The Incredible Edible Grape!
Organic red grapes are finally back at Wegmans!! It’s been over a month and I’m so grateful to be able to purchase these powerhouse berries once again! That’s right, in the botanical world the incredible edible grape is considered to be a berry because they form from a single flower, they do not open to spill seeds once mature, and the fruit wall (pericarp) is fleshy. You're probably wondering why the excitement over red grapes...read on!
First of all, it’s best to buy organic whenever possible to minimize your pesticide exposure, as well as reducing the amount of pesticides that our environment is exposed to. Grapes are known to absorb high amounts of pesticides through their thin skins, making non-organic versions of these fruits much less desirable. Several studies suggest that organically grown produce has more than 50 percent higher antioxidant nutrients than conventional produce. That alone is worth the slight additional cost that buying organic food is known for!
Red grapes and Concord grapes are higher in flavonoids and phytonutrients, including resveratrol. The richest concentrations of nutrients and antioxidants, including resveratrol, are in the grape skin and seeds. Be sure to purchase grapes WITH seeds, as studies have shown they may help to destroy free radicals in our body, which may help us to avoid premature aging, as well as certain chronic diseases. According to studies done at the University of Maryland Medical Center, they found that grape seed extracts may prevent the growth of breast, stomach, colon, prostate, and lung cancer cells. Grape seed extract, may help reduce the risk of developing cancer, as well as help prevent damage to human liver cells caused by chemotherapy medications. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that the presence of resveratrol actually slows down or stops the growth of benign and malignant tumors. Studies show resveratrol inhibits tumor growth at the initiation, promotion, and progression stages. France`s Liver Research Study Group found resveratrol helps prevent liver cancer by blocking the invasion of tumor cells and stops the development of an enzyme linked to breast cancer. Be sure to eat the grape seeds, don't spit them out! So full of health benefits! And, I look forward to that little bit of crunch I get when I eat grapes with seeds. I chew them thoroughly to help release all of the valuable nutrients in the seed and make them easier to digest. I usually have about a cup of grapes a few times each week after I put in an intense workout. Nothing like this sweet treat with so many health benefits!
Eat those grape seeds to avoid premature aging and chronic disease!
The polyphenol resveratrol content in grapes not only represents one of the most important phytonutrients because of its ability to protect against breast, colon, and prostate cancers, coronary heart disease, degenerative nerve disease, migraines, dementia , and Alzheimer's, polyphenols can also help promote a healthy heart by increasing HDL [good cholesterol] levels and decreasing inflammation levels in the body and help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. Another study found that grapes may have preventive properties when it comes to diabetes. The study looked at a large group of women over nearly two decades and found that a greater consumption of whole fruits, particularly red grapes, blueberries, and apples was significantly associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.
Want better eye health, beautiful hair, and skin? You guessed it, eat more red grapes! We know they have a high content of the flavonoids resveratrol and quercetin, however, grapes are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, which are responsible for maintaining good eye health and may treat macular degeneration and prevent cataracts. The antioxidants present in grapes increase the blood circulation in the scalp, which encourages hair growth and work wonders by offering rejuvenating effects on skin, keeping it more elastic and younger looking. So many anti-aging benefits; reduction of wrinkles, increase in elasticity of the skin, proper circulation of blood, thus leading to healthy, glowing, and younger looking skin. Eat more grapes! Boost your skin’s natural sun protection by eating red grapes. Again the high levels in quercetin, plays a key role in reducing UVB radiation by lessening oxidative DNA damage caused by UVB exposure, and is able to help protect the skin from sun inflammation. The age-old saying that ‘oiling the hair makes it long and lustrous’ is certainly true. I “oil” my hair each day with either grape seed oil or argan oil! I also cleanse my face with grape seed oil and moisturize my skin with argan oil. Grape seed extract is rich in vitamin E, which retains the moisture of the skin and hair. I’ll be writing a blog about this, too!
Eating grapes and other fruits rich in potassium has been shown to reduce rheumatoid arthritis symptoms preventing painful gout attacks. Recently, it has been recognized that adding grapes to our diet can lower uric acid in the blood stream helping to prevent gout. Grapes help maintain alkalinity in the blood and urine. When the blood and urine are kept slightly alkaline, acid wastes are more easily eliminated resulting in reduced attacks of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and painful gout recurrences. Uric acid crystals, forming as a result of lowered kidney function, are dissolved in alkaline urine, allowing the uric acid crystals to be removed from the blood stream and preventing deposits in the joints of gout patients. Snack on grapes to quench hunger twinges or thirst, adding to the body`s ability to protect itself against debilitating arthritis joint pain and agonizing gout flare-ups. Instead of consuming harmful drugs and medicines with possible side effects, have grapes on hand for gout pain relief along with other high potassium berries and fruits. Grapes are high in Vitamins A and C and loaded with antioxidants. The seeds in grapes contain a substance called pycnogenols. This powerful antioxidant aids in fighting all forms of arthritis pain, cardiovascular problems, stress, and allergies.
As allergy season has arrived, consuming red grapes may help to alleviate symptoms of allergies including runny nose and watery eyes, because of the anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits from resveratrol and quercetin. The antiviral and antibacterial properties in red grapes are also effective against diseases like herpes and polio. Because the hydrating power is high in grapes, an increase in moisture is provided in the lungs and reduces asthmatic events.
Do you have trouble sleeping? Have some grapes about an hour before going to bed! Not only are they rich in antioxidants as well as B vitamins, calcium, potassium and magnesium, but they are also a natural food source of melatonin, the chemical that controls the body’s internal clock to regulate sleep. Until recently, melatonin was thought to be exclusively produced by mammals, but has recently been discovered in plants. Melatonin is naturally secreted by the pineal gland in the brain, especially at night. It tells the body when it is time to sleep. Your choice of a late-night snack could mean the difference between restless insomnia and deep, health-promoting sleep.
Isn’t eating what God put on this earth for us to consume remarkable? Red grapes play a pivotal role in preventing a multitude of health disorders. We know that resveratrol is so effective at preventing many diseases associated with aging; it is often referred to as a “fountain of youth” that can increase longevity. If we just follow what we were meant to eat, many health problems wouldn’t exist! The next time you crave something sweet, grab some grapes! Nothing like a delicious fruit from nature that provides us with so many health benefits! We're thinking about making a video about maintaining youthful healthy skin and hair naturally and very inexpensively for all ages!! If you'd like to know more about skin and hair care using Grape Seed Oil and Argan Oil, let us know in the comments below! Take charge of your health destiny! Eat more of the incredible edible grape!! 💖
Suz
