Could Eating Berries Lower Parkinson's Risk?

Could Eating Berries Lower Parkinson's Risk?

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Medical science has long understood that berries are healing foods, with nearly unparalleled concentrations of nutritional value in their tiny, round bodies. Well, here is a new piece of evidence about these healing foods that come in so many flavors and colors. Researchers have found that adults who regularly eat berries may have a lower risk of developing Parkinsons disease. The key is flavonoids.

A good fruit intake each week is an important element of any path to nutrition. Flavonoids are found in plants and fruits and are also known collectively as vitamin P and citrin. They can also be found in berry fruits, chocolate, and citrus fruits such as grapefruit.

The study involved 49,281 men and 80,336 women. Researchers gave participants questionnaires and used a database to calculate intake amount of flavonoids. They then analyzed the association between flavonoid intakes and risk of developing Parkinsons disease. They also analyzed consumption of five major sources of foods rich in flavonoids: tea; berries; apples; red wine; and oranges or orange juice. The participants were followed for 20 to 22 years.

During that time, 805 people developed Parkinsons disease. In men, the top 20% who consumed the most flavonoids were about 40% less likely to develop Parkinsons disease than the bottom 20% who consumed the least amount of flavonoids. For men, while berries led the way, they could also lower their risk further by regularly eating apples, oranges and other sources of flavonoids.

In women, unfortunately, there was no relationship between overall flavonoid consumption and developing Parkinsons disease. But when they looked more closely at one specific flavonoid anthocyanin they found it did lower Parkinsons risk in both men and women. And where are anthocyanins found in the greatest abundance? Berries.

This is the first study in people to examine the association between flavonoids and risk of developing Parkinsons disease. It is very encouraging and offers further proof that food is medicine. Invisible chemicals in berries and other fruit have amazing protective effects on the neurons in our brains. Once this is confirmed in other studies, flavonoids may be a natural and healthy way to reduce your risk of developing Parkinsons disease.

In the meantime, just keep on eating berries to your hearts content.

And remember, you can always get more natural health advice, the latest alternative health breakthroughs and news, plus information about nutrition, alternative remedies and cures and doctors health advice, all free when you sign up for the Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin. Visit http://www.doctorshealthpress.com now to find out how to start your free subscription.

The Doctors Health Press is the health publishing division of Lombardi Publishing Corporation, one of the leaders in information publishing since 1986. The Doctors Health Press publishes monthly health newsletters for a wide array of alternative and natural health topics like healing foods, homeopathic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, hidden cures for common illnesses, and natural self-healing. The Doctors Health Press also publishes books and reports that provide timely health breakthroughs, always focusing on natural and alternative health. Topics include omega health, prostate health, natural weight loss, natural diabetes cures, heart health, stroke prevention, secret herbal cures, vision health, anti-aging, sexual health, joint pain relief and alternatives to prescription drugs.
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