Red grapes are
nutritious, readily available and easy to eat. This healthy snack adds fiber to
your diet, notes Net Wellness of the University of Cincinnati, and may also
help prevent chronic diseases. Red grapes also help to keep your body hydrated.
Freezing red grapes in the summer to enjoy as a snack will help you to stay
cool. You can also eat red grapes by adding them to salads and yogurt.
The health benefits of grapes include its ablity to treat constipation, indigestion, fatigue, kidney
disorders, macular degeneration and prevention of cataract. Grapes, one of the
most delicious fruits, are rich sources of vitamins A, C, B6
and folate in addition to essential minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and selenium. Grapes contain
flavonoids that are very powerful antioxidants, which can reduce the damage
caused by free radicals and slacken ageing. The superpower composition of grapes
are listed below:
Flavonoids
Red
grapes contain flavonoids, notes Womenshealth.gov. Foods with flavonoids help
prevent development of heart disease. Eating red grapes regularly will help you
impede the development of plaque buildup in your arteries, keeping your
arteries open for a strong flow of blood to all of the organs of your body.
Antioxidants
The
skins of red grapes also contain polyphenols and anthocyanins, which are
antioxidants, notes the National Cancer Institute. These antioxidants work to
prevent damage to your body from free radicals that harm membranes and
proteins, and also help impede cancer development.
Lutein
The
lutein in red grapes helps protect your vision. This naturally occurring carotenoid
helps prevent macular degeneration, an eye disease that often appears in the
elderly and causes serious damage to the vision, notes the American Health
Assistance Foundation.
Vitamins A and C
Grapes
contain vitamins A and C, notes Net Wellness of the University of Cincinnati.
Both vitamins are antioxidants. Vitamin A helps maintain strong bones and keeps
the immune system functioning optimally. Vitamin C supports wound healing and
helps your body use iron, which keeps your energy at an optimal level, notes
MedlinePlus.
Grapes,
owing to their high nutrient content, play an important role in ensuring a
healthy and robust life. Grapes play a pivotal role in preventing innumerable
health disorders and can be used as home based remedies for several ailments. Dried grapes,
known as raisins, are extremely nutritious and help in
many disorders including constipation, acidosis, anemia, fever, sexual weakness and help in gaining
weight and eye care. Some of the healing actions of grapes are listed:
Asthma: Due to its eminent therapeutic value,
grapes can be used for cure of asthma. In addition to it, the assimilatory
power of grapes is also higher. It increases the moisture present in lungs.
Heart
diseases: Grapes
increase the nitric oxide levels in the blood, which prevents blood clots
thereby reducing the chances of heart attacks. In addition the antioxidant
present in grapes prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which blocks the
blood vessels.
Migraine: Ripe grape juice is an important home remedy for curing migraine. It should be
taken early in the morning, without mixing additional water.
Indigestion: Grapes play an important role in dyspepsia. They relieve heat and cure
indigestion and irritation of the stomach. They are also preferred as they
constitute a light food.
Fatigue: Light and white grape juice
replenishes the iron content present in the body and prevents
fatigue. Though, the dark grape juice might not give an iron boost and on the other hand, decrease the
iron levels. Drinking grape juice also provides you with instant energy. The
anti-oxidants present in grapes also provide the needed boost to your immune
system.
Kidney
disorders:
Grapes can substantially reduce the acidity of the uric acid and helps in the
elimination of the acid from the system, thereby reducing the work pressure of
kidneys.
Breast
cancer: Through a latest study, it has been
discovered that purple colored Concord grape juice helps in preventing breast cancer. Significant reduction in mammary tumor
mass of laboratory rats was seen after they were fed the grape juice on the
experimental basis.
Alzheimer’s
disease:
Resveratrol, a beneficial polyphenol present in grapes reduces the levels of
amyloidal-beta peptides in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Studies suggest
that grapes can enhance brain health and stall the onset of neurodegenerative
diseases. The skins of red grapes contain resveratrol, notes MayoClinic.com.
Consuming foods with this polyphenol helps to lower your blood cholesterol
level. The resveratrol in red grapes also works to impede blood clots and thus
helps to lower your risk of a stroke. Grace Sun, professor of biochemistry at
the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, reports that eating red
grapes after a stroke will often help to limit brain damage. The grapes work to
absorb free radicals that are released in the brain and harm it after a stroke.
Prevents
cataract:
Flavonoids present in grapes have antioxidants, which can reduce and fight the
damage caused by free radicals such as cataract apart from cardiovascular
diseases, cancer, and age related problems.
Blood
cholesterol:
Grapes contain a compound called pterostilbene, which has the capacity to bring
down cholesterol level. Saponins present in grape skin can also prevent the
absorption of cholesterol by binding with it.
Antibacterial
activity: Red
grapes have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties and can protect you
from infections. They have a strong antiviral property against poliovirus and
herpes simplex virus.
Anticancer
properties:
Grapes are found to have strong anti cancer properties due to the
anti-inflammatory effect of resveratrol present in grapes. It is particularly
effective in colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Anthocyanins and
proanthocyanidins present in grapes have properties of an anti-proliferate and
can inhibit the growth of cancer causing agents. Grape juice not just prevents
the risk of cancer but also suppresses the growth and propagation of cancer
cells. The pigments contained in grapes enhance the overall immunity of the body.
References
- American Health Assistance Foundation: Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Mizzou News: Grapes for the Brain
- Womenshealth.gov: Heart Healthy Eating
- MayoClinic.com: Red Wine and Resveratrol: Good for Your Heart?
- National Cancer Institute: Red Wine and Cancer Prevention: Fact Sheet
- Net Wellness: University of Cincinnati: Apples and Grapes
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