Red grapes, green grapes, purple grapes,
seedless grapes, grape jelly, grape jam, grape juice… the ways to
consume grapes are endless! And don’t forget wine and raisins! This
popular fruit’s history goes back as far as 8,000 years, when grape
vines were first cultivated in what is now the Middle East.
The portability, texture, flavor and
variety of grapes have made them a popular finger food in countries all
over the world. The potential health benefits of consuming grapes are
numerous, with past studies associating them with prevention of cancer,
heart disease, high blood pressure and constipation.
Grapes are high in water content and good
for hydration. High water-content fruits and vegetables are nutrient
dense, meaning they provide a large amount of essential nutrients while
containing few calories. Grapes contain 70 milliliters of fluid per cup.
Grapes are high in antioxidants important
for eye health such as lutein and zeaxanthin, and red grapes contain
the phytochemical resveratrol in their skins, the antioxidant synonymous
with wine known to lend protection from several chronic diseases and
conditions. Grapes also boast the power of the flavonoids myricetin and
quercetin which help the body to counter-act harmful free radical
formation.
Cancer:
Grapes contain powerful antioxidants
known as polyphenols, which may slow or prevent many types of cancer,
including esophageal, lung, mouth, pharynx, endometrial, pancreatic,
prostate and colon.1
The resveratrol found in red wine famous for heart health is a type of polyphenol found in the skins of red grapes.
Medicalnewstoday
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