Are grapes fattening? What are the true health benefits of grapes? What’s the deal with red vs. green grapes? Today’s blog will clear the air and provide some much-needed perspective on one of the most popular fruits in the world.
What color of grapes is the healthiest?
The debate about red grapes vs. green grapes has raged for years. So which one is healthier? Experts point at the higher concentration of different antioxidants in red grapes. Red grapes appear to have more catechism, resveratrol, and other healthy compounds that benefit the body in so many ways. Of course, there is only a small difference between the two, and in general, all grapes are good for the body.
How many grapes should you eat a day?
There are no clear-cut guidelines, but in general, people should get as much fruit as they can per day. Grapes do contain natural fruit sugars, but they are not as bad as candy or chocolate. For starters, you can probably limit your consumption to one to two cups of grapes per day. There are no “grape color recommendations” here, so whatever locally available grapes are in your area, these will be perfect.
Eating fruits (in general) is good for the health, so don’t limit yourself to just grapes. Doctors recommend “eating the rainbow” or eating fruits and vegetables with all the colors of the rainbow. This is a simple reminder to make a variety of things with your diet.
Is it bad to eat a lot of grapes?
As with anything, you are eating too many grapes at once can have consequences. Despite having a low glycemic load per serving, consuming too many can increase your blood sugar level and cause problems with your health. Take note of how much carbohydrates you’re having per day, especially if you have diabetes. Diabetic individuals are much more prone to sustained spikes of blood glucose levels, and this isn’t healthy as it can affect a person’s kidneys and even his vision after a time.
What are the Benefits of Eating Grapes?
Here are ten health benefits of grapes:
- Grapes Fight Aging
Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found in the skins of grapes. Phenolic compounds are bioactive and have been shown to have a positive effect on the body. Studies have shown that they may impact how the body ages and how cells are maintained over time.
Antioxidants from fruits and vegetables, in general, are capable of sustaining the life of cells by protecting them from the effects of free radical accumulation in the body.
Foods rich in polyphenols may help people live longer by improving their cardiovascular system and by cutting down risks of developing dangerous conditions like high blood pressure. Grapes are naturally rich in polyphenols, so it’s wise to consume the entire grape (including the skin) if you want to maximize the benefits of eating grapes.
- Grapes Reduce Inflammation
Tissue inflammation is one of the biggest causes of disease in the human body. One study showed that consuming grapes can reduce the inflammation effects of the average American diet. American diets are usually fat, high in salt, and high in carbohydrates. Such a diet can easily lead to obesity and other similar health problems.
A high-fat diet can easily turn a healthy body bad. Researchers discovered in an animal study that feeding mice with grape powder rich in polyphenols reduced the production of adipose fat or body. Furthermore, the laboratory mice exhibited better glucose tolerance, which means insulin levels were ideal and were able to combat the effects of the non-ideal diet.
Additionally, researchers discovered that grape extract could help reduce inflammation in the digestive tract, which also helped maintain the healthy bacterial microbiome necessary for good health.
- Grapes Can Help Increase Good Bacteria
Good bacteria in the GI tract influence many metabolic processes, including the absorption of dietary cholesterol. One research showed that eating grapes can directly increase many types of good bacterial flora in the body. Furthermore, they observe that total cholesterol concentration in the gut was reduced significantly during the research period.
- Grapes Can Be Good For Your Cardiovascular System
Grapes can actively combat inflammation, which is the baseline of many kinds of heart disease. Luckily with just a regular serving of grapes per day, you can reduce the risk of developing common heart diseases.
- Grapes Can Improve Your Eyes
Vision is essential, and as we age, your vision can also deteriorate. It has been discovered that grapes may be able to help people suffering from macular degeneration and other related conditions. To benefit from grapes this way, we recommend consuming a good amount of fresh grapes daily.
- Grapes and Memory
Did you know that drinking fresh grape juice or eating grapes regularly can improve the performance of a person’s memory? Studies have also shown that grapes can even improve a person’s motor performance.
- Grapes Can Help Fight Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is considered the baseline for many degenerative diseases, including type 2 diabetes and many kinds of heart disease. Add to the list dangerous conditions like stroke, and you get why metabolic syndrome must be prevented. Luckily, grapes can reduce metabolic syndrome by improving glucose tolerance and taking care of the heart.
- Grapes Takes Care of Your Blood
This fruit is naturally rich in vitamin K. Vitamin K is necessary for the normal production of blood and normal clotting. If you are prone to bleed-outs, eat more grapes.
- Grapes and Dietary Fiber
If you struggle with sufficient dietary fiber every day, then the easiest way to get fiber is by eating more grapes.
- Grapes are Cancer-Fighting
The antioxidant supply available in grapes can reduce the incidence of cancer cell development in the body. Furthermore, keeping your cells generally healthy will help you fight cancer should it emerge.
