Grapes are among the most common fruits consumed in the U.S., and for good reason. They’re sweet, delicious, and convenient to eat. But grapes are also packed with lots of health benefits that you might not even be aware of.
Here’s a look at the various types of grapes and the natural health benefits of these tasty fruits that come in many different colors, sizes, and flavors.
Common Grape Varieties
One of the most common types of red grapes you’ll find are concord grapes, which have a dark color and full flavor. Crimson seedless grapes are what you’ll often find in grocery stores, and this classic type of grape is firm, sweet, and has a pale red color. Meanwhile, moon drop grapes are red grapes that have elongated shapes and very dark skin, and pinot noir grapes are used for making red wine. Other red grape varieties include sweet jubilee grapes that are big and nearly black, kyoho grapes from Japan that have a bitter skin, and red globe grapes with their large size and red color.
Common white grapes include cotton candy grapes that are actually green and very sweet, as the name suggests. Riesling grapes are white grapes used for making wine, centennial grapes are snacking grapes used to make raisins, and Thompson seedless grapes are popular grapes you’ll find in the U.S. Other white grape types are dominga with its impressively high polyphenol antioxidant content and marquis grapes that are commonly used in jams and sweet baked goods.
Eating Grapes for Natural Health
Grapes are rich in antioxidants that fight free radical compounds and oxidative damage. Polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, are found in grapes and beneficial to the body. Grapes also support the heart and circulatory systems. The resveratrol nutrient found in grapes is linked to disease prevention, while grapes have also been studied for their positive effects on keeping regular bowel movements, maintaining healthy blood pressure, and rejuvenating the skin to keep it looking vibrant.
Recipe Ideas for Grapes
While you are unlikely to find all of these types of grapes at your local grocery store, there are still plenty of ways to add variety to your grape consumption and get more grapes in your life. As a fun alternative to simply snacking on them straight out of the bag, you can freeze grapes or create an icy slushy to cool off on a hot day. You can even roast grapes in an oven with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper for about 30 minutes at 425 degrees and then eat the roasted grapes on their own or put them into a salad or even on ice cream. Try adding grapes onto skewers to make kebobs, put sliced grapes into whole-grain rice dishes, and mix some grapes into your salsa for a sweet and savory snack with pita bread.
To get the full and pure health benefits of grapes, try Seagate’s grape seed extract capsules, which are 100 percent free of all pesticides and chemicals. We make these natural health supplements after hauling our very own red grapes back to our plant from a local vineyard and employing a cold-press freshwater extraction process so you’ll get the health benefits of the entire grape. We recommend taking one to two capsules per day as an everyday antioxidant vitamin, about a half hour before meals, for ongoing natural health support.