We all know fruit is good for you — but here are some more details about the nutrients and antioxidants found in grapes.
Researchers recently conducted a study that showed people who consume grapes are more likely to have healthier, more balanced diets. The study, published in the Journal of Food Science, reviewed the consumption of grapes in their non-alcoholic forms, including fresh grapes, raisins and 100 percent grape juice.
Using data from the 2003-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the study found that eating grapes correlates with healthier diet patterns. After reviewing the diets of 21,800 children and adults, the researchers noted that those who consumed more grapes were more likely to have an increased intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, fiber, calcium, and potassium, compared to those who didn’t eat as many grapes.
Researchers say that fiber, calcium and potassium are especially important as many Americans lack these nutrients in their daily diets.
A previous study done in 2013 showed that grapes could help reduce the buildup of fat and prevent cardiovascular disease, due to antioxidants called polyphenols.
More research, meanwhile, found that other antioxidants in grapes could fight hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure. Certain compounds found in grapes can also protect skin cells from UV rays, according to research conducted by a team from the University of Barcelona and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC).
As a whole, people who ate grapes also had increased consumption of whole grains, nuts and vegetables; they also had a tendency to eat less “junk foods.”