The health benefits of this tiny fruit are incredible.
Did you know that, directly behind strawberries and bananas, grapes rank as one of the most popular fruits in America? But it's not really that shocking. Grapes taste as sweet as candy, can be eaten without tools, and are just plain entertaining to eat. You can normally feel good about eating them because they are loaded with a variety of healthy nutrients.
As long as they are consumed in moderation, grapes, like any other fruit, are nutritious, according to registered dietitian Shirlene Reid, MA, LD, RD. The high sugar content is the one thing you really need to be aware of because it may build up rapidly if you eat them by the handful. In actuality, one 1/2 cup serving, or roughly 16 grapes, has 7.5 grams of sugar. To avoid overindulging, it would be useful to portion out that serving size in a plastic bag.
Have you ever considered how consuming grapes may impact your health, though? Here are a few typical health advantages as well as one possible side effect since experts think there are both benefits and drawbacks to eating them. Continue reading to learn What Happens To Your Body When You Drink Pomegranate Juice, which you shouldn't miss.
As long as they are consumed in moderation, grapes, like any other fruit, are nutritious, according to registered dietitian Shirlene Reid, MA, LD, RD. The high sugar content is the one thing you really need to be aware of because it may build up rapidly if you eat them by the handful. In actuality, one 1/2 cup serving, or roughly 16 grapes, has 7.5 grams of sugar. To avoid overindulging, it would be useful to portion out that serving size in a plastic bag.
Have you ever considered how consuming grapes may impact your health, though? Here are a few typical health advantages as well as one possible side effect since experts think there are both benefits and drawbacks to eating them. Continue reading to learn What Happens To Your Body When You Drink Pomegranate Juice, which you shouldn't miss.
Your Brain Will Be Grateful.
Want to maintain the health of your brain as you age? Then you might want to put some grapes in your lunchbox for work.
According to Strong Home Gym's Danielle McAvoy, RD, grapes help with focus and memory. The antioxidants in grapes reduce oxidative stress in the brain, preventing cognitive decline and memory loss as you age.
According to registered dietitian Melissa Mitri, RD, grapes can help increase blood flow to the brain, which will enhance daily focus. According to studies, the specific antioxidant resveratrol, which is mostly present in the skin of grapes, lowers brain inflammation and eliminates the amyloid-beta peptide, which has been related to the advancement of this disease when it builds up.
According to registered dietitian Melissa Mitri, RD, grapes can help increase blood flow to the brain, which will enhance daily focus. According to studies, the specific antioxidant resveratrol, which is mostly present in the skin of grapes, lowers brain inflammation and eliminates the amyloid-beta peptide, which has been related to the advancement of this disease when it builds up.
Your Body May Become Less inflammatory.
Numerous illnesses, including cancer, heart disease, asthma, type 2 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, have been associated with chronic inflammation. According to Jesse Feder, RD, a registered dietitian and personal trainer with Strength Warehouse, grapes are fortunately abundant in antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin K, polyphenols, catechins, and anthocyanins, all of which can help reduce inflammation.
Feder continues, "Grapes, particularly red grapes, are also known to be rich in resveratrol. Additionally, resveratrol, as we discussed in the previous slide, is well known for helping to fight inflammation. Resveratrol specifically offers a protective covering for blood vessels to stop damage, preventing heart inflammation.
Perhaps Your Blood Pressure Will Drop.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can raise your risk for heart disease and stroke, the two main causes of mortality in the United States. The good news is that managing and preventing high blood pressure can be done in large part through nutrition.
For starters, McAvoy and Mitri advise having some grapes as a snack because they are low in sodium and high in potassium (one cup of grapes has 176 mg) (less than two grams in one cup).
According to a 2016 study published in Nutrients, potassium helps reduce blood pressure by expanding veins and arteries and draining away extra sodium. The CDC states that too much salt can cause blood pressure to rise, therefore snacking on foods like grapes that are lower in sodium can also be beneficial.
Maybe You'll Sleep Better Tonight.
According to McAvoy, grapes make a perfect nighttime snack since they can put you to sleep and help you get good rest. Why? Because melatonin, a hormone that aids in regulating your body's sleep-wake cycle, is present in just trace amounts in this fruit.
Eat some grapes an hour or two before going to bed. And always remember to watch your portion sizes to avoid accidentally eating too much sugar, which can impair the quality of your sleep.
You Can Get Stomach Pain (if you overdo it).
You may have had stomach pain if you've ever forgotten how many grapes you've consumed—which, let's face it, is all too easy to do. Reid claims that because grapes contain a lot of sugar, this typically occurs (about 12.3 grams per cup).
According to Reid, the natural sugar fructose, which is included in fruits, might give you gas if you eat too much of it. "As a result, in case you devour too much, you could get gas-associated belly pain. Because these naturally occurring polyphenols can result in nausea and diarrhoea if consumed in large quantities, tannins, which are present in grapes' skin and seeds, may also contribute to unsettled stomachs."
According to Mitri, certain persons who are particularly sensitive to these substances in grapes could feel bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea after eating too many.