"Incorporating berries and other fruits in your diet may pay off by reducing the risk of Parkinsons disease. A new study shows men who ate the most foods rich in a group of antioxidants https known as flavonoids were  less likely to develop Parkinsons disease than those who ate the least. Major dietary sources of flavonoids include berries apples tea red wine chocolate https and citrus fruits. This is the first study in humans to examine the association between flavonoids and risk of developing Parkinsons disease https says researcher Xiang Gao MD PhD of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston in a news release. Our findings suggest that flavonoids specifically a group called anthocyanins may have neuroprotective effects. If confirmed flavonoids may be a natural and healthy way to reduce your risk of developing Parkinsons disease https Parkinsons disease is a progressive neurological disease that causes symptoms including muscle tremors shaking and stiffness. The cause of the disease is unknown and the risk of developing it increases with age. Berries Blunt Parkinsons Disease Risk The study to be presented in April at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Honolulu looked at the relationship between flavonoid intake and Parkinsons disease in  men who participated in the Health Professional Followup Study and  women who participated in the Nurses Health Study. The participants were followed for  years and filled out questionnaires about the foods they ate. Researchers calculated total flavonoid intake based on the participants consumption of five flavonoidrich foods included on the questionnaires tea berries apples red wine and orangesorange juice. The results showed that men who ate the most foods rich in flavonoids had a  lower risk of Parkinsons disease compared with those who ate the least. No link between overall flavonoid consumption and Parkinsons disease risk was found in women. But when researchers looked at specific subgroups of flavonoids they found both men and women who ate the most foods rich in anthocyanins which are found primarily in berries and apples had a  lower risk of Parkinsons disease compared to those who ate the least. The study doesnt prove that berries or flavonoids in any other food prevent Parkinsons disease. This was an observational study and therefore cant establish cause and effect. Nor is it clear why the results differed for men and women. This study will be presented at a medical conference. The findings should be considered preliminary as they have not yet undergone the peer review process in which outside experts scrutinize the data prior to publication in a medical journal."