Although all grapes are nutritious and sources of quick energy, purple varieties, which can be either reddish-purple, true purple or purple-black, are also rich in natural phytochemicals that can help reduce your risk of several chronic diseases.
Red and white grapes, also called green grapes, are low in calories, with about 100 calories per cup, and provide 1.4 grams of fiber per serving. They are sweet, nutritious, refreshing and easy to pack, making them popular with busy people and kids who bring lunches to school. You may prefer the flavor of one over the other, but, although both types are good for you, the higher flavonoid content of red grapes make them richer in antioxidants than white grapes, offering you greater health benefits.
Resveratrol
The skins of purple grapes contain a polyphenolic compound called resveratrol. Resveratrol has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, which reports that consuming resveratrol confers many health benefits, including protection against heart disease. Resveratrol reduces oxidation of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, often called bad cholesterol. LDL oxidation contributes to formation of plaque, fatty deposits in your arteries that can cause cardiovascular disease. Resveratrol may also block formation of blood clots, lowering the likelihood of stroke.
Red grapes contain a flavonoid called resveratrol, which has a chemical structure similar to that of diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen used to treat menopause symptoms. Biochemistry and molecular biology researchers at the University of Louisville School of Medicine found that, although resveratrol may be useful as a synthetic estrogen, it also could work as an estrogen antagonist, depending on the cell type and presence of other estrogens. The resveratrol in red grapes may ease symptoms of menopause, but its reliability is still being studied.
Antihistamine and Anti-inflammatory Properties
The darker a grape’s skin, the more phytonutrients it contains. Brightly colored fruits and vegetables contain larger amounts of a type of antioxidant called flavonoids than their less colorful counterparts, making red grapes better for you than white grapes. One flavonoid called quercetin may help stabilize cells that release histamine in your body. Because of its antihistamine and anti-inflammatory properties, quercetin extract is used to treat allergies and, according to researchers at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, it may protect against osteoporosis, certain forms of cancer and pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases.
Whether you opt for purple or white grapes, you cannot go wrong with either choice.
Even though purple grapes have a little bit more in nutritive value, white grapes also carry health benefits that can help you enjoy a more improved quality of life.
Source: healthyeating.sfgate.com