Can Diabetics Eat Grapes?-Overview
Grapes are a type of fruit that thrives in bunches. It has a delicious white or purple skin that can be eaten fresh or in juice, but it is mostly used to make wine.
They’re also used to make jams and jellies. It is an antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic food that contains a variety of essential vitamins and minerals.
Grapes are juicy, spherical fruits that thrive in clusters of green, yellow, or purple-skinned fruits. The pulp is smooth and sweet, with a few stones or seeds inside it.
It is a famous fruit that can be eaten raw but is primarily used to make wine. Fresh grapes are delicious as a table snack or in fruit salads with other fruits. A large portion of the crop is used to make wines and must, while the grape-seed oil is extracted from the seeds.
Grapes are dried and used to make raisins, as well as a variety of preserves such as caramel grapes, grape syrup, grapes in alcohol, and grape jelly.
What are the Types of Grapes?
There are three main types of grapes:
American grapes (Vitis labrusca)
European grapes (Vitis vinifera)
European-French grapes
What are the Health Benefits of Grapes?
Reducing body cholesterol levels. By containing dietary fibers, effective substances, and antioxidants, the grapes will play a significant role in reducing blood cholesterol, and red grapes, in particular, contain large accumulations of resveratrol that contribute to the control of cholesterol levels in the body.
Promotion of cardiovascular health. Since the grapes intake contributes to the control of cholesterol levels in the body, it will certainly contribute to the health of the arteries and the heart, often because it contains a high proportion of potassium and magnesium, which are important for regulating different cardiovascular actions and for controlling blood pressure levels.
Prevention of anemia. Because of their high iron content, grapes are important in the hemoglobin production and treatment of iron deficiency anemia.
Promotion of digestive health and metabolism. The high fiber content in grapes of all kinds contributes significantly to promoting digestive health and improving metabolism in the body, as well as facilitating digestion.
The grape’s content of some minerals, such as potassium is a factor in the functioning of the intestines, muscles, and nerves, and a regulator of fluid balance in the body.
Prevention of constipation. Due to their high fiber content, the grapes facilitate digestion, fecal disposal, and certainly help prevent constipation.
Anti-inflammatory. Antioxidants contained in the grapes enhance body immunity. In addition to the presence of resveratrol, which creates anti-inflammatory properties in grapes, it makes fruit that helps to prevent infectious diseases and various infections.
What is the Nutritional Content of Grapes?
The following table shows the nutrients in 100 grams of fresh red or green grapes.
| Content | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 67 Kcal |
| Total Fat | 0.4 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.1 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 2 mg |
| Potassium | 191 mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 17 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.9 g |
| Sugar | 16 g |
| Total Protein | 0.6 g |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Calcium | 14 mg |
| Iron | 0.3 mg |
| Vitamin D | 0 IU |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.1 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0 mcg |
| Magnesium | 5 mg |
Can Diabetics Eat Grapes?
One study showed that the grapes have a low glycemic index equivalent to 59, and a low glycemic load equivalent to 11, two factors that may make grapes a useful fruit type for type 2 diabetics.
This does not mean that a diabetic patient can eat large amounts of grapes, so he can eat no more than 100 grams of it, equivalent to one cluster, so with high sugar, there’s a high level of blood cholesterol.
Adverse Effects of Grapes?
Despite all the benefits of the grape and the high nutritional values it carries, excessive intake may carry some health risks.
Causes constipation. In many cases, large quantities of grapes, especially black and red grapes with thick skin, with large amounts of non-soluble fibers, are ingested, causing difficulty indigestion, constipation, and intestinal disorders.
Causes obesity and weight gain. Grapes are a high source of calories, carbohydrates, and simple sugars, and their high intake will certainly lead to an increase in daily calorie intake and thus an increase in weight.
Affects pregnant women. If a pregnant woman takes large quantities of grapes, it may pose a dangerous toxic substance to her and her fetus, this is due to the grape content of resveratrol, which may affect her hormones, causing her to have some complications.
References
https://www.britannica.com/plant/grape
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
See Also
Is Grapefruit Good for Diabetes
Can Diabetics Eat Sweet Potatoes
