The classic grape may be one of the most amazing foods to help us have a longer, healthier life. Grapes offer a wealth of health benefits, primarily due to their high nutrient and antioxidant contents including resveratrol. Antioxidants repair the damage to our cells, decrease chronic inflammation and protect us against chronic health conditions.
Grapes make a great snack and are a good daily addition to your daily diet. If you or your loved one find it a challenge to consume grapes, know grape juice will offer these same nutrients and benefits. Make sure you buy pure grape juice without additives. R.W. Knudsen and Lakewood are great brands and can be found at most grocers.
Even though grapes are high in sugar, their low to moderate GI makes them fairly safe to eat in moderation, even if you have diabetes.
Here are just a few reasons for aging adults to include grapes in your diet:
Improves Brain Health and Memory
A clinical study showed that 12 weeks of supplementation with purple grape juice in the diet may have neurocognitive benefits in older adults with early memory decline. Drinking grape juice was also found to improve memory functions in older adults with mild memory decline.
Anti-Cancer Benefits
Grapes have a combination of compounds (resveratrol, anthocyanins, quercetin, and catechins) which are known to have anti-cancer effects, resveratrol in particular. These compounds help fight free radicals and reduce inflammation making this fruit a tremendous cancer-fighting food.
Lowers Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
The compounds found in grapes help protect against high cholesterol levels by decreasing cholesterol absorption. Grapes are rich in potassium which will help reduce your blood pressure thus lowering the risk of stroke and heart disease.
Protect Against Eye Diseases
Several compounds found in grapes (resveratrol, lutein, and zeaxanthin) may help prevent common eye diseases. These compounds help to maintain your normal retinal function and stop macular degeneration.
We hope you consider including grapes in your diet.
