Health Benefits of Grapes

What are the health benefits of grapes? How many calories are in grapes?

If there is one fruit that has been eaten and actively grown since the earliest times of human history, grapes feature quite high up the list if not at the very top. Going back as far as 1,000 B.C. grapes have been a favored fruit enjoyed during life and sometimes given as gifts to those departed from this earth. The history of the grape fruit is filled with many interesting facts; but probably more important is the ever growing awareness on the multiple benefits of eating grapes.

When it comes to popular fruits, grapes are only second to oranges. But when you say grapes, few things come to mind faster than wine. And when you consider that tens of millions of tons of grapes are produced each year worldwide and that each wine bottle requires as little as 1.1 kilos of grapes to make, it's easy to see why wine will not be in short supply for quite some time to come. Also considering that there are over eight thousand different grape varieties, the possibilities for different types of wine are, to put it mildly, broad.

But even though grapes close association with wine may at times portray them as a fruit mainly meant for entertainment more than anything else, the truth is that the health benefits of grapes go far beyond just the relaxing pleasure that wine indulgence is often meant to achieve. For starters, grapes are a great choice when it comes to low calorie snacks. A 100g or the red or green grapes contain only about 69 calories making your favorite sweet, sour or tart bundle of grapes a great choice for nibbling in between meals. The multiple flavors are great for satisfying that sweet tooth and since grapes are 80% water this is also a hydrating snack.

Not only are grapes great because of their low calorie count, they also provide essential vitamins and nutrients to keep you healthy. Grapes contain important vitamins including vitamin A, B, C and K. And this fruit contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. There are also amino acids, glucose and fructose. The levels of fat and sodium are low. Grapes also contain beta carotene and lutein.

Vitamins A, vitamin C, beta carotene and lutein are all valuable antioxidants that are beneficial for the body. Some of the function include fighting free radicals, reducing the risk of macular degeneration, support a healthy immune system and promote healthy eyes. Vitamin K is useful for heart health, blot clotting and bone health.

Eating grapes may help reduce the risk of developing cancer as well as improving your heart health. Health scientists and nutritionists have repeatedly shown that the nutrients found in grapes including the skin, fruit flesh and the seeds, bolster heart muscle strength as well as maintaining low blood pressure, lessening the occurrence of inflammation and contributing to an overall improvement in heart function.

In the light of these and many other health benefits of grapes, you can scarcely go wrong with that regular snack of grape fruit. Whether it is the fruit in its natural form, a glass of grape juice or even moderate intake of wine, grapes lead to better health.

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