Grapes Nutrition Facts

Coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease or atherosclerotic heart disease, is the result of the accumulation of plaque build up on the walls of the arteries. This can ultimately lead to a blockage of the vessels that supply blood to the heart or the brain, resulting in a heart attack or stroke respectively.

A study that appeared in the Journal of Nutrition shows that eating fresh grapes may prevent the accumulation of harmful oxidized cholesterol as well as the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Naturally occurring antioxidants in fresh grapes known as polyphenols are believed to be responsible for this beneficial impact.

One polyphenol in particular, called resveratrol, has been shown to help protect against arterial wall damage by “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. Contained in the grape’s skin, resveratrol is found in grapes, grape juice, grape jelly, and wine.

Grapes may also be potent against viruses and tumors because of their high concentration of another polyphenol, tannin. A team of Canadian scientists discovered that grapes eliminated disease-forming viruses in test tubes. Tannin, a virus fighter, seems to be the reason. These tannins are absorbed directly into the intestinal tract where they do the most good.

Grapes also contain high levels of caffeic acid. This acid is a strong cancer fighting substance. Johanna Brandt tells us about her experience with grapes in her book The Grape Cure. She describes how she healed herself with a four-stage program, eating nothing but grapes. She even chewed the seeds.

Time for a Glass of Wine?

Dr. Mercola, author of Dr. Mercola's Total Health Program: The Proven Plan to Prevent Disease and Premature Aging, Optimize Weight and Live Longer says: “While red wine may appear to provide some great health benefits, I do not advise drinking it at all, as I am convinced that the alcohol itself is actually a poison and will unbalance your hormones. Also, drinking two or more glasses (of wine or any alcoholic beverage for that matter) may offset the benefit and actually increase your risk of certain cancers. So if you absolutely insist on drinking red wine, check on the growing conditions of the grapes used and how the wine is made.

“Additionally, if the wine isn't made with organic grapes, it may not contain resveratrol, which rules out the benefits you seek. It is also important to understand that consuming large amounts of wine or grapes — which have a lower concentration of antioxidants than wine — will likely increase insulin levels and eventually have a negative impact on your health. Thus, it may be most beneficial to eat grape skins and pass up the meat of the grape, which has no resveratrol but a lot of extra fructose.”