Episode 5 – Your Second Brain: Melody Mackeown on Gut Health and Parkinson’s

Most of us know roughly what we should be eating. But do we know what our gut is doing while we eat it, and what that has to do with Parkinson’s?

In this episode, Maria and Vicky sit down with Melody Mackeown, a gut health and Parkinson’s nutrition specialist, to explore one of the most fascinating and fast-moving areas of Parkinson’s research: the gut-brain connection. Melody explains the three components linking gut to brain, the enteric nervous system, the vagus nerve, and the gut microbiome, and why understanding them matters so much for people living with Parkinson’s. Did you know the gut produces around 50% of the body’s dopamine? Or that gut inflammation decades before diagnosis could be an early indicator of Parkinson’s? Or that protein and dopamine medication use the same transporter system in the gut, meaning the timing of meals really does matter?

Melody demystifies the difference between probiotics and prebiotics, makes the case for a Mediterranean-style diet, and shares the kind of practical, personalised advice she gives her clients: from what to eat for breakfast and whether intermittent fasting is worth trying, to how dietary changes helped one client sleep for 30 minutes instead of four hours, and another partially regain their sense of smell. As Maria puts it in her key takeaway: you cannot out-supplement a poor diet. It all starts with what’s on your plate.

About Our Guest

Melody Mackeown

Melody Mackeown is a BANT-registered Nutritionist and CNHC-registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, with a BSc in Psychology from the University of Bristol, an MSc in Personalised Nutrition from CNELM, Middlesex University, and a DipION from the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London.

Melody specialises in individuals presenting with, diagnosed with, or at risk of developing Parkinsonism, including Parkinson’s Disease, and is You Nutrition Clinic’s dedicated Parkinson’s Disease specialist. She also brings a strong clinical background in gastrointestinal health and the gut-brain axis, integrating the latest research in neuroinflammation, mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, and microbiome diversity to create tailored strategies that support both motor and non-motor symptoms.

Useful Links & Resources

Melody Mackeown Nutrition — Melody’s specialist nutrition practice for people with Parkinson’s
You Nutrition Clinic — The clinic where Melody serves as dedicated Parkinson’s Disease specialist
Melody Mackeown on LinkedIn — Connect with Melody and follow her work
Parkinson’s UK — Support and information for everyone affected by Parkinson’s

Timecodes

0:39 — Maria and Vicky catch up: Vicky’s Italy trip, Pompeii, and becoming the queen of siestas
1:08 — Maria: how heat affects Parkinson’s, neuro fatigue and why the siesta is underrated
2:24 — Maria: exercise snacking in the heat and the importance of hydration
3:26 — Introducing today’s guest: Melody Mackeown, gut health and Parkinson’s nutrition specialist
3:47 — Vicky: the gut-brain connection and why she’s fascinated by it
4:02 — Maria: wanting to understand the difference between prebiotics and probiotics
4:37 — Melody is welcomed to the podcast
5:04 — Chocolate bar question: Yorkie with nuts, dark chocolate with polyphenols, and Booja Booja vegan treats
6:38 — What is the gut-brain axis? The “second brain” explained
7:16 — The three components: enteric nervous system, vagus nerve and gut microbiome
8:36 — Vicky: first heard about the gut-brain link at a conference in Barcelona
8:58 — Melody: two theories; the enteric nervous system, motility and constipation in 80% of people with Parkinson’s
9:58 — Maria: bradykinesia in the gut, not just the limbs; constipation as a non-motor symptom
10:52 — Melody: how constipation affects fatigue, energy and medication absorption; swallowing and the enteric nervous system
11:40 — Vicky: does Parkinson’s start in the gut or the brain?
11:46 — Melody: alpha synuclein misfolding and the role of gut inflammation
12:35 — Maria: clients who had gut problems years before their Parkinson’s diagnosis
13:45 — Melody: early gut inflammation as a risk factor for developing Parkinson’s
14:15 — Vicky: what can we actually do? How can gut health help Parkinson’s?
14:42 — Melody: the gut microbiome explained; the gut produces around 50% of the body’s dopamine
16:20 — Maria: the potential to improve non-motor symptoms including fatigue through the microbiome
17:20 — Melody: probiotics and prebiotics explained, what they are and how they work
18:52 — Vicky: can we get probiotics and prebiotics from food?
19:03 — Melody: fermented foods for probiotics: kombucha, kimchi, tempeh, kefir
20:26 — Vicky: sugar cravings and the dopamine quick fix with Parkinson’s
21:09 — Melody: working one meal at a time; the Mediterranean and MIND diets
22:17 — Vicky: what does the Mediterranean diet actually consist of?
22:32 — Melody: plant-based foods, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, pulses, nuts, seeds, olive oil and healthy proteins
23:18 — Vicky: why less red meat?
23:29 — Melody: balance, processed meats, and what we’re actually made of
24:58 — Maria: the risks of eating protein too close to medication times
25:28 — Melody: protein and dopamine medication share the same transporter system in the gut
26:39 — Maria: why protein is vital for muscle, strength and the ability to exercise
27:36 — Maria: is there a perfect breakfast for someone with Parkinson’s?
27:45 — Melody: protein-based breakfast if medication timing allows; eggs, avocado, fish and more
29:07 — Vicky: what about yoghurt and berries?
29:11 — Melody: dairy and Parkinson’s; fermented dairy like kefir may be more beneficial
30:04 — Maria: what about intermittent fasting?
30:15 — Melody: intermittent fasting on a case-by-case basis; Mediterranean diet first
31:57 — Vicky: what are the big no-nos for Parkinson’s?
32:13 — Melody: reducing sugar; alcohol and its effects on balance
33:15 — Maria: red wine and coffee, is there any evidence they’re good for Parkinson’s?
33:54 — Melody: caffeine and coffee, individual approach; switching to decaf if it’s affecting sleep
34:31 — Maria: when you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s, you’ve only met one; maintaining weight when dyskinesia is burning off calories
35:43 — Melody: case study of a runner losing weight; improving gut function and diet
37:29 — Melody: timing food around exercise; protein supplements to maintain weight
37:56 — Vicky: have you seen dramatic turnarounds? Can diet slow the progression?
38:27 — Melody: yes, the Mediterranean diet can slow progression; clients who could follow conversations again, slept better, and partially regained their sense of smell
39:58 — Maria: exercise and diet combined for maximum benefit
40:17 — Melody: timing of medications around exercise for more control
40:49 — Maria: thank you, Melody; understanding the big why helps with motivation
42:02 — Maria and Vicky’s reflections and key takeaways
42:23 — Maria: you cannot out-supplement a poor diet; start with what’s on your plate
42:46 — Vicky: protein and medication absorption, a vital practical takeaway
43:33 — Preview of Episode 6: Jeremy Vine and his sister Sonya on family life with Parkinson’s