Generality
The table grape is the fruit of climbing shrubs belonging to the Vitaceae family and to the genus Vitis. More precisely, the binomial nomenclatures of the two most exploited species for the production of table grapes are, respectively, Vitis vinifera And Vitis labrusca, exactly the same ones intended for winemaking or for the production of sultanas.
The table grape, however, is produced from vines of specific varieties, suitable for the production of commercial grapes for direct consumption, such as seedless ones (apirene). It should however be noted that certain vines possess a "multiple type attitude, for which are commercially exploited both for winemaking and for the production of table grapes and / or sultanas.From the botanical point of view, the grape is defined as an infructescence, that is a grouping of cluster fruits; the single fruits, called berries and commonly defined as "grains", are linked to a non-edible portion, of a woody nature, called stalk or stalk.
The grapes represent the edible part and, from the botanical point of view, they are berries; they are characterized by a thin epicarp (the peel), which wraps a fleshy mesocarp (the pulp), which in turn wraps the endocarp containing the seeds (grape seeds).
NB. In table grapes, the energetic nutrients (especially fructose) are mainly contained in the pulp; on the other hand, this does not mean that the peel and seeds are not edible or are useless! In fact, these two components are responsible for the contribution of: fibers, polyunsaturated fatty acids (also omega 3), phytosterols, vegetable waxes and various phenolic molecules with antioxidant, antitumor and cholesterol-lowering properties.
The table grapes consumed in Italy are mainly white, but there are also several red types (purple, tending to fuchsia or burgundy). Our country is the world's leading producer of table grapes and, following a significant commercial reduction of the varieties (second half of the 1900s), the most common today are: Italia, Vittoria, Regina (white), Moscato d "Hamburg, Redo Globe and Rosada (red).
Among the vines of European origin, even the varieties destined for the production of table grapes are strongly involved in radical aggression by a phytophagous insect. (phylloxera), which is why, similarly to crops destined for winemaking, it is common to graft varieties of vinifera European on the radical apparatus of the American ones (Vitis labrusca and its hybrids), having roots totally immune to the insect.
Soft Cake with Grapes - Without Eggs and Without Milk
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Nutritional Properties
Nutritional values (per 100 g of edible portion)
Table grapes are both useful and controversial food. It is a fruit rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants but which, on the other hand, provides considerable quantities of simple carbohydrates, therefore calories; the glycemic index is also quite high.
The table grape is a product suitable for consumption by healthy subjects, provided that a portion less than 50% is used compared to the average of summer fruit (peaches, apricots, melon, watermelon, strawberries, etc.) and 20- 30% lower than the average of winter fruit (oranges, apples, pears, kiwis, etc.). In the dietotherapy field, however, the use of table grapes is decidedly more complicated. In addition to the percentage reduction mentioned above (which compensates for the energy difference), in case of overweight and / or diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to take into account other factors such as:
- Tendency to abuse, by virtue of the marked pleasantness (very sweet taste)
- High glycemic index which, depending on the volume of the portion, can excessively stress the stimulus of insulin
- Lower concentration of fiber than other more advisable fruits (for example, apples contain 40% more).
In summary, table grapes are part of the group of fruits which MUST be used more carefully, together with: lotuses or kaki, figs, prickly pears, chestnuts, black cherries, etc.
On the other hand, the RED table grape, thanks to the more generous presence of some NON-energetic molecules, seems to possess several noteworthy metabolic characteristics. Among these, we mention the potential to optimize cholesterolemia (reduction of bad LDL cholesterol), the capacity to reduce platelet aggregation and the advantage of moderating oxidative stress. Much of these positive effects resulting from the intake of table grapes is attributable to the presence of phenolic molecules, or flavonoid-type polyphenols.
Of the table grapes we also appreciate the considerable quantities of water and potassium which, associated with the above mentioned glycemic load and index, make it an excellent food for the nutrition of the athlete (both before and after the activity. ).
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