The health benefits of grapes

Sep 29, 2008 7:21 AM by Sarah Wassner Flynn

Posted in

Great Grapes!

You love plucking them off the vine, their flavor in your wine, or perhaps the sweet and tart taste of their juice. And according to a recent study, it's not just the flavor of grapes that makes them so great - it's their health benefits, too.

Woman with Grapes

Why grapes are good for you

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, the skin on grapes contains 50 to 100 micrograms of resveratrol, a cancer-fighting agent that can selectively target and destroy cancerous cells. Resveratrol is also said to fight heart disease, Alzheimer's, and minimize the brain damage associated with a stroke.

Additionally, red grape skins and seeds contain recently isolated compounds shown to reduce the size of estrogen-dependent breast cancer tumors. Additionally, the good for you fruit is linked with
anti-aging properties.

Any grape is fine off the vine

Red and dark purple Concord grapes contain heart-healthy flavonoids and are often considered the "healthiest" varieties. But studies say white grapes are just as good for you, offering up plenty of potassium and antioxidants. To get grape's maximum benefits, eat handfuls a day — just be wary that each cup you consume contains about 100 calories.

Grape juice is good, too

A little bit of red wine has long been known to help out the heart, but, today, experts express that its non-alcoholic cousin can be just as good for the ticker. Studies show that two servings of 100 percent Concord grape juice a day may lower blood pressure and LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) levels, while improving blood flow, and reducing the risk of blood clots. Not a fan of pure grape juice? Try Ebodi, a new non-alcoholic juice blend beverage made from a specially developed grape pomace extract, which is derived from the skins, seeds and stems of red wine grapes.

Comments

Comments on "The health benefits of grapes"

Resveratrol can help you to lead a long and healthy life so says Dr. Oz. Red wine alone does not supply enough resveratrol to achieve the full range of benefits. You need to take high potency resveratrol supplements to achieve the results documented in scientific studies. Resveratrol Supplements can also help you control your weight naturally by increasing energy, reducing cravings, and limiting your appetite. According to Wikipedia, Consumer Lab, an independent dietary supplement and over the counter products evaluation organization, published a report on 13 November 2007 on the popular resveratrol supplements. The organization reported that there exists a wide range in quality, dose, and price among the 13 resveratrol products evaluated. The actual amount of resveratrol contained in the different brands range from 2.2mg for Revatrol, which claimed to have 400mg of "Red Wine Grape Complex", to 500mg for Biotivia Transmax, which is consistent with the amount claimed on the product's label. Prices per 100mg of resveratrol ranged from less than $.30 for products made by Biotivia, jarrow, and country life, to a high of $45.27 for the Revatrol brand.