Grapes
Grapes are known scientifically as Vitis vinifera, a plant that is grown in all parts of the temperate world, but is native to southern Europe and Western Asia. The fruits of grapes are oval or spherical, dark blue, red, green or yellow, Or sweet taste , And grapes are one of the most productive crops in the world .
The grapes mentioned in the Qur’an in several places, such as the words of God: (And in the land cut adjacent and gardens of grapes and planting and palm trees and non-drinking water and one water and we prefer each other in eating in that the verses of the people who know) Al – Ra’ad, 4 .
The grapes contain high amounts of simple sugars, specifically glucose and fructose , And contains many active substances, including flavonoids, tannins, which include proanthocyanidins, which include catechins, non-flavonoids (Stilbenes), vinyl acid products Phenylacrylic, and some fruit acids such as tartaric, malic, succinic, citric, oxalic acid (Quercetin), (Myricetin), Resveratrol (polyphenols), and essential antioxidants in red grapes , And found that every 100 grams of grapes contain 63-182 micrograms of phenols, which are mostly concentrated in the crusts and seeds, and the compounds of Proanthanthocyanidin found in grape seeds of the strongest antioxidants in nature .
Food composition of red grapes
The following table shows the nutritional composition of 100 g of red or green European grapes:
Food ingredient | the value |
---|---|
water | 80.54 g |
energy | 69 calories |
Protein | 0.72 g |
Fats | 0.16 g |
Carbohydrates | 18.10 g |
Dietary fiber | 0.9 g |
Total sugars | 15.48 g |
Calcium | 10 mg |
Iron | 0.36 mg |
magnesium | 7 mg |
Phosphorus | 20 mg |
Potassium | 191 mg |
Sodium | 2 mg |
Zinc | 0.07 mg |
vitamin C | 3.2 mg |
Thiamine | 0.069 mg |
Riboflavin | 0.070 mg |
Niacin | 0.188 mg |
Vitamin B6 | 0.086 mg |
Folate | 2 micrograms |
Vitamin B12 | 0 micrograms |
Vitamin A | 66 global units, or 3 micrograms |
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.19 mg |
Vitamin D | 0 universal unit |
Vitamin K | 14.6 mg |
Caffeine | 0 mg |
Cholesterol | 0 mg |
Benefits of red grapes
Due to its antioxidant content, grapes have been associated with reduced risk of many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and other chronic diseases , And we will talk about the most important scientific research found benefits of red grapes and its extracts:
- The poly phenol compounds present in the red grapes carry anti-inflammatory and oxidative properties, protective effects of nerve cells and protective effects of heart disease , And grapes generally have anti-oxidant effects because of its content of proanthocyanidine, where it found inhibitory effects of the roots of free oxygen, and found a study that its antioxidant activity may exceed vitamin C and vitamin E , In addition to its content of other antioxidants .
- Grains exhibit anti-atherosclerosis properties. Proanthocyanidine reduces the accumulation of macrophage-derived foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions and reduces the oxidation of bad cholesterol (LDL) associated with atherosclerosis , And some preliminary studies have found that drinking red grape juice reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease .
- In a study to determine the effect of concentrated red grape juice, which is a high source of polyphenols in the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in people who wash the kidneys, who are more likely to have these diseases due to high oxidative stress and lipid (lipids) and high inflammation level In the body, 100 ml of concentrated red grape juice was given to 26 patients who washed the kidneys and 15 were healthy for 14 days. The results showed an increase in the level of oxidative resistance in the body and a decrease in the level of bad cholesterol, (LDL) and apolipoprotein B-100 in both groups, while the intake of HDL and apolipoprotein A-1, When patients were given the center of red grape juice for an additional 3 weeks, they found a reduction in the scale of inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease .
- Resistance to cancer and tumors, as proanthocyanidine reduces oxidative stress and free radicals. An anti-tumor activity was found to be due to the antioxidant activity of this compound in experimental animals , And many studies have found a link between the treatment of components of grapes and reduced the risk of some cancers, such as breast cancer and colon, where it was found that the antioxidants found in grapes stimulate the death of cancer cells, and was found to prevent the formation of cancer and development in rats and found the tests for antioxidants Existing in the grape anti-inflammatory effects can play a role in their anticancer effects. It was also found that the antioxidants in grapes modify estrogen receptors, which particularly affects the cancers that are sensitive to this hormone, such as breast cancer , And myricetin contains anti-cancer properties .
- It was found that anthocyanidin compounds extracted from grape seeds stimulated the growth of hair follicles .
- Anthocyanidine was found to protect liver cells. Studies have found that they protect liver cells from the effects of acetaminophen from DNA damage and cell death , And some preliminary studies have found a role for grapes in cases of liver damage and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but these studies need more scientific support .
- Procyanidine compounds reduce ischemia damage by inhibiting the active oxygen compounds and lowering them to the ventricular contraction .
- Brucianidine compounds have positive effects on blood vessels, and these effects play an important role in preventing retinal damage and vision related to diabetes .
- The polyphenols found in the red grapes carry anti-diabetic effects and are low in blood glucose. Experimental studies have found that the quercetin compound improves insulin resistance and elevates the level of adiponectin in the fatty tissue and blood. Adiponectin is thought to be high Responsible for improving insulin resistance caused by this compound .
- A study of mice found that this compound lowers blood glucose and the cumulative glucose level, and another study found that it protects the beta cells in the pancreas from the toxic effects of streptozotecin used to stimulate diabetes in experimental animals, which returns blood sugar to its normal level .
- Myricetin was found to have anti-diabetic effects as well. It has been shown to reduce insulin resistance, reduce blood glucose levels through multiple mechanisms, and have insulin-like effects in stimulating glucose entry into fat cells and in stimulating insulin-based fat building .
- Resveratrol, found in abundance in the fresh grape peel and also in its seeds, found antioxidant effects of glucose and high glucose oxidation. It also found protection against kidney damage caused by diabetes. In rats, it was found to improve cell capacity On glucose input by increasing insulin-dependent glucose vector (GLUT4) composition .
- In general, it can be concluded that phenol compounds extracted from red grapes can be an alternative treatment for conventional diabetes treatment .
- Grape seed extract was found to improve the symptoms of blood circulation problems that cause swelling in the feet, such as chronic renal insufficiency, known as chronic venous insufficiency .
- Preliminary studies have found a role for grape extracts in improving athletic performance and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, improving night vision impairment, improving dark spots in the face, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, diarrhea, coughing, chronic fatigue syndrome, mouth ulcers, attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, constipation and other conditions. These roles need further research . .
- Some studies have found that drinking grape juice reduces blood pressure in cases of high blood pressure. It has also been found that eating dried grapes in vitro reduces blood pressure in men with metabolic syndrome, but other studies have not found a role for grapes in lowering blood pressure. Research .
- It was found that eating Concord grape juice daily for 12 weeks improves verbal learning abilities in older adults with decreased mental capacity related to older age .
- Stilbenoids found in red grapes have a role in strengthening the immune system .