HEALTHINFO@EarthyMe

Parkinsons Disease according to MayoClinic is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects movement. I have an aunt who have it and like Michael Jay fox and Muhammad Ali, she have uncontrolled movement of some body parts. Her speech is likewise a bit affected and so does her facial expression. And if you have a love one who has it, you just try to know more and more about the disease to somehow give you an idea on the chances of having it cured. Thanks to people like Jennifer Grossman who perseveres in spreading the word. Dole Nutrition Institute Jennifer Grossman believes in the company’s drive to help feed the world with knowledge about the benefits of a plant-based diet and we are the same in that regard.

One of Dole Nutrition Institute articles interested me enough to convince my aunt to partake of grapes more often. The article goes like:

Parkinson's Awareness Month last April provided an opportunity to reflect on the debilitating neuro-degenerative ailment afflicting 1.5 million Americans. While scientists continue to pursue a cure or vaccine, emerging research points to the role that diet may play in reducing disease risk and managing symptoms. One study that caught our eye were experiments carried out by Chinese researchers using a model of fruit flies whose brains contained a protein found predominantly in the brains of Parkinson's sufferers.

Due to the Parkinson's-related protein the flies carried, most were unable to fly or climb. The flies were fed extracts of grapes and then were observed for motor skill improvement and longevity. Male flies dosed with grape-extract exhibited a 50% improvement in climbing ability, while female flies feasting on grape extract lived 19% longer, compared to the grape-less flies. Researchers speculate that grape compounds may protect mitochondria -- the power plants of cells -- from free-radical damage.

While much more research is needed to confirm such benefits for Parkinson's sufferers, other studies have explored additional possible benefits of grape consumption. A Michigan State study found that red, green and black grapes helped counter some of sodium's damaging effects among hypertensive rats. Grape juice helped increase HDL (good) cholesterol and reduce inflammation in one human clinical trial at Boston University.

Dole DNI included Bonus information:

"Vigorous activity may also offer an edge against Parkinson's. A Harvard study of 125,000 men found that those with the highest levels of exercise had a 50% risk reduction compared to their less active peers. After exercising, cool off with iced tea: Daily black tea drinkers were 71% less likely to develop Parkinson's in one Chinese study."


And I say, what's so hard about consuming grapes anyway? I love grapes. Not only does it taste wonderful and is having research done which can be beneficial for Parkinson's disease...it also have many other advantages such as the resveratrol content that is said to be helpful in maintaining good heart condition, high potassium and vitamin C content, and high fiber.

I agree with Jennifer Grossman Dole Nutrition Institute in believing that fruits and vegetables should be incorporated in the diet. Grapes definitely is worth being part of your diet everyday. Jennifer Grossman Dole is known to be a television commentator and has published thousands of publications in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Los Angeles Times. Known or not, I salute her for the passion she have to share this to others.