Does Fruit Cause Parkinson's Disease?

Ask any health care professional and when it comes to a healthy diet, they will most likely recommend eating fruit, vegetables, and lean meats such as chicken and fish. So, when I came across some research stating that fruit may be the culprit for Parkinson’s, I was instantly intrigued.

After reviewing several articles, I found that this concept was more complicated than simply eating a piece of fruit like an apple. You may remember that many neurologists and other health care specialists believe that certain man-made elements are the true cause of Parkinson’s disease.

In the case of produce, fruits and vegetables are often exposed to chemicals like pesticides to protect them as they grow. In other words, it isn’t the fruit itself that could be causing Parkinson’s disease. Many researchers have already concluded that pesticides and other preservatives found on produce can be dangerous. Not to worry: such chemicals are easily removed by washing the fruit or vegetable before eating.

The other potential link between produce and Parkinson’s disease is foodborne toxins, which are nonbiological substances that cause disease in humans. Food borne toxins are not the same as the chemical toxins found in pesticides; they are more of a fungal variety.

To clarify this issue, researchers have called for further research on these various elements and their interaction with fruit. The best advice for now is to thoroughly wash your fruit before eating. Be sure to eat a healthy diet every day and take care when preparing your food. If additional information is discovered regarding fruit toxins, the findings will be drafted into a follow-up article on Parkinson’s Hope Digest for our readers.