A relative newcomer to the worldwide family of grape species, the Concord grape is a hybrid of several native American species that Boston-born farmer Ephraim Wales Bull first cultivated in the mid-19th century, according to the Concord Grape Association. The grape, notable for its distinctive purple-black fruit, gets its name from the Massachusetts village of its birth. Widely used in jellies, jams, juices and wines, as well as just for snacking, the Concord grape packs plenty of healthy nutrients.
Calories
A cup of fresh Concord grapes contains 62 calories. This makes the grape a potential low-calorie snack. One tbsp. of Concord grape jelly has 50 calories, while an 8-oz. glass of Concord grape juice contains 170 calories.
Carbohydrates
As a fruit, the Concord grape contains high levels of natural carbohydrates that offer two significant benefits, according to the Concord Grape Association. Because they are natural, the grape's carbohydrates are easily digestible and also a good source of instant energy. A cup of fresh grapes has almost 16 g of carbohydrates, while 1 tbsp. of grape jelly contains13 g, and an 8-oz. glass of Concord juice delivers 42 g of carbohydrates, 40 g of which are sugars.
Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium
Concord grapes and the products commonly made with them contain no measurable levels of fat or cholesterol. They are also extremely low in sodium. A cup of fresh Concord grapes contains 2 mg of sodium, while 1 tbsp. of grape jelly has 5 mg, and an 8-oz. glass of Concord juice contains 20 mg. To put these sodium figures in perspective, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guide recommends a maximum daily intake of 1,779 mg of sodium.
Vitamin C and Other Micronutrients
Although a cup of fresh Concord grapes contains only traces of vitamin C, a cup of its juice delivers 65 mg of the vitamin. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Guide recommends a daily intake of 155 mg of vitamin C. Other nutrients in a cup of fresh grapes include 13 mg of calcium and 9 mg of phosphorus.
Antioxidant Properties
Probably the most impressive nutritional bonus from Concord grapes is the antioxidant properties in their juice. In a letter to the editor published in the November 2004 issue of "Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology," researchers at Boston University's School of Medicine reported multiple benefits from regular consumption of purple grape products. They cited a study that showed Concord grape juice boosted levels of high-density lipoprotein -- the so-called good cholesterol -- and sharply reduced two markers of inflammation in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Dr. Jane Freedman, an associate professor of medicine and pharmacology -- and one of the study's authors -- said drinking purple grape juice reduced production of both superoxide, a harmful free radical, and CD40 ligand, an inflammatory marker believed to be linked to coronary artery disease.
References
- Concord Grape Association: The History of Concord Grapes
- Concord Grape Juice: #1 Antioxidant Beverage!
- "Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology"; The Antiinflammatory Effects of Purple Grape Juice Consumption in Subjects with Stable Coronary Artery Disease; Anne R. Albers et al.; November 2004
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005
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