Grape Nutrition Facts
Grapes are nutrition powerhouses. They are packed with vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that plays key roles in immune system health, connective tissue development, and wound healing. (7,8) They’re also a source of vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting and maintaining healthy bones; as well as potassium, which is important kidney and heart function, muscle contraction, and nerve signal transmission. (9,10)
Grapes are also rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body’s cells against oxidative stress, a mechanism linked to cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. In particular, darker grapes, such as Concord and purple varieties, are especially high in antioxidants, according to an article published in December 2013 in the journal Antioxidants. Grapes are the perfect addition to your 1.5 to 2 cups of recommended daily fruit intake, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate guidelines.
Health Benefits
The fruit, seeds, skins, and leaves of grape plants (Vitis vinifera) are purported to have many health benefits — some supported by research, and many more for which there is insufficient evidence, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD).
Here are some the supposed health benefits for which the NMCD says there is evidence that grape products are ineffective:
- Hay Fever
- Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy
- Weight loss
- Tissue hardness and pain caused by radiation
