Grapes—Vitis Vinifera L
Grapes are a fruit that has gained worldwide prestige secondary to its taste and health benefits. About 75 million tons of grapes are grown with Europe being the largest producer.In this section we will explore the science behind this and the nutritional applications to our health
Composition:
Grapes are high in carbs secondary to sugar content, but also contain Vit B1,B2,B6,K, and Vit C and E. They also contain minerals like manganese, copper, and potassium.
Grapes are rich in phytonutrients like polyphenols—mainly anthocyanins, phenolic acids, proanthocyanidins and stilbenes namely resveratrol.
The skin of the grape has the resveratrol- which is famed for its anti aging properties while consuming wine.
The skin of the red and purple grape has the highest content of anthocyanins which is virtually absent in white grape cultivars.
The highest phenolic content is in the seed, followed by the skin and lastly in the pulp.
TPC or total phenolic content varies depending on seed, skin or pulp.
Proanthocyanidins account for the majority of the flavonols in the grape that are concentrated in the seed, comprising monomers, oligomers and polymers such as procyanidin B1,procyanidin B2,catechin, and epicatechin.
Benefits of Grapes:
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects:
Double blind randomized clinical trials showed the consuming 250 Plus grams of fresh grapes boosted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in men with metabolic syndrome.
Intake of 100 mg of grape seed extract also improved insulin resistance in individuals with metabolic syndrome in adolescent populations.
Grapes seem to show antioxidant activity in vitro and vivo. The oxygen radical absorption capacity of grapes or ORAC was higher for red grapes vs white grapes.
The Ferric reducing antioxidant capacity or FRAP was higher for red grapes vs white grapes.
This antioxidant capacity is largely dependent on the TPC of grapes as previously discussed.
Results have shown that the grape seed has the highest antioxidant capacity of all parts of the grape fruit.
Grape seed extracts seem to significantly decrease the production of reactive oxygen species that fuel inflammation and oxidant damage.
Inflammation is the hallmark of pain, and chronic diseases —grapes particularly the Albarossa and Exalta variety showed promise in decreasing the levels of inflammatory markers like Interleukin-8 and TNF-alpha.
Gut health:
Grape consumption also helped improve the health of the microbiome and in-turn decreased systemic inflammation and boosted immune function.
Studies showed that when Grape extracts were fed to lab animals with gut dysbiosis created from eating a high fat diet—the extract caused improvement and modulation of gut health.
Grape seed extract also helps prevent colonic injury in lab animals exposed to toxins.
Grape seed extract may also help recover the health of the gut after use of broad spectrum antibiotics—more research is needed to determine if this extract may decrease the risk of toxic infections like clostridium difficile that can happen after a bout of antibiotics .
Anti-obesity effects:
Grape extracts helped stimulate the brown adipose tissue and promote thermogenesis as well as by causing browning of unhealthy white adipose tissue into brown adipose tissue.
They also positively affected weight control by restoring microbial balance in the gut microbiome.
The grape extracts played an important role in decreasing hepatic steatosis or fatty liver
Cardio-protective effects:
Grapes extracts positively affect cardiovascular health through antioxidant effects and the production of nitric oxide.
Grape extract had positive effects on lipid profiles and blood pressure control.
Pure grape juice seemed to protect the myocardium from an ischemic or oxygen deficient environment. Grape seed extract protected the heart and positively affected cardiac remodeling and function.
This above discussion is a tip of the iceberg on the beneficial effects of grapes. I encourage you to stay connected with your health care professional when making decisions about your diet, stay focussed on healthy nutrition and live long and strong!
