Love sipping a glass of red wine? Well you may be doing more for your health than you realise!

Grapes offer a wealth of health benefits due to their high nutrient and antioxidant contents.

Red grapes contain higher numbers of antioxidants due to the anthocyanins that give them their colour.

Antioxidants are compounds primarily found in plants.

They help repair the damage to your cells caused by free radicals, which are harmful molecules that cause oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress has been associated with several chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

The highest concentration of antioxidants is found in the skin and seeds. For this reason, most of the research on grapes has been done using seed or skin extracts.

The antioxidants in grapes remain present even after fermentation, which is why red wine is also high in these compounds, drink it in moderation of course!

One of the powerful antioxidants in this fruit is resveratrol, which is classified as a polyphenol.

There are Numerous studies that have been performed on the benefits, of resveratrol, showing that it protects against heart disease, lowers blood sugar and protects against the development of cancer.

Grapes also contain vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, lutein, lycopene and ellagic acid, which are powerful antioxidants as well.

One cup (151 grams) of red or green grapes contains the following nutrients.
• Calories: 104
• Carbs: 27.3 grams
• Protein: 1.1 grams
• Fat: 0.2 grams
• Fiber: 1.4 grams
• Vitamin C: 27% of the (RDI)
• Vitamin K: 28% of the RDI
• Thiamine: 7% of the RDI
• Riboflavin: 6% of the RDI
• Vitamin B6: 6% of the RDI
• Potassium: 8% of the RDI
• Copper: 10% of the RDI
• Manganese: 5% of the RDI

One cup of grapes provides more than a quarter of the RDI of Vitamin K a fat-soluble vitamin vital for blood clotting and healthy bones. (any one taking Warfarin please check with your health practitioner as to their recommended intake for you)

They’re also a good source of vitamin C, an essential nutrient and powerful antioxidant necessary for connective tissue health.

Protecting yourself against oxidative stress, reducing your inflammation levels and increasing your healthy Cell migration are all important factors in well being.