Grapes: Good for the Heart

     Grapes is a fruit of the vine, a climbing vine of the botanical family Vitaceae. Did you know that only a small percentage in this fruit is eaten as fruit, usually they are used for the production of alcoholic beverages, particularly wine.

     And recent scientific discoveries attribute the good cardiac health of Mediterranean peoples specifically on some of the substances found in Grapes.

     There are two types of nutrients stand out in the grape's composition, the Sugars and B complex vitamins. On the other hand, grapes supply few proteins and fats. Grape proteins, although scarce, contain all essential amino acids. Minerals are present in moderate amounts.

     These are the Grapes components that merit special discussion:

• Sugars - are present in proportions that vary between 15% and 30%. Grapes grown in cold regions tend to have lower sugar content, while those from hot dry climates are much sweeter. The two most abundant sugars in grapes are Glucose and Fructose. From a chemical standpoint, these are Monosaccharides or simple sugars that are capable of passing directly to the bloodstream without need for digestion.
• Vitamins - with 0.11 mg/100g of vitamin B6, grapes are among the richest fresh fruit in this vitamin, surpassed only by tropical fruits such as avocados, bananas, cherimoyas, guavas and mangoes. Vitamins B1, B2, and B3 or 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, thus facilitating their chemical "combustion" within the cells to provide energy. Grapes also contain significant amounts of provitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E.
• Minerals - Potassium and iron are the most abundant minerals in grapes, although they also contain calcium, phosphorous and copper.
• Fiber - Grapes contain around 1% soluble vegetable fiber (pectin), a significant amount for a fresh fruit.
• Non-nutritive substances - Grapes contain numerous chemical substances that do not fit into any of the classical groups of nutrients, but exercise a great deal of functions within the body, many of which are still not understood.These substance are also known as PHYTOCHEMICALS.

     In 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 also laxative, antitoxic, diuretic, anti-anemic, and anti-tumor.