Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, it doesn't matter which one you like to eat, or how you consume them, scientists are finding they are mighty good for you.

Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health have released some of their findings from a 2 decade study of over 130,000 volunteers.  These men and women in the study filled out questionnaires on the types of food they consumed.  The scientists then analyzed the data and found some compelling evidence in support of eating berries.  Berries contain flavonoids, an antioxidant chemical.  In these test subjects, flavonoids, specifically a group called anthocyanins, appear to reduce the risk of  developing Parkinson's disease by as much as 40%! 

More research is needed, but in the meantime, here's a recipe for a flavonoid boost.

 Do you skip breakfast?  If you do, can that help you lose more weight or make you obese? 

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines committee has concluded that there is inconsistent evidence that adults who miss a morning meal are in danger of becoming overweight or obese.  Many research studies on breakfast-skippers and weight gain rely on self-reporting and some people do not accurately report their habits.  Also, a  study on adolescents, breakfast-skippers and weight gain was observational, with researchers gathering data from teens at only one point in time.

Some people believe that if you exercise on an empty stomach you'll burn more body fat.  Think again.  "If you measure the amount of fat burned, it's a miniscule amount," says Melind Manore, a nutrition professor at Oregon State University.

So is there a cause and effect relationship between skipping breakfast and obesity?  Possibly.  What is needed is a study involving a large number of people followed for a long time.  Efforts also need to be made to make sure that the groups report accurately on their eating habits.