Not Just Your Average Snack: Reach for the health benefits of grapes when hunger strikes

Whether it’s hunger pangs or ravenous cravings, you know when it’s time for a snack. In our fast-paced world, snacks need to be quick and efficient—something that can stave off hunger until we can get to a real food source (be it a home-cooked meal or a drive-thru). Fortunately, nature has already provided us with bite-sized morsels that can meet our immediate needs… and then some.

Of the snacks that nature has provided, grapes may just be the best. Not only are grapes handy and easy to use, they’re also chock-full of nutrients. And we’re not talking about your run-of-the-mill nutrients either. The nutrients found in grapes have shown promise as preventative measures for a number of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and age-associated diseases like Alzheimer’s.

What’s in a Grape?

Not only are grapes a good source of vitamins A and C, but you’ll also find vitamin B6 and folate in these fruits of the vine. And that’s not all. Minerals like potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and selenium, as well as trace amounts of copper, manganese, and zinc are also present in grapes. What’s more, you’ll also get some fiber and protein from grapes.

While these vitamins and minerals are vital to your health, the truly spectacular health benefits are found in the other compounds contained in grapes. Recent research has been all abuzz over these newly discovered grape components.

Flavonoids

Have you ever wondered how certain fruits and vegetables get such vibrant colors? The answer is flavonoids. Flavonoids are polyphenols and are classified as flavones, flavonols, flavonones, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanidins, and chalcones. Over 4,000 different flavonoids have been identified.

If all that scientific jargon seems to be just a little much, here’s a term you’ll probably recognize: antioxidants. Simply put, flavonoids are very powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants work to prevent and counteract the damage caused by free radicals. When it comes to antioxidants, flavonoids are your best bet.

That’s all well and good, you might be saying, but what does that have to do with my health? Let’s get down to the finer points. The flavonoids found in abundantly in grapes are showing great promise when it comes to cardiovascular disease, cancer, age-associated disorders, and other illnesses and symptoms. In short, what do grapes have to do with your health? Everything.