![]() – What's the difference between fruit and vegetables?įiber also helps to lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease, according to a 2013 review in the BMJ (formerly the British Medical Journal). – Bananas: Health benefits, risks & nutrition facts In that study, consumption of red wine was specifically associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease," the report adds. "In a study of 34,489 postmenopausal American women, dietary intake of foods containing flavanones and anthocyanidins was associated with decreased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. This is likely because of resveratrol's ability to reduce the risk of heart disease through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Its high content in grapes (particularly red grapes) likely explains the "French paradox," in which French people who drink a good deal of red wine enjoy long and healthy lives despite eating saturated fats and smoking. The review noted that resveratrol is a polyphenol especially well known for these effects. Polyphenols are the most abundant antioxidants in the human diet. The Journal of Nutrition added that polyphenols in grapes could also help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. "Polyphenols can help promote a healthy heart by increasing HDL levels and decreasing inflammation levels in the body," said Rumsey. " acts as a calorierestriction mimic and influences energy metabolism by improving insulin sensitivity, lowering plasma glucose, and increasing mitochondrial capacity," according to an International Congress on Medicinal And Aromatic Plants report. It also exhibits strong anti-inflammatory effects, which are associated with disease prevention. ![]() In test tubes, resveratrol exhibits strong antioxidant activity, though it may not be that effective in humans once it is ingested, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Grapes have well-known antioxidants like vitamin C and manganese as well as lesser-known antioxidants like beta-carotene and resveratrol. Free radicals are molecules that steal electrons from other cells, which causes cell damage and disruption that can contribute to diseases. Antioxidants are molecules that safely interact with free radicals to stop the condition of oxidative stress, according to an article in Pharmacognosy Review. "Most of the polyphenols in grapes are flavonoids, which act as antioxidants in the body," said Rumsey. In the past century, disease states such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke have become markedly more prevalent," according to The Journal Of Nutrition. The fruit was crushed into wine elixirs or ripened to serve as therapeutics for a multitude of conditions, including nausea, constipation, cholera, smallpox, liver disease, and cancers. "In ancient Egypt, sap from grapevines was made into an ointment to treat skin and eye conditions. Through history grapes have been used as part of health remedies for a number of ailments. ![]() (Image credit: Jessica Peterson via Getty Images) Grapes make for an excellent healthy snack thanks to their fiber and vitamin content. Department of Agriculture: Health benefits Here are the nutrition facts for grapes according to the U.S. This is because the dehydrating process condenses the sugars and calories and removes some of the nutrients. Raisins, which are dried grapes, do not contain as many nutrients as fresh grapes, but they do contain four times the amount of sugar. Though sometimes available fresh, Concord grapes are usually used to make grape juice, grape jelly and grape flavoring. "Although all types of grapes are healthy, red grapes and Concord grapes are higher in flavonoids and phytonutrients, including resveratrol," said Rumsey. There are several colors of grapes, including red, black, purple or blue (Concord), green (which is used to make white wine), pink and yellow. The richest concentrations of nutrients and antioxidants, including resveratrol, are in the grape skin and seeds, and most scientific studies of grapes have looked at extracts of these parts. ![]() "Grapes are also a good source of vitamin K, copper and many of the B vitamins," said Rumsey, adding that they are also a good source of fiber and relatively low in calories. ![]()
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