breakfast works for you, or you might build your routine around brushing your teeth. The key is consistency.

Taking your medication as prescribed helps:

💊 Manage your medical condition effectively.

💊 Reduce the risk of complications and hospitalisation.

💊 Prevent the development of medication resistance.

If at any time you find yourself having any difficulties with your prescribed medications, please talk to us. We’re here to help🥰

07/25/2025

Most of us consider eating less processed foods, and while this may not be easy, here are few tips that can help:

Look for a short ingredients list, ideally less than five.
Foods with a long shelf life indicate highly processed foods, particularly ones that do not need to be kept in the fridge.

12 easy swaps from processed > to less processed food.

Swap fruit yoghurt to plain yoghurt (add fresh fruit or honey for sweetness).
Swap crisps to popcorn, nuts and seeds (try and avoid salted), potato skins or toasted wraps, pitta bread or breadsticks.
Swap cereal bars to flapjacks.
Swap ham or salami to cooked chicken or tinned tuna in spring water.
Swap packaged white bread to wholemeal bread, easy homemade bread.
Swap ready-made burgers to homemade burgers.
Swap French Fries to homemade potato or sweet potato wedges.
Swap ready-made fishcakes to homemade tuna fishcakes.
Swap bought cookies to homemade muffins.
Swap sausages to homemade meatballs.
Swap bought smoothie to homemade smoothies.

Remember, it's normal and very common to have processed food in our diet. Try and cook from scratch as much as is reasonably possible. Quick meals - such as omelettes, stir-fries, and a roast chicken dinner are great examples of an unprocessed meal.

07/24/2025

Scientists have discovered a link between bacteria in the mouth and gut and the progression of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease. Specific changes in these bacteria, known as the microbiome, have been associated with cognitive decline in Parkinson's. This includes the shift from mild memory issues to dementia, a common and distressing symptom of the disease.

Scientists have discovered a link between bacteria in the mouth and gut and the progression of cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease. Specific changes in these bacteria, known as the microbiome, have been associated with cognitive decline in Parkinson's. This includes the shift from mild memory i...

07/23/2025

❤️

66 years old now, and this still applies. What is age anyway?

07/22/2025

Be kind to yourself, your health depends on it.

Stress and anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as:

Headaches or dizziness.
Muscle tension or pain.
Stomach problems.
Chest pain or a faster heartbeat.

And mental symptoms:

Difficulty concentrating.
Struggling to make decisions.
Feeling overwhelmed.
Constantly worrying.
Being forgetful.

As well as changes in behaviour:

Being irritable and snappy.
Sleeping too much or too little.
Eating too much or too little.
Avoiding certain places or people.
Drinking or smoking more.

Learning to relax can be a challenge, but it's so important. Sometimes we just need to take a step back and slow down.

07/21/2025

The common, but often misunderstood gut condition you’ve possibly not heard of before.

Bloating, abdominal pain, constipation? You might have diverticular disease — a condition that affects nearly 7 in 10 people over 80. Here’s what you need to know.