Grapes, popularly known as ‘Angoor‘ in Hindi, ‘Draksha Pandu‘ in Telugu, ‘Draksha Pazham‘ in Tamil, ‘Munthiri‘ in Malayalam, ‘Drakshi‘ in Kannada, ‘Dhraksh‘ in Gujarati, and ‘Draksha’ in Marathi, have been known as “The Queen of Fruits”, and are categorized into three variants based on their color – red, green, and black/blue. They belong to the family of Vitaceae. Are grapes good for you? Grapes not only add vibrance and appeal to your food but are also abundantly beneficial. They contain antioxidants that are anti-inflammatory, immunity-boosting vitamin C, and simple sugars that provide instant energy.
Grapes, surprising as it might sound, are a great home remedy for sunburns.
What You Need
A few mashed grapes
What You Have To Do
Why Does It Work
The fleshy part of the grapes as well as the extract of their seeds contain proanthocyanidins and resveratrol that are powerful antioxidants (1), (2). The application of grape seed extract on the skin provides protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation (3). It acts as a sunscreen by reducing the redness caused due to sunburn and also minimizes the damage borne by the skin cells.
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Grapes also help in toning your skin and reversing the aging process.
What You Need
Pulp of seedless grapes
What You Have To Do
1. Rub the pulp on your face in a circular motion.
2. Rinse with cool water after 20 minutes.
Why Does It Work
Free radicals are the main cause of premature aging. It is characterized by the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the skin (4). The antioxidants present in the grapes protect the skin from the harmful effects of the free radicals and reverse the appearance of wrinkles and dark spots (5). Grapes contain vitamin C that is necessary for the formation of collagen, a fiber-like protein that helps retain skin elasticity and reverses aging (6), (7).
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Grapes are also great exfoliating agents and make your skin baby soft.
What You Need
Grape seed extract
What You Have To Do
1. Use it to gently scrub your face.
2. Wash it off with cold water.
Why Does It Work
Grape seed extract is rich in vitamin E and retains the moisture of the skin (8). This extract also acts as an exfoliant. Scrubbing the skin with it results in the removal of the top layer of dead cells, resulting in healthier and smoother skin.
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Green grapes are very effective in curing uneven skin tones.
What You Need
Fresh grape juice or pulp
What You Have To Do
Why Does It Work
Grape pulp has been found to improve skin tone owing to the presence of polyphenols (9).
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Green grapes help in lightening the scars that are caused due to acne.
What You Need
What You Have To Do
Why Does It Work
The vitamin C in grapes encourages the formation of scar tissues and helps to repair the skin (10).
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Grapes are also beneficial in combating hair loss.
What You Need
Seeded grapes
What You Have To Do
Why Does It Work
Linoleic acid present in grapes and grape seed oil strengthens the follicles and makes the hair strong and healthy (11), (12).
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Ripe grape juice is an age-old home remedy for migraine.
What You Need
Ripe grape juice
What You Have To Do
The ripe juice should be taken pure, without adding water to it, early in the morning.
Why Does It Work
The antioxidants present in grapes like riboflavin are believed to responsible for curing a bout of migraine (13).
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Grapes are also helpful in enhancing the health of the brain and delaying the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Why Does It Work
The polyphenols present in grapes have been found to reduce cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer’s disease in mice, which can be replicated in humans (14).
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Grapes help in preventing dyspepsia.
Why Does It Work
Grapes relieve heat and cure indigestion as well as the irritation you experience (15).
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A recent study says that purple colored concord grape juice helps in preventing breast cancer.
Why Does It Work
Grapes exhibit antimutagenic and antioxidant properties that are very effective in combating all kinds of cancer, and prove to be rather effective preventive measures against breast cancer (16).
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Grapes are exceptionally good for the eyes.
Why does It Work
Grapes are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin that are responsible for maintaining good eye health as we age (17).
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Grapes are also effective in the treatment and prevention of diabetes.
Why does It Work
Pterostilbene is a compound present in grapes that helps to lower the sugar levels in the blood (18).
