Red Grapes and their Health Benefits
By Brittni Begale, UW-Milwaukee Nutritional Sciences student
Grapes have been around since approximately 6000 B.C., but the first time they started to get
noticed in the US was in 1839 in California. William Wolfskill was the first man to plant a grape
vineyard in what is now Los Angeles. Today, there are over 85 different types of grapes that are
grown throughout the world.
Red grapes are often referred to as “superfoods.” One cup of grapes contains 110 calories.
Grapes are an excellent source of potassium and Vitamin A, in addition to the multitude of
antioxidants present in this little fruit. Red grapes are classified as a superfood because there
are many health benefits that come from consuming red grapes.
Eating red grades consistently may promote the relaxation of blood vessels, which can lead to
lowered blood pressure. In addition, the effect of relaxing the blood vessels may promote a
healthy heart when exercising, as when working out, there is better circulation. Thus, more
oxygen may get to the muscles during exercise. Besides the hear, there are two other parts of
the body grapes may help keep healthy: the colon and eyes. In the colon, grapes can play a role
in inhibiting genes that promote tumor growth. Based on a small study on people with colon
cancer, eating a grape rich diet (2 ½ cups per day) found that eating grapes inhibited the tumor
growth gene linked colon cancer. There have also been studies on eyes and the effects that
grapes have on them. The studies show grapes can protect the retina from deterioration and
can limit the inflammation of the eyes.
Whether you eat grapes for their sweet, crunchy taste, or to help you stay healthy, there are
many reasons to consume these powerhouses of nutrients! Enjoy the Cool Grape Salad below.
Cool Grape Salad
1 lb red rrapes, sliced
1 ½ cups plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup honey
½ cup chopped walnuts
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
Combine all the ingredients and mix.
Refrigerate until chilled.
http://www.healwithfood.org/superfoods/
http://www.grapesfromcalifornia.com/otherillnesses.php