The Best (and Worst) Foods for Bell's Palsy

Bell’s palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the facial nerves, causing paralysis or muscle weakness on one side of the face. The condition can make talking, laughing, eating, and swallowing difficult, according to Facial Palsy UK, an organization that educates people and promotes research on disorders involving facial paralysis.

Although diet does not have a direct impact on Bell’s palsy, eating a healthy diet with appropriate textures can encourage quicker healing and prevent choking.

Diet Considerations

If Bell’s palsy affects one or both sides of your mouth, you may need to change your eating habits for a time. Chewing on the side of the mouth affected by weakness or paralysis will likely be difficult.

Some tips from Facial Palsy UK on eating with Bell’s palsy include:

• Avoid hard, chewy, crumbly, or sticky foods, such as thick cuts of meat and crusty breads.
• Choose soft, easy-to-chew foods like pasta, fish, cooked vegetables, mashed potatoes, and ice cream
• Avoid mixed consistencies — for example, cereal in milk. Mixed consistencies are more difficult to manage and may be more likely to cause coughing. Oatmeal is a better choice.
• Try taking in smaller mouthfuls of food, as these are easier to control and less likely to spill from your mouth.
• Sit upright in a well-supported chair while eating, and allow yourself plenty of time to finish your meal.

If most of your mouth is weak or paralyzed, you may need to follow a soft diet. If your entire mouth has been affected by Bell’s palsy, you may need to follow a full liquid diet as prescribed by your doctor.

Foods to Eat

There aren’t any specific foods you should eat to help treat or correct Bell’s palsy. However, as with any disease or illness, it’s important to follow a healthy, nutritious, and balanced diet. Focus on eating foods that are high in nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Your Bell’s palsy diet should include plenty of:

• Whole grains
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Low-fat dairy products
• Lean meats
• Legumes
• Healthy fats

If possible, avoid foods that are high in fat, sugar, refined flours, sodium, and cholesterol. Although these foods may not worsen Bell’s palsy, they can prevent the body from functioning at its optimal level, which could delay healing.

Vitamins and Minerals

The following studies are not specific to Bell’s palsy. But one study found that vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and thiamin can encourage nerve repair. Another study found that zinc is beneficial for neurological diseases.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Dietary Supplements includes these foods as good sources of vitamin B6:

• Chickpeas
• Tuna
• Beef liver
• Bananas
• Chicken breast

According to Harvard Health Publishing, foods high in vitamin B12 include:

• Cheese
• Salmon
• Tuna
• Beef
• Eggs
• Fortified cereals

Thiamin can be found in the following foods, according to MedlinePlus:

• Enriched, fortified, and whole-grain products such as bread, cereals, rice, pasta, and flour
• Wheat germ
• Beef
• Trout and bluefin tuna
• Eggs
• Legumes and peas
• Nuts and seeds

To increase your daily intake of zinc, the NIH recommends:

• Oysters
• Seafood
• Pork
• Whole grains
• Beans
• Nuts
• Eggs