5 Solid Reasons Why Grapes Are Good For You
Written by: Tim Bura
Grapes are very popular due to their tart flavor, crisp texture, refreshing moisture and attractive color. The good news is that these fruits are packed with essential nutrients and are almost medicinal in nature due to the various health benefits they provide.
In this article we will look at why grapes are good for you and why you should be consuming a lot more of this delicious fruit.
1.) Grapes Are Good Sources Of Vitamins
There are various types of grapes available, varying in color and taste. There are black, purple, green as well as pink colored grapes in existence.
Irrespective of the type of grape you eat, you can rest assured that they are choke full of essential vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B and Folate. A four Oz serving of grapes can contain anywhere close to 20-25% of your daily required serving of Vitamin C.
2.) Grapes Are Rich In Essential Minerals
One reason why grapes are good for your health and should be a part of your daily diet is the various minerals your body can derive from these fruits. The most significant minerals present in grapes are Manganese and Potassium.
These minerals are essential to maintain good blood health, reduce the risk of hypertension, and improve immunity.
Some components present in red grapes are known to help ease depression.
Other minerals found in grapes are Copper, Zinc, Calcium, Phosphorous, Iron and Selenium.
3.) Grapes Are Good For Your Heart Health
Grapes are rich in antioxidants due to the presence of phytonutrients called polyphenols.
These antioxidants bind with the "free radicals" present in your body and reduce the risk of plague formation on the arteries, thus improving your heart's health.
Grapes also help in the generation of nitric oxide in the body. This compound helps improve heart health by reducing blood clots, platelet aggregation and oxidation of LDL (which causes plagues on the arteries).
Resveratrol, a compound found in grape skin and seeds, keeps the heart muscles flexible and healthy. The reason why 'red wines' have gained popularity is because of their high concentration of Resveratrol.
The French who eat a high fat diet have been found to have low heart disease stats, a phenomenon known as the French Paradox, which is largely owning to their consumption of red wine and grapes.
Grapes also contain a glucose based compound called Saponin (activated upon fermentation) which helps reduce the absorption of cholesterol and settles down inflammation path ways thus reducing the risk of heart diseases.
So grapes are definitely good for the heart.
4.) Grapes Help Prevent Cancer Formation
Thanks to the presence of antioxidant compounds in grapes, it helps bind free radicals in the body. These free radicals or oxidants are responsible for instigating cancer formation in various organs of the body.
It has been studied that drinking red wine can reduce the risk of lung cancer by 13%, owing to high concentration of antioxidants like resveratrol. You can get the same benefit from eating purple grapes on daily basis, if you don't want to drink red wine.
Drinking a couple of glasses of grape juice (made from purple grapes, especially the Concord) helps reduce the risk of colon cancer and breast cancer. The various compounds present in grapes helps reduce inflammation in the body and provide beneficial anti-oxidative effect.
5.) Grapes Aid The Digestive System Due To Their Anti-Microbial Properties
It has been found the grapes have several anti-microbial properties but they are not harmful to the beneficial bacteria in the stomach. Tests have shown that grape extracts inhibited the growth of 14 different types of harmful bacteria commonly found in human intestine and stomach including E coli, Salmonella and H. pylori (which causes stomach ulcers).
Grapes are good fact sheet
Grapes not only make for a tasty snack but are very beneficial to the human body. The various benefits listed in this article should give you an insight into the ample advantages of eating this fruit. You can consume grapes as fresh fruit, in the form of red wine, grape juice or even as a dry fruit, to accrue its benefits.
eat purple or black grapes