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The regular consumption of grapes is also known to help in regulating the cholesterol levels in your blood.
Why Does It Work
The polyphenols found in grape juice, for example in concord grape juice, help lower the bad cholesterol or Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels (19).
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Grapes also help reduce instances of kidney diseases.
Why Does It Work
Grapes help reduce the acidity of uric acid and also try to eliminate the acid from the system, which results in the reduction of pressure on the kidneys (20).
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Grapes are considered to have a high therapeutic value for asthma.
Why Does it Work
Grapes have a high assimilatory power that helps in increasing the level of moisture present in the lungs and soothing spasms (21).
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Grapes are also known to improve the chances of a speedy recovery from viral infections like polio and herpes.
Why Does It Work
Red grapes exhibit antiviral properties that protect you from various infections like the poliovirus and herpes simplex virus (22).
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Grapes are very effective in curing constipation.
Why Does It Work
They are thought of as a laxative food as they are rich in sugar, organic acid, and cellulose. They relieve chronic constipation by toning up the stomach (23).
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Selection
The quality of a product is pivotal if you are looking at reaping the maximum benefits from it. As far as grapes are concerned, always choose those fruits that are plump, unblemished, evenly colored, and firmly attached to the stem. The best way to ensure that you are buying fresh grapes is to hold the bunch by its stem and shake them. If the grapes fall from the stem, it means they have been stored for a long time and should not be eaten. Bunches are held together if the stem is green.
Green or white grapes are the sweetest if they have a yellowish color with a tinge of amber while red grapes should be deeply colored with no green areas. Sometimes, grapes have a white coating on their surface. This coating, known as bloom, is a harmless, natural substance that provides protection against loss of moisture, fungus, and decay.
Avoid grapes with soft or wrinkled skin or stems that are brown or brittle. This might be a sign of freezing or drying. Grapes with bleached areas around the stem or leaking berries should also be avoided as they indicate poor quality or decay.
Storage
Proper storage of grapes is also a prerequisite for keeping the fruits fresh and avoiding any injury or decay. Unwashed grapes should be kept in a plastic bag or an airtight container, and stored in the coolest part of the refrigerator. Grapes can be stored for a week, but their quality diminishes with time.
Let us have a brief idea on the overall nutrition content of grapes:
Principle
Nutrient Value
Percentage of RDA
Energy69 Kcal3.5%Carbohydrates18 g14%Protein0.72 g1%Total Fat0.16 g0.5%Cholesterol0 mg0%Dietary Fiber0.9 g2%Vitamins
Folates2 µg0.5%Niacin0.188 mg1%Pantothenic acid0.050 mg1%Pyridoxine0.086 mg7.5%Riboflavin0.070 mg5%Thiamin0.069 mg6%Vitamin A66 IU3%Vitamin C10.8 mg18%Vitamin E0.19 mg1%Vitamin K14.6 µg12%Electrolytes
Sodium0%1 mgPotassium191 mg4%Minerals
Calcium10 mg1%Copper0.127 mg14%Iron0.36 mg4.5%Magnesium7 mg2%Manganese0.071 mg3%Zinc0.07 mg0.5%Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-a1 µg—Carotene-ß39 µg—Crypto-xanthin-ß0 µg—Lutein-zeaxanthin72 µg—Eating
Grapes, like a few other fruits, can be consumed either fresh or frozen. They should be removed from the refrigerator 30 minutes before eating to bring them to an ideal temperature of about 60ºF. Here are a few tips to serve fresh grapes:
Cooking
Apart from being eaten raw or used as a garnish, grapes can also be cooked in a variety of ways. Grapes contain natural sugars and can impart their sweet and sour flavor to any dish. A few ways of using grapes in recipes are as follows:
Grapes are extremely versatile and nutritious fruits that can satisfy the taste buds in a variety of ways. The amount of nutrients and antioxidants that are packed in these tiny fruits are phenomenal. Therefore, we see that grapes really play a vital role in maintaining our health and help in keeping us fit.
If you are aware of any other benefits of grapes, feel free to share with us in the comments section.