5 Health Benefits of Eating Grapes

Grapes have been cultivated for thousands of years and have been revered by several ancient civilizations for their use in winemaking.Classified under the family of berries, there are many types of grapes including green, red, black, yellow and pink. They come in both seeded and seedless varieties. While majority of the production of grapes in the world are used by the wine making industry, the remaining lot is consumed as fruits and a small portion is used in making dried fruits.

Grapes are easily available in the markets throughout the year and are loaded with essential nutrients and antioxidants that work for the well-being of the body. Here are the health benefits of consuming grapes:

* Maintains good heart health

Grapes are a powerhouse of antioxidants. These antioxidants have miraculous properties which can help dilating blood vessels to ease blood flow and lower blood pressure. Grapes are also rich source of potassium which counteracts sodium and helps in regulating high cholesterol and heart health in most cases.Compounds found in grapes may also help protect against high cholesterol levels by decreasing cholesterol absorption.

* Prevents skin problems

It is found that resveratrol prevents signs of ageing and other skin problems.Resveratrol, when combined with a common acne medication benzoyl peroxide, fights the acne causing bacteria. Grapes contain several compounds that have shown beneficial effects against certain bacteria, viruses and yeast infections.

* It has anti-cancerous properties

Grapes contain high levels of beneficial plant compounds, which may help protect against certain types of cancer. Resveratrol, one of the compounds found in grapes, has been well-studied in terms of cancer prevention and treatment.It has been shown to protect against cancer by reducing inflammation, acting as an antioxidant and blocking the growth and spread of cancer cells within the body.

* May help decrease blood sugar levels

Although grapes are high in natural sugar, the plant compounds have a low glycaemic index and even decrease blood sugar levels. Additionally, grapes also contain resveratrol which has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity, which may improve your body’s ability to use glucose and hence lower blood sugar levels

* Benefits eye health

The plant chemicals found in grapes may protect against common eye diseases. According to a study, resveratrol was found to protect retinal cells in the human eye from ultraviolet A light. It may also help protect against glaucoma, cataract and diabetic eye disease. Additionally, grapes contain the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin. Several studies have demonstrated that these compounds help protect the eyes from damage from blue light

* May improve memory, attention and mood

Eating grapes may benefit your brain health and boost your memory. Certain studies have found that resveratrol helps in increasing blood flow to the brain, thereby it could help speed up mental responses and prove to be beneficial for those suffering from brain related ailments like Alzheimer’s.
Grapes are delicious and easy to add to your diet for breakfast, lunch, dinner or simply as a convenient, healthy snack. They are also packed with nutrients like vitamins C and K, riboflavin, vitamin B6, potassium, copper, phosphorus and manganese. These minerals and vitamins may also help in maintaining bone health.