Grapes: benefits and harms

A delicious and undoubtedly healthy delicacy called grapes has been known to man for several thousand years. Since then, many varieties have been bred, each of which has its own characteristics. Let's talk in more detail about the beneficial properties of this berry.

The benefits of grapes

This plant has about seven thousand different varieties. Some of them can be successfully grown in garden plots, others are produced on an industrial scale for sale or wine production. In addition, vinegar is produced from grapes, juice is squeezed out of it, and raisins and also produce some other products. Grape berries contain a lot of glucose, they contain a large amount of pectin and fiber, they contain a lot vitamins of various groups, as well as trace elements necessary for the human body. In terms of their energy value, wine berries occupy one of the first places among all berry crops.

The benefits of grapes are as follows:

• The presence of enzymes responsible for the production of gastric juice, which makes it possible to use grapes for the treatment of some gastrointestinal ailments.
• Iodine is present in grapes. This makes this product essential for proper metabolism. Under the influence of enzymes, the immune defense is activated, the body temperature is normalized, as well as the activity of the nervous system and muscles.
• Under the influence of vitamins and antioxidants contained in grapes, blood pressure and hemoglobin content are stabilized. As a result, the blood is purified, which has a positive effect on the work of blood vessels and the heart.
• Eating grapes is beneficial for significant physical and intellectual exertion. It is also recommended to use grapes for diseases of the respiratory system, liver and migraines.
• It is especially recommended to use these berries at the initial signs of tuberculosis, as they have a positive effect on the body's immune defenses.

Harm to grapes

Not everything is so rosy in the use of this berry. In addition to the benefits, it can also harm a person. Fortunately, the list of conditions in which grapes are harmful is not too long. For example, you should not use grapes for those who suffer from colitis or stomach and intestinal ulcers. With these diseases, the acidity of the gastric juice is high, and grapes increase it even more.

Contained in a large amount of glucose in grapes, as well as fructose are quickly absorbed into the blood and intestines and significantly increase sugar levels. Dark grapes contribute to the development of anemia and also increase blood pressure. In addition, grape juice has a detrimental effect on the enamel of the teeth, which means that after eating grapes, it is imperative to brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth.

It is also harmful to combine the use of grapes with dairy products, fatty foods, other fruits, as well as vegetables, alcohol and mineral water. Grapes will bring the least harm if they are eaten separately from other foods or used as a snack.

Calorie content of grapes

Like any other product, grapes have a certain energy value or calorie content. Moreover, this indicator depends entirely on the grape variety. For example, many people love Isabella grapes. Its calorie content is about 75 kcal. But there are grape varieties with less energy value. For example, white grapes contain only 43 kcal. It can be used even with dietary nutrition.

But another popular grape variety has a calorie content of 95 kcal per 100 g of product. This is one of the highest energy values. Other grape varieties are medium in calories. At the same time, there is an important rule - the more sour the grapes, the less calories it contains. If we compare it with other types of sweets, then grapes do not have a high degree of energy value.

Contraindications for grapes

Based on the above harmful qualities of grapes, a small list of contraindications for this product can be formulated:

• Excess body weight.
• Diseases associated with metabolic disorders and diabetes mellitus.
• Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with increased acidification.
• Lung inflammation and pharyngitis.
• Hypertension and high heart failure.
• Diseases of the heart, accompanied by swelling.
• Chronic renal failure.
• Disruption of metabolic processes.

How to choose grapes

When buying this delicious berry, first of all, pay attention to the appearance. Good grapes should be firm and intact, and there should be no damaged berries in the bunches. The berries that fall off easily, sluggish and with peeling skin indicate that the bunches have been stored in the refrigerator for a long time. It is best suited for transportation and storage of dark grapes. Particularly good for this are not dense, but slightly loose clusters.

In good grapes, when shaking the bunches, the berries will not crumble. They come off with effort, elastic to the touch and have a sweet taste. Another sign of freshness can be considered a whitish bloom.

Pay attention to the color of the berries. If there are noticeable dark spots on the grapes, then this indicates that the bushes were treated with chemicals, but there is a lot of glucose in the berries themselves.

Berries with black spots are the ripeest. The taste of such grapes is the most intense. But do not confuse ripe grapes with starting to rot. In such grapes, the berries are sluggish, wrinkled and with signs of gray rot.

When buying grapes, pay special attention to examining the comb of the brush. There should be no signs of wilting on this part, it should have a green tint. If this does not correspond to the appearance of the brush, then such grapes have been plucked a long time ago and have already lost some of their nutritional and taste properties.

Usually, the first to be put on the counter are bunches that need to be sold as quickly as possible, so to speak, stale goods. Therefore, if you want to buy the best of what is on the counter, take those bunches of grapes that lie farthest from you. The most delicious grapes can be bought in early autumn, it is at this time that the grape season begins. Then the choice is greater and the prices are more pleasant.