Grapes are undoubtedly one of the fun fruits of summer: Convenient to eat anywhere, sweet, delicious, and hardly messy. But did you know that they are the most effective fruit in reducing the risk of heart disease? In her weekly segment, Dr. Maya Rozman shared about this wonderful fruit.
"Grapes have an exceptionally high amount of amazing antioxidants called polyphenols, which are the same compounds that give wine its health benefits," she described. "They significantly reduce the risk of arterial calcification. Grapes are rich in dietary fibers that are important for satiety and gut health, as well as minerals like iron and potassium that help regulate blood pressure."
She went on to emphasize: "There’s no difference between grapes and other fruits and vegetables, and not only that – grapes aren’t sprayed when they’re ripe or about to ripen, but rather earlier on, so by the time they reach us, most of those chemicals have already broken down. What about the sugar? Grapes contain about 15% sugar, which is a bit more than most fruits, but they only have 65 calories per 100 grams."
"So, do we need to count 13 grapes as a fruit serving? Not at all. A fruit serving is 150 grams of grapes, which you can weigh, and you’ll find it’s about 25 grapes, sometimes even more, depending on the size, of course. Love wine? Of course, the antioxidants in grapes are the same as those in wine," Maya reassured. "The advantage of grapes is that they contain dietary fibers that contribute to our health on their own and also help prevent intestinal diseases."
Later, Dr. Rozman spoke with Reuven Bitan, the head of the Israeli Grapes Growers Association, to learn more about the fruit's virtues.