Autumn is the season when grapes ripen in large quantities. As one of the world's four major fruits (along with apples, citrus fruits, and bananas), grapes are not only nutritious and delicious, but also have the ability to help the body detoxify and cool down in early autumn.
The benefits of grapes
Professor Yang Li, a Chinese medicine health expert from the West Park Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, said that traditional Chinese medicine believes that grapes can tonify Qi and blood, generate body fluid, quench thirst, invigorate the spleen, and promote diuresis. After experiencing a hot and humid summer, the body accumulates a large amount of toxins, and the body is burdened with internal heat and fatigue. Grapes have a good diuretic effect, and eating more of them in early autumn can help the body eliminate toxins and relieve internal heat.
Types of grapes
Red, white, green, purple, and black, grapes come in various colors in the market. Professor Yang Li said that besides the common nutrients found in grapes, grapes of different colors have different nutritional focuses.
Red grapes contain resveratrol, which can soften blood vessels, promote blood circulation, prevent blood clot formation, and are beneficial for cardiovascular patients. Resveratrol is most abundant in the skin of red grapes, so it is best to eat them with the skin. White grapes have the effect of nourishing lung Qi and moisturizing the lungs, making them suitable for people with cough or respiratory diseases. Green grapes are more focused on heat-clearing and detoxification. Purple grapes are rich in anthocyanins, which can promote beauty and anti-aging. Black grapes have the function of nourishing Yin and kidneys, and are particularly effective in promoting black hair growth.
Nutritional components of grapes
The saying "eat grapes without spitting out the skin" should actually be changed to "eat grapes without spitting out the skin and seeds" from a nutritional perspective. The skin and seeds of grapes contain most of the nutrients. It is best to eat grapes whole. If the taste is not very good, you can squeeze the grapes, including the skin and seeds, into juice. However, it is important to note that grapes have a cooling nature, so people with a cold stomach should not eat too many at once.
