13 Reasons You Should Eat Grapes

You might not know as much about grapes as you think you do. For instance, do you know that grapes are good for you, whether you eat them fresh or frozen? Do you know which color is healthier than the others? Do you know why you should be eating more grapes?

1. A Convenient, Healthy, and Delicious Snack

Grapes are not only satisfying, but they also have many health benefits because of their high nutrient and antioxidant contents. Therefore, you should be eating grapes when you want a delicious snack.

Grapes are convenient for picnics and lunchboxes. Over 1,600 plant compounds have been identified with grapes. Eating them on a regular basis can help keep you healthy.

2. Packed with Nutrients

One cup of red or white grapes contains only 104 calories, 27.3 grams of carbohydrates, 1.1 grams of protein, and 0.2 grams of fats. The small fruit has 27 percent of the daily requirement of Vitamin C and 28 percent of the daily requirement of Vitamin K. Other nutrients include Vitamin B6, copper, manganese, potassium, riboflavin, and thiamine.

3. May Prevent Risk of Chronic Diseases

Grapes have high antioxidant contents that may prevent the risk of chronic diseases. The highest amount of antioxidants is found in the skin and the seeds of grapes. The antioxidants may help repair damage to cells and minimize the risk of oxidative stress.

4. Good for the Heart

Grapes are good for the heart in many ways. They may help lower risks of high blood pressure, stroke, and heart diseases. The amount of potassium in one cup of grapes helps to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.

5. Helps Reduce Cholesterol

Compounds found in grapes may help protect against high cholesterol levels by decreasing cholesterol absorption. This is especially true after eating red grapes. Eating white grapes do not provide the same result.

6. May Protect Against Diabetes

Compounds found in grapes may decrease blood sugar levels. Studies have shown that people who eat grapes experience decreased blood sugar levels.

It might seem unlikely that grapes are good for diabetics to eat because they are high in sugar, but they do have a low glycemic index. That means instead of raising blood sugar levels, compounds in grapes may protect against high blood sugar.

7. Benefit Eye Health

Plant chemicals found in grapes may protect against common eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, and diabetic eye disease. Some people can't see well enough to drive in the dark. Eating grapes can help them with poor night visions.

8. May Improve Memory, Attention, and Mood

Eating grapes may benefit brain health, boost memory, improve learning, and help you stay focused. Drinking eight ounces of grape juice gives positive results within 20 minutes of consuming it.

It is believed that eating grapes helps protect against Alzheimer’s disease. However, studies have not confirmed this.

9. Promote Bone Health

Grapes contain many nutrients that promote bone health. The nutrients include calcium, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, and Vitamin K.

10. Protection Against Bacteria, Viruses, and Yeast Infections

Compounds in grapes protect against bacteria, viruses, and yeast infections because the fruit is a good source of Vitamin C. In fact, grape skin extract protects against the flu virus and chickenpox. If you eat grapes, you might also be protected against harmful bacteria in some foods, such as E. Coli.

11. May Slow Down Aging and Promote Longevity

Plant compounds found in grapes may affect aging and a person's lifespan. In other words, if you want to live longer, eat plenty of grapes.

12. May Decrease Inflammation

Inflammation is found in the development of chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and autoimmune diseases. Grapes contain compounds that may decrease inflammation and protect against those diseases.

13. May Be Used As Medicine

Grapes can be consumed to lower the risk of several diseases, and they can also be eaten as medicine once a disease or ailment has been discovered. Grapes prevent diseases of the heart and blood vessels, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and high blood pressure. They also help speed up healing after an injury and surgery.

Grapes can be used as a mild laxative for constipation. They also prevent tooth decay and canker sores. Dried grapes as well as raisins can be eaten to get rid of nagging coughs.

Red Grapes vs. White Grapes

Whether they are on sale or not, fresh red grapes should be chosen over white grapes for their health benefits. While they both have health benefits, red grapes contain a higher number of antioxidants due to the anthocyanins that give them their color.

The antioxidants in grapes remain even after fermentation. That is why red wine is also high in antioxidants. Therefore, drinking an occasional glass of red wine is good for you.

14. Easily Incorporated Into a Healthy Diet

You can eat grapes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or simply as a healthy snack at any time of the day. Here are some ways you can enjoy grapes and incorporate them into a healthy diet.

• Eat grapes as a snack.
• Freeze grapes and eat them for a cool treat.
• Add grapes to a bowl of cold cereal.
• Add chopped grapes to a vegetable salad.
• Add chopped grapes to chicken salad.
• Use grapes in a fruit salad.
• Add grapes to stuffing for your Thanksgiving turkey.
• Add grapes or grape juice to a smoothie.
• Eat grapes with cheese for an appetizer or dessert.
• Eat grape jelly and jam.
• Drink grape juice.
• Drink red wine.

Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only. However, it is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and should not be substituted for prescribed or dietary advice from a licensed health professional.