Grapes: properties

Premise

It is said that the list of medicinal properties ascribed to grapes is as long as there are varieties: in fact, precisely because of their particular nutritional and chemical composition, grapes are exploited in the food, phytotherapeutic and cosmetic sectors.

Before fully developing all the therapeutic properties ascribed to grapes, it is necessary to mention its nutritional values, which will later help us to understand why grapes, in some ways, can be considered a miracle of nature.

Grapes: nutritional analysis

100 grams of fresh grapes bring about 61 Kcal: water constitutes an abundant quantity (80.3% approx.), Carbohydrates - especially fructose and glucose - are estimated at around 15.6%, fibers amount at 1.5%, proteins at 0.5% and fats, very few, make up only 0.1%.
As can be guessed from the conspicuous quantity of sugars, the consumption of grapes is not recommended for diabetics.
Grapes are rich in mineral salts, in particular potassium (192 mg / 100g); present, albeit in less important quantities, also manganese, copper, phosphorus and iron.
Among the vitamins of grapes, C (6 mg%), B1, B2, PP and A.

Properties of the grape

To give an "immediate idea about the" phytotherapeutic importance of grapes, just compare each of its berries and each of its leaves to a mini-pharmacy! The grape, in fact, is thirst-quenching and purifying and at the same time nourishing, energetic and mine of virtues. therapeutic.
As we have seen, due to the conspicuous sugar content, grapes are not recommended for diabetics; moreover, the consumption of grapes is not suitable for children - especially under the fourth year of age - due to the high cellulose content. (peel), responsible for a possible difficult digestion.
In general, grapes are mainly used in the clinical and functional manifestations of the venous system (hemorrhoids, capillary fragility and venous insufficiency of the lower limbs), in the treatment of phlebitis, and as a natural remedy for bleeding (due to its astringent properties) and disorders linked to menopause (especially in synergy with other vasculotropic drugs) The fresh lymph, suitably diluted, acts as eye drops and is also used to treat leeks and warts.
Let's now see in more detail which therapeutic properties are associated with each single chemical component.
The anthocyanosides, contained in the vine leaves, exert angioprotective activities: they decrease the permeability of the capillaries and increase their resistance. Furthermore, in the leaves are found Proanthocyanidols, able both to strengthen the angioprotective activity and to favor a pressure reduction.
Procyanidins - catechinic tannins contained in the leaves - exert an antimutagenic effect (correlated with antioxidant activity), useful for preventing skin aging and chronic degenerative diseases; in the same way, procyanidins exert a mild enzymatic inhibition, favor the correct functioning of the peripheral vascular system and, finally, have good potential for ophthalmic improvement.
Grapeseed oil is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids; consequently, it has a laxative (lubricant) and cholesterol-lowering action. Substitute for sweet almond oil, for external use it has mostly emollient properties; grape seed oil, associated with the anthocyanosides of the leaves, contributes to the vasoprotective action, giving elasticity to the skin (ability to stabilize elastin and collagen).
Proanthocyanidins are contained above all in the seeds of purple grapes: these exert highly antioxidant properties, therefore useful as an adjunct to chemo therapies in cancer patients (in particular, attenuation of side effects).
Resveratrol is a stilbenic compound found in particular in the roots of grapevines: this substance is useful in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, as it improves the fluidity of the blood, thus decreasing the risk of any platelet aggregation.

Furthermore, the resveratrol of grapes exerts anti-inflammatory and hypocholesterolemic properties.
Polyphenols help keep the skin elastic, counteracting the degradation of collagen and elastin; they also favor the inhibition of LDL oxidation.
The mineral salts contained in grapes are useful for the formation of hemoglobin, to stimulate the secretion of bile and to favor digestion; moreover, the mineral salts act as a diuretic (potassium) and remineralizer.
Vitamins perform antioxidant and vitaminizing properties.
Finally, red vine seed oil exerts angioprotective and inhibitory potentials of the enzyme that converts angiotensin. [Properties taken from Reasoned dictionary of herbalists and phytotherapy, by A. Bruni, M. Nicoletti and by Dictionary of Phytotherapy and Medicinal Plants, by E. Campanini]

Grapes in Syrup

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List of active ingredients

Given the complexity of the active ingredients that characterize the phytocomplex extracted from grapes (leaves, seeds and fruit), the table summarizes the key points, highlighting the molecule considered, the part of the plant from which it is derived and the medicinal function performed in organism level.

Molecule Part of the plant Function Short description Anthocyanosides Leaves Angioprotector Decrease in capillary permeability, increase in resistance Proanthocyanidols Leaves Angioprotective and hypotensive It strengthens the angioprotective activity and favors a lowering of pressure Procyanidins Catechinic tannins contained in the leaves Antimutagen
Antioxidant
Enzymatic inhibition
Ophthalmic → antimutagenic effect related to the antioxidant activity, prevents skin aging and chronic-degenerative pathologies
→ enzymatic inhibition
→ favors the correct functioning of the peripheral vascular system
→ good improvement potential at the ophthalmic level Polyunsaturated fats Grapeseed oil Laxative
Hypocholesterolemic Acts laxative (volume) and cholesterol-lowering Oil Grape seeds Emollients Substitute for sweet almond oil Anthocyanosides + essence (oil) Leaves Vasoprotective They contribute to the vasoprotective action, giving elasticity to the skin (ability to stabilize elastin and collagen) Proanthocyanidins Purple grape seeds Antioxidant Useful as an adjunct to chemo therapies in cancer patients (in particular, mitigating side effects) Resveratrol, a stilbenic compound Vine roots Antioxidant CVL disease prevention Polyphenols Antioxidant They help keep the skin supple
They help to inhibit the oxidation of LDL Mineral salts Fruit Diuretic and remineralizing Useful for the formation of hemoglobin Vitamins Fruit Antioxidants and vitamins Oil Red vine seeds Angioprotectors Angioprotectors and inhibitors of the enzyme that converts angiotensin

Grape care

More than treatment, we should talk about the grape diet: it is an ideal diet to purify the body from excess waste, also very useful for combating cellulite and water retention.
The cure of the grapes can be carried out when the fruit has reached the right degree of ripeness: the diet can be carried out with grape juice (which must always be very fresh), fruit with peel and seeds.
In scientific terms, grape cure is ampelotherapy: s "means a diet based elusively (or almost) on grapes. The key objective is the detoxification of the body: the treatment of the grapes must not last more than 2-3 days, but can be repeated twice a day. month.
The grape cure is not recommended for ulcer sufferers, irritable bowel, hypertension, diabetes and kidney dysfunction.
In any case, it is good to keep in mind that grapes are not miraculous, in the sense that it would be wrong to consider this fruit as the panacea for all ills: in association with a healthy and regular lifestyle, grapes are an excellent adjuvant to mitigate problems of various kinds.