GRAPES-Stimulates the heart and improves blood flow

Grapes are, after the orange, the most cultivated fruit in the world. However only a small percentage of the crop is eaten as fruit, most ends up in the production of alcoholic beverages, especially wine.

Unfermented grape juice contains the same cardio-protective substances found in wine, but in high concentrations. Additionally, grapes and grape juice provide energy-producing sugars and vitamins that wine lacks.

 

Two types of nutrients stand out in the grape composition:

Sugars and B-complex vitamins.

Sugars: Their proportion vary between 15% and 30%.Grapes grown in the cold regions tend to have lower sugar content, while those from hot dry climates are much sweeter. The most abundant sugars in grapes are glucose and fructose. These simple sugars are capable of passing directly to the bloodstream without need for digestion.

Vitamins: Vitamin B6, grapes are among the richest fruit in this vitamin. Vitamins B1,B2 and B3(niacin) are also present in amounts that are greater than those of most fresh fruits. All of these vitamins are responsible, among other things for metabolizing sugars within the cells to provide energy.

Minerals: Potassium and iron are the most abundant minerals in the grapes, although they also contain calcium, phosphorus and copper.

Fibre: Constitutes about 1%, which is a significant amount.

Non-nutritive substances: Grapes contain numerous chemical substances that are not classified as nutrients, but are important within the body. These chemicals are known as photochemical.

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 Organic acids: These give a slight tart flavor to grapes. These acids have a paradoxical effect in the blood, producing alkanization. Alkanization of the blood and urine facilitates the elimination of metabolic wastes, which are mostly acidic eg uric acid.

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 Flavanoids: These act as powerful antioxidants which prevent the oxidation of the cholesterol that causes arteriosclerosis. Flavanoids also avoid the formation of blood clots in the arteries.

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Anthocyanidines; these are vegetable pigments in the skins of white and particularly black grapes. 

They are powerful antioxidants able to prevent coronary heart diseaseIn essence it may be said that grapes provide energy to the cells and promote the health of the arteries, particularly those that nourish the heart. They are anti-toxic,anti-anemic and anti-tumor. 

They are important in the following conditions.

Cardiovascular disease in general:

1.          They provide energy in form of simple sugars that the heart muscle uses to contract.
2.          They are rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium, minerals used in cardiac contractions.
3.          Additionally, grapes contain virtually no Sodium or saturated fat, the two primary enemies of the cardiovascular system

The non-nutritive substances eg.flavanoids aid in:

1.   Vasodilation, thus overcoming arterial spasms and increasing blood flow.
2.  Reduction in tendency of blood platelets to form clots especially in cases of arteriosclerosis. Ethyl alcohol-present in wine also produces this effect. However ethyl alcohol is a toxin that the body must eliminate in burning it in the liver.
3.  Inhibition of the oxidation of the cholesterol transported by LDL (low density lipoprotein).This type of cholesterol (harmful) initiated the process of creating deposits on the artery walls giving rise to arteriosclerosis.
4. Thrombosis: The blood’s tendency to form clots within arteries and veins can be reduced by consumption of grapes or grape juice.
5. Anemia: Grapes are rich in iron. The iron in grapes is nonheme, and by itself is more difficult to absorb than in meat. However its absorption is greatly enhanced when facilitated by the presence of Vitamin C found in the grape itself or in other plant based fruits