We are probably well familiar with the phrase “a little wine is good for the stomach”, and while much debate surrounds Paul’s actual meaning there is little debate about whether grapes, either solid or liquid, contain substantial health benefits.

Being the second most cultivated fruit around the world, surpassed only by oranges, we probably wonder why we pay such a high price for such an abundant product. Fact is only a small amount of the fruit is actually grown for whole consumption. The rest is for…you guessed it, wine and other alcoholic beverages.

Grapes are among the top 10 antioxidant (cancer fighting) fruits in the world, red grapes being the best out of the bunch. This is due to the large amounts of Vitamin A, C and E along with Potassium and Iron. Grape seed extract is also a powerful colon cleanser. When combined with other herbs and minerals this can be one of the most effective ways of giving your colon a good detoxification.

We are probably used to seeing the “Heart Healthy” sticker on a lot of products including Welch® Concord grape juice. But what really makes it heart healthy? The main one is flavonoids. These are responsible for keeping the arteries free from spasms while increasing blood flow at the same time. Combine this with the other rich contents in grapes it is no wonder why it’s part of a “heart healthy diet”.

Grapes are also a laxative and can provide very good results when combined with a natural diet. In fact one of the best ways to free up the bowels is a cup or serving of grape juice every day.

Raisins, which are dehydrated grapes, are the highest in iron. Iron is especially for pregnant mothers and of course those suffering from anemia. In fact grapes are richer in iron than lamb.

A surprising fact about grapes is that there might be a link between the consumption of grapes and prevention of arthritis. The reason behind this is grapes are very good at eliminating uric acid from the body. Uric acid eats out the synovial fluid in the bones which acts as the grease between bones. When the synovial fluid is gone arthritis sets in

There are many other substantial nutrients in grapes but these are the some of the most and least common ones. And as usual the best way of consuming any food is in its natural form. That includes grapes also. But in case you are not able to get the fresh grapes a glass of pure grape juice (not drink) will do just fine.