Eating grapes: 10 benefits and healthy properties

A balanced diet rich in fruit, vegetables and cereals is the key to a solid and good health. We are not saying this casually, experts like Aurora Norte Navarro, specialist in preventive medicine and public health at the University of Alicante, say so. At El Ciruelo we have always strived to offer you the highest quality in all our fruits, and we are proud to present to the world just 10 of the many benefits of our grapes.

10 benefits of eating grapes you may didnt’ know about:

They keep us young

Grapes, like many berries, contain great antioxidant properties. This is very beneficial for the body. In addition, black grapes also contain resveratrol, a substance that blocks what are known as “free radicals”, which cause skin ageing. By eating grapes we ensure that those marks such as blemishes and wrinkles will appear much later.

Many diseases are prevented

By eating grapes we help ourselves in preventing a lot of illnesses. Grapes act in the body as a vasodilator which improves the bloodstream and reduces the possibility of thrombosis thus improving circulation in veins and arteries. Meanwhile, it is ideal for people suffering from high blood pressure, thanks to its high potassium content, which reduces blood pressure.

They’re an anti-fluid retention aid

Grapes have diuretic properties, which means that eating grapes makes it easier to eliminate excess interstitial fluid through urine, which often builds up in the form of oedemas in our body. El Ciruelo grapes act by eliminating toxins and promoting the proper functioning of the body.

The grapes reduce your risks of having diabetes.

Although traditionally many people think that it is not good to eat grapes if we suffer from diabetes, actually it is quite different. A study published by Biological Research, which was carried out by a multidisciplinary research team led by Inés Urquiaga, reveals that a daily consumption of 20 grams of grapes stabilizes and reduces blood sugar levels, and consequently delays or even eliminates the Type 2 diabetes development.

They boost our mood and memory

The many vitamins, potassium and natural sugar (fructose) that grapes provide us with are ideal for our mind and mood. Remember that the body needs “fuel” to function, to make physical and mental efforts, and for this we need a lot of energy coming from the best possible source. We particularly recommend grapes for the youngest members of the family, as they can be an ideal source of energy during exam periods.

They prevent us from hepatic and kidney diseases.

As a result of an everyday consumption of food that is less and less natural and more and more ultra-processed (fast food, industrial cooking, flavour enhancers, colourings, artificial sweeteners, etc.), problems affecting the liver and kidneys are getting more and more common. Among them, fatty liver disease and nephritis deserve special mention. Grapes, thanks to their detoxifying properties, help us to protect against these ailments, speeding up the metabolism and improving the filtration and functioning of these organs.

Grapes also have an inflammatory power.

Grapes have magnificent anti-inflammatory properties, a very useful aspect when we are suffering from ailments such as ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease or psoriasis, just to name a few. These diseases are unfortunately becoming more and more common due to pollution and diet, however, eating grapes is an effective and economical ally in the fight against their symptoms.

They delay or prevent people from developing osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis has become a very common disease in our society. It appears when bone regeneration and the formation of new bone tissue are slower than the loss of old tissue. Eventually this leads to a weakening of our bones, favouring fractures and even breakages, and is most common in post-menopausal women. In order to fight osteoporosis, grapes contain boron, which does not help to generate new bone, but it does prevent the body from losing calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, and therefore creates bone more efficiently.

They combat occasional and chronic constipation.

Grapes are 81% water, which is a very high figure, which, combined with a very high fibre content, makes them very powerful allies at improving intestinal transit and avoiding heavy digestions. For this reason we recommend them as a dessert, in particular after dinner, as our body is more relaxed when we sleep and it does not have the movement of everyday routine to help the digestion.

Less chance of spina bifida

While it is not common, during its development the foetus can potentially contract spina bifida, a malformation that can lead to the storage of a number of nerve endings in a sac attached to the spine. This situation can produce minor or more serious damages, and despite the fact that it cannot be completely controlled, vitamins B9 (folic acid) and B6 assist the proper development of the foetus brain and entire nervous system throughout the entire gestation process.