Berries and Chocolate May Ward Off Parkinson's Disease
Scientists Praise Potential Benefits of Fruits and Sweet Treats
Specifically, berries are rich in antioxidants and flavinoids, which may help to guard against Parkinson's disease. Results of a recent study, announced February 13, but yet to be confirmed, point in this direction.
What are flavinoids?
Flavinoids are natural compounds, found in certain fruits and vegetables,that offer resistance to allergies, inflammations, tumor growth, viruses and other potential health threats. Flavinoids may also occur in fruit juices, as well as in some beers, chocolate, coffees, teas and wines.
Berries, in particular, contain anthocyanins, which are particularly potent flavinoids. Red and purple fruits and vegetables may have anthocyanins as well.
Berries have also been shown to offer significant health benefits for overall nutrition, as well as for helping the body to fend off cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, lung cancers and other forms of malignancies.
How did scientists uncover the apparent link between berries and Parkinson's disease prevention?
A team of researchers gathered statistics on nearly 150,000 men and women, using detailed dietary questionnaires and tracking health statuses for more than two decades. In time, the scientists observed that subjects who regularly consumed foods containing anthocyanins (such as berries) were less likely to develop Parkinson's disease than those who did not.
"Although it's too early to say that eating berries can reduce Parkinson's disease risk, benefits of berries have been reported in several previous studies," recounted Xiang Gao, M.D., a Harvard Medical School instructor, who led the study. "So it is good, at least [doing] no harm, if we can have 2-3 cups of berries a week," he said.
The flavinoids study was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Medical researchers plan to present the results formally in April in Honolulu at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting.
What is Parkinson's disease?
Parkinson's disease is a nervous system disorder that is marked by the loss of brain cells producing dopamine (a critical neurological chemical). Symptoms of Parkinson's disease (which tends to be progressive) include impaired coordination, loss of balance and posture, stiffness and tremors. Physicians have long assumed Parkinson's disease may be caused by environmental or genetic factors, but the new flavinoids findings may offer some hope of minimizing predisposed people from developing the condition.
Celebrities living with Parkinson's disease have included Billy Graham, Johnny Cash, Janet Reno, Michael J. Fox and Muhammed Ali.
Published by Linda Ann Nickerson - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle and Sports
Linda Ann Nickerson brings decades of reporting and a globally minded Midwestern perspective to a host of topics, balancing human interest with history, hard facts and often humor. View profile
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