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A symbol of fertility and abundance, an indispensable companion of Bacchus in all the paintings of the Renaissance. Today, grapes are loved by adults and children for their sweet taste and beneficial properties that have a positive effect on the body. ” Healthy Food Near Me” understands whether grapes can be harmful, how they are used in medicine and cooking, and also gives advice on choosing and storing these berries.
Types of grapes
There are about 8 grape varieties. We owe the emergence of new varieties to the efforts of breeders.
Grapes can be classified in many ways. For example, there is stone fruit grapes and grapes seedless (raisins).
Divided according to color white (Bazhena, White miracle, Talisman), the black (Fun, Moldova, Autumn black) and red (Helios, Cardinal, Dessert). Moreover, white grapes are actually a light green hue.
Also, grapes can be table, technical and universal.
table grade are consumed mostly fresh. Its fruits are beautiful, tasty and have great benefits for the body.
technical grade used for making wines, compotes, juices, cognac. The berries of such grapes are smaller, but very juicy.
Universal variety Suitable for both wine and food.
The history of the appearance of grapes in nutrition
The history of grapes goes back many millennia. This was confirmed by archaeologists, who discovered during excavations a vessel with an image of a bunch of grapes, which was about 8 years old. In ancient Greece, as early as the 000th century, wines for which grapes were specially grown were popular.
According to chronicles, already in the XNUMXth century Armenia was famous for its grape drinks.
In Our Country, the first laying of the vineyard is dated 1613.
Composition and calories
– Grapes, especially dark-colored varieties, contain many useful substances, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, vitamins C, E, P (rutin), groups B – B1, B2, B4, B5 and B6, B9, as well as micro and macro elements – selenium, zinc, copper, iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, aluminum, boron, iodine and cobalt and others, – comments chief doctor of the Austrian health center Verba Mayr Irina Popova.
The calorie content of grapes depends on its variety. The sweeter it is, the more calories. For example, the sultana variety is the most high-calorie among the others and contains 270 kcal per 100 grams. The average calorie content of grapes is much lower.
| Caloric content for 100 grams | 75 kcal |
| Proteins | 0,6 g |
| Fats | 0,6 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15,4 g |
The benefits of grapes
Grapes are beneficial for the human body due to the high content of minerals, vitamins, polyphenols, flavonoids.
“Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants, they are found mainly in the skin of grapes,” explains Irina Popova. – Anthocyanins give color to black berries, block the formation of oxidants in the body, protect the body from the formation of cancer cells. Grape polyphenols stimulate the growth of the bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila, which helps to produce a protective intestinal mucosal layer, protecting against the development of inflammation.
The benefits of grapes for women
Grapes contain substances that reduce the possibility of developing malignant tumors of the uterus and breast. In addition, it is useful for pregnant women to eat grapes to increase immunity and improve the functioning of the digestive tract.
The benefits of grapes for men
For men, grapes are useful for preventing the development of prostate cancer, increasing potency and beneficial effects on the genitourinary system.
The benefits of grapes for children
Grapes are a natural and tasty multivitamin complex. Regular consumption of berries in food fills the child’s body with a large amount of vitamins that are useful for immunity, vision, and the nervous system.
Harm to grapes
– Grapes contain a lot of sugar, in 100 grams – 15 (3 teaspoons), – says Irina Popova. – It damages the walls of blood vessels and ulcerates them. Grapes are not recommended for people with fructose intolerance, they can also cause bloating, flatulence, disturbed sleep, stool, increased sensitivity to pain. You should limit the use of grapes in diabetes, as well as those who control weight and want to lose weight. The high glycemic index (GI) of this product increases appetite, can lead to overeating and calorie intake. Grapes contain 18% of the daily value of vitamin K (more in dark grapes), so for people taking anticoagulants, it is necessary to limit the consumption of grapes to 100 grams per day.
You should not use grapes with seeds for diverticular bowel disease and inflammatory diseases of the digestive system. It is not recommended to give grapes to children under five years of age, as the child may accidentally inhale the berry. It is advisable to eat these berries separately from other products or combine them with sweet fruits in the morning. Grapes should not be consumed with other foods, as this can lead to fermentation processes in the intestines and latent inflammation.
The use of grapes in medicine
Irina Popova talks about how grapes are used in medicine:
– Ampelotherapy (grape therapy) – a method of diet therapy, which consists in the treatment of patients with grapes or grape juice. Grapes contain flavonoids, resveratrol and proanthocyanidins in their peel and seeds, have pronounced antioxidant properties and stabilize the cell membrane. These substances are used in the production of dietary supplements and are recommended to be taken in courses according to the indications determined by the doctor.
Grape extract is often used in cosmetology and trichology, it is added to skin and hair care products. The oil is used to care for oily and problem skin. It is recommended to use grape seed oil for streptoderma and other dermatological diseases. It also has good wound healing properties, can be used for minor skin lesions, burns, cuts. Vitamin C also has a beneficial effect on the skin, which is necessary for the synthesis of collagen and elastin, preventing the appearance of wrinkles.
The use of grapes in cooking
Grapes are a versatile product that can make a delicious compote, an excellent addition to meat, fine wine, and a spicy dessert.
Salad with grapes and chicken
In such an unusual combination, grapes are the highlight of this dish.
| Grapes | 1 bunch |
| Chicken fillet | 1 lump |
| Egg | 4 piece. |
| Hard cheese | 100 g |
| Mayonnaise or sour cream | 1 packaging |
Boil chicken breast and eggs. Finely chop the cooled breast. Grate the eggs on a coarse grater. Cheese grate on a fine grater. Cut each grape in half in such quantity that it is enough to put a layer in a bowl and decorate the salad. After preparing the components of the future salad, lay out the layers.
1) Part of a chicken. Lubricate the layer with mayonnaise or sour cream.
2) Part of the grapes.
3 eggs. Lubricate with mayonnaise or sour cream.
4) The rest of the chicken. Lubricate with mayonnaise or sour cream.
5) Cheese. Lubricate well with mayonnaise or sour cream.
Decorate the salad with the remaining grapes and serve.
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Grape smoothie with milk
Such a cocktail can be prepared for a little picky. Children love it for its sweet taste, and parents for its beneficial properties.
| Milk | 1 glass |
| Grapes | 2 cups (or natural grape juice) |
| Ice cream | 150-200 g |
Mix the ingredients and beat in a blender until smooth. Pour into glasses and enjoy a delicious and healthy drink.
How to select and store grapes
Choose grapes grown as close to where you live as possible. Such berries are less processed with chemicals before transportation. Buy grapes during the ripening season – the price for it at this time is the lowest.
Check the ripeness of the berries. To do this, shake the bunch: if a few berries fall off, then it is ripe. Pay attention to the black spots on the berry – they also indicate the maturity of the fruit.
Choose whole bunches. If grapes are sold in twigs or individual berries, it means that they have already sorted it out and sifted out spoiled fruits. Therefore, such a product has long been stored on the shelves.
For long-term storage, choose grapes of late varieties – such berries can lie safely for up to six months. The fruits must be whole, without damage. Storage room – dark and cool, temperature – no more than +5 degrees, humidity – no more than 80%. It is best to store bunches of grapes in a suspended state or in boxes.
The storage temperature of berries in the refrigerator is no more than +2 degrees. Grapes can be frozen by first washing, drying and decomposing into containers. Berries are stored up to 7 months.