These are the foods you should avoid if you want to lower your risk of developing Parkinson’s, according to a new study

For many, eating a healthy diet depends on moderation of processed foods that, though high in sugars or fat, can be difficult to cut out of one’s diet completely.

Nevertheless, if you are looking for a reason to reduce your intake of some of these delicious treats, look no further than this new study published in the journal Neurology, a product of the American Academy of Neurology.

Researchers found that higher consumption of processed foods was associated with a higher likelihood of showing early signs of Parkinson’s disease. Some of the symptoms the researchers tracked were “constipation, body pain, and depressive symptoms.

These results track with a study published earlier, which examined eating habits and health outcomes in nine European countries. Dr. Eric Topol, a cardiologist and author, cited the study, which also found that higher consumption of processed foods “was associated with greater mortality from circulatory diseases, digestive disorders, and Parkinson’s disease.”

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological illness that impacts the ability of a person to move because of a reduction in the dopamine-producing neurons in the brain that are essential for the brain to send the signals to the body to move.

Precisely what causes the disease is unknown, but scientists have identified that genetic as well as environmental factors contribute to the decrease in production.

The exact triggers of the disease remain unclear, making it impossible to ensure complete prevention. However, a recent study involving over 40,000 participants examined their dietary habits and monitored for early signs of Parkinson’s disease.

What types of foods were included in the study?

The research team focused their efforts on what they called “ultra processed foods,” which included:

The findings revealed that a higher intake of processed foods was linked to an increased likelihood of displaying early symptoms of this neurological condition. The researchers accounted for age, physical activity, and smoking habits. They discovered that individuals who consumed fewer than three servings of processed food were 2.5 times less likely to exhibit early signs of Parkinson’s disease than those who consumed 11 or more servings.

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