Grapes Health Benefits

Grapes are popularly called as the Queen of Fruits and are categorized into three variants based on their colour – Reds, Greens and Blacks/Blues. They belong to the family of Vitaceae. 

Good colour is the key to a good and sensible flavour.

• White or green grapes are the sweetest.
• Red grapes have the simplest flavour;
• Blue/black grapes taste the best if their colour is deep and rich, i.e., nearly black.

1.       Prevent heart disease. A study from the Journal of Nutrition showed that eating fresh grapes could prevent the accumulation of harmful oxidized cholesterol and atherosclerotic lesions. This means less coronary heart disease from plaque build up on the walls of your arteries. The polyphenol called “resveratrol” in the grape skin breaks down bad cholesterol. It can also be found in grape juice, grape jelly, and wine.

2.       Fight illness. Grapes are high in another polyphenol called “tannin.” Canadian scientists discovered that tannin eliminated disease-forming viruses in test tubes; tannins move into the intestinal tract and protect from viruses and tumors alike.

3.       Fight  cancer. Another important element that has to be included in the top health benefits of grapes is the cancer fighting proprieties.

They contain high levels of caffeic acid, a very strong cancer fighting substance.

Bioflavonoids, another nutrient contained by grapes, facilitate the absorption of vitamin C into our bodies and help vitamin C maintain healthy connective tissue in our bodies. They also function as antioxidants, by protecting vitamin C from oxidation and by preventing ruptures in capillaries.

Bioflavonoids provide strength to our cells in the battle with cancerous cells and also help kill cancer cells.

The early mentioned nutrient, resveratrol, also helps in preventing cancer, especially liver, lung, breast and prostate cancer.

As for heart diseases, red grapes are best for cancer prevention.

4.       Prevent brain damage from strokes. Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia show that grapes prevent brain damage in the event of a stroke.

5.       Boost brain activity. Grapes have a significant amount of potassium and increase brain activity.

6.       Boost metabolism. Grapes have a light laxative effect that boosts metabolism. A handful of grapes can do wonders for dieting.

7.       Increase calorie burning. As grapes clean out your cholesterol and intestines and strengthen your heart, they increase your blood flow and help with calorie burning. They compliment workouts very well.

8.    Enhance endurance. Grapes flush the system out and make it more active for longer; don’t worry about exhausting yourself as quickly with your workout when you have grapes on your side!

9.      Helps stave off tuberculosis. Patients in the first stage of tuberculosis are told to include a higher amount of grapes in their diet.

10.  Grapes are mostly water. Grapes are anywhere from 65-85% water, which means low calories and high hydration.

11.   Blood cholesterol. Pterostilbene is a compound which is present in grapes and that helps lower the cholesterol level.

12.   Kidney disorders. Grapes help in reducing the acidity of uric acid and also try to eliminate the acid from the system which results in the reduction of pressure on the kidneys

13.   Asthma. Grapes have high assimilatory power which helps in increasing the level of moisture present in lungs. Grapes are considered to have high therapeutic value for asthma.

14.   Antibacterial activity. Red grapes are rich in antibacterial and antiviral properties and protect you from various infections. It has antiviral properties as well which is effective against poliovirus and herpes simplex virus.

15.   Constipation. Grapes are terribly effective in overcoming constipation. They’re thought of as a laxative food, as they are rich in sugar, organic acid and polyose. They conjointly relieve chronic constipation by toning up the stomach.

16.   Protection against sunburns. The fleshy part of grapes as well as the extract of its seeds contains proanthocyanidins and resveratrol which are powerful antioxidants. Application of grape seed extract on the skin provides protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation. It acts as a sunscreen, by reducing the redness caused due to sunburn and also minimizes the damage borne by the skin cells. It is due to this feature that grape seed extracts and resveratrol are often used as ingredients in sunscreen lotions.

17.   Anti-ageing benefits. Free radicals are the main cause of premature ageing which is characterized by the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. . The antioxidants present in grapes, along with vitamin C, protect the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, and reverse the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots. Grapes also help in toning the skin. If practiced regularly, rubbing the pulp of a few seedless grapes on the face in a circular motion and rinsing it after about 20 minutes will help in reducing the formation of wrinkles.

18.   Skin softener. Grape seed extract is rich in vitamin E which retains the moisture of the skin. This extract also acts as an exfoliant. Scrubbing the skin with it results in the removal of the top layer of dead cells, thus making skin healthier and smoother than before. Grape seed oil is gentle on the skin and can be an excellent moisturizer. A massage with this oil is known to hydrate the skin.

19.   Rejuvenates the skin. Certain organic acids that are present in grapes facilitate the rejuvenation of skin cells. Grapes contain vitamin C which is necessary for collagen formation. Collagen forms up to 70% of the dry weight of human skin and is vital for the growth of cells and blood vessels and for providing strength and firmness to the skin. Moreover, grapes make the skin free from diseases by removing toxins from the body. Resveratrol present in grapevines protects the skin against harsh weather. It also rejuvenates the skin and reduces discolouration.

20.   Cures uneven skin tone. Green grapes are very effective in curing uneven skin tones. Squeeze out the juice of green grapes and apply it on the skin. Let it dry. Rinse the juice off after some time. This will help in toning the skin.

21.   Lightens scars. Green grapes help in lightening the scars that are caused due to acne. Vitamin C in grapes encourages the formation of scar tissues and ligaments and helps to repair the skin. Dust a bunch of green grapes with 1 tablespoon of alum and 1 tablespoon of salt. Keep them wrapped in a foil and bake them for quarter of an hour. Apply the juice of these grapes on your face, leave it on for 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water. This is sure to visibly lighten the scars.

22.   Encourages hair growth. Grapes are natural antioxidants which increase blood circulation in the scalp. This encourages hair growth. The age old saying that ‘oiling the hair makes it long and lusturous’ is undoubtedly true.  Grape seed oil, extracted from the seeds of grapes is an odorless, green oil having a light and non-greasy texture. This gets absorbed into the scalp easily, making hair soft, shiny and manageable.

23.   Treatment of dandruff. Regular application of grapeseed oil can help combat seborrheic dermatitis, an itchy scalp condition in adults, and cradle cap in infants. Being a good moisturizer, this oil helps in removing dry flakes from the scalp and improves blood circulation.

24.   Treatment of hair-loss. Grapes are also beneficial in combating hair-loss. The vitamin E and linoleic acid present in grapeseed oil strengthen the follicles, making hair strong and healthy. This oil is also beneficial in treating split ends, brittleness and breakage of hair due to rough handling.

25.   Aromatherapy. Due to its non-greasy texture, grapeseed oil does not leave a residue on the scalp. It is light, has good emollient properties and is suited for all skin types making it an oil which is apt to be used in aromatherapy.