Grapes are known to provide several health benefits. For thousands of years, they have been cultivated and today they are also used in winemaking. Grapes also come in different varieties such a black, red, pink, and yellow. In addition to that, while some come seeded, others are seedless. Grapes are grown in different parts of the world including Africa, Southern Europe, and North and South America. One of the major health benefits of grapes is that they contain plenty of important nutrients and anti-oxidants. Let’s discuss them in detail.
Grapes Are Packed With Nutrients
Grapes are packed with a lot of essential nutrients. In fact, one cup of grapes provides a sufficient amount of Vitamin K that is required to prevent blood clotting and improving the health of the bones. Furthermore, they also contain Vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant for connective tissue health.
Anti-oxidants are required by the body to help it fight against many diseases. These are typically found in plants. Over time, the cells in your body incur damage by the free radicals, which leads to harmful oxidative stress. This oxidative stress leads to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease as well. Grapes are so powerful interms of antioxidants that it is said that it contains over 1,600 beneficial plant compounds. With that being said, the highest concentration of antioxidants in grapes is found in the seeds and skin. Perhaps, the biggest benefits of grapes.
Plant Compounds May Protect Against Cancer
As mentioned previously, grapes contain a high amount of antioxidants, and antioxidants are proven to help fight against cancer. However, still many people wonder are grapes good for cancer? Yes, for instance, Resveratrol is one of the most common compounds found in grapes which is well-studied and has proven to be effective for cancer treatment and prevention. Several studies have been conducted on the subject that Resveratrol helps protect against cancer by reducing the chances of inflammation. It blocks the growth and spreading of cancerous cells.
In addition to that, grape extracts have shown to block the growth and spread of human colon cancer cells as well. One study conducted on 30 individuals of age over 50 years old found that consuming 1 pound of grapes per day for two weeks reduced the chances of colon cancer. Plus, the benefits of dry grapes are more or less the same if you prefer eating them in dry form.
Beneficial For Heart Health
One cup of grapes contains 288 mg of potassium. Potassium is required by the body to maintain healthy blood pressure levels. In fact, low intake of potassium has proven to increase the chances of high blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke or several other heart diseases.
On the other hand, grapes help with high cholesterol levels as well by decreasing the absorption of cholesterol as well. A study conducted on 69 people with high cholesterol saw that the consumption of three cups of red grapes for eight weeks reduced the production of bad cholesterol. However, white grapes did not have the same effect.
Might Protect Against Diabetes
Grapes happen to contain 23 grams of sugar per cup if you are wondering whether grapes are nay good for people with diabetes. Furthermore, they have a low glycemic index, the rate at which food raises blood sugar. Additionally, the compounds found in grapes help decrease blood sugar levels as well. In one study conducted on 38 men for over 16-weeks required eating 20 grams of grape extracts per day. The study concluded that the participants experienced a decrease in blood sugar levels as compared to the control group.
On the other hand, Resveratrol increases insulin sensitivity, which helps maintain the blood sugar level along with glucose utilization. This, as a result, reduces the risk of diabetes.
Might Improve Eye Health
Another major benefit of plant compounds found in grapes is that they help against common eye diseases. In one study conducted on mice, found that a diet with grapes displayed fewer signs of damage to the retina and also better retinal function. Yet another test-tube study concluded that resveratrol found in grapes protects the retinal cells against ultraviolet light.
Might Improve Attention, Memory, and Mood
Believe it or not, grapes might help improve your brain health along with boosting the memory as well. In a 12-week study conducted on 111 healthy senior individuals found that the consumption of 250 mg of grape supplement per day tremendously helped with memory, attention, and language. In addition to that, another study showed that healthy young adults who drank 8 ounces of grape juice improved skills related to memory and elevated mood as well.
Might Help Improve Bone Health
Grapes contain minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, etc. all that is necessary for bone health. Studies conducted on rats have shown that resveratrol helps improve bone density as well, however, the findings are yet to be proved for humans.
Might Help Against Viruses and Bacteria
There are numerous compounds found in grapes that help fight against bacteria and viruses. For one, grapes contain Vitamin C that is well-known to improve your immune system. Moreover, test-tube studies have shown that grape skin extract can help fight against flu virus as well. Additionally, grape compounds in several other test-tube studies have stopped chickenpox, herpes virus, and yeast infections from spreading.
Final Word
To conclude, Grapes contain powerful anti-oxidants and help maintain blood sugar levels as well. Since they are easy to incorporate into your daily diet, it is suggested that you choose them over other unnecessary food items that potentially harm the body.