Red grapes are often used for snacks or contained in fruit salads. They are low in calories and contain a number of essential vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber and phytonutrients that might help lower your risk for certain health conditions. Red grapes might provide the same health benefits as wine, according to MayoClinic.com.
Macronutrients
A one-cup serving of grapes contains only 60 calories, along with 1 g of protein and 1 g of fiber. Grapes do not contain fat, cholesterol or sodium. This makes grapes, whether red or green, an excellent choice for one of your five to nine recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Vitamins and Minerals
One cup of grapes provides you with 6 percent of the daily value for vitamin B-6, vitamin C and thiamine; 4 percent of the DV for riboflavin and 2 percent of the DV for vitamin A. Although some other fruits have higher vitamin and mineral content, some of the benefits from consuming grapes come from the phytonutrients they contain.
Phytonutrients
Red grapes contain phytonutrients called polyphenols, including resveratrol, which might help lower your risk for cancer and heart disease, although further research is needed, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. These phytonutrients are mainly found in the skin, seeds, stems and leaves of grapes, and red grapes contain more than green grapes.
Considerations
Although grapes are a healthy fruit, you don't want to consume them to the exclusion of other fruits and vegetables because different fruits and vegetables provide different benefits. Grapes cannot treat cancer or heart disease, so stick with the treatments for these conditions prescribed by your doctor and do not try to self-treat your illness by consuming grapes.
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