NEW YORK, NY – Grapes were put under the microscope for a new book called Grapes and Health: A Monograph, coming out with tools that can help promoters tout more links between the little fruits and health than ever.
“As shown by bona fide scientific studies, the beneficial actions of grapes and grape compounds are multifaceted and help to explain their ability to impact a wide range of disease states,” said John M. Pezzuto, Ph.D., award-winning cancer researcher and editor of Grapes and Health.
The book begins by establishing the basics of grape biology, according to a release from the California Table Grapes Commission, such as the presence of thousands of natural compounds–including polyphenols–in grapes of all colors, and the fact that grapes are technically a berry.
Individual chapters written by subject experts then examine the state of the research in the following key areas:
- Heart health
- Inflammation
- Cancer
- Brain health
- Gastrointestinal health
- Joint health
- Bladder function
- Eye health
In human studies with California grapes, research showed that eating the equivalent of 1-1/2 to 3 servings of fresh grapes a day has shown beneficial effects.
The 235-page authoritative reference is a compilation and synthesis of peer-reviewed, grape-specific research, designed for health and science professionals and available for purchase from Springer Publishing.
The commission noted that emerging research in other areas of health suggest the grapes’ ability to promote antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities at the cellular level may also play a protective role in eye, brain, and joint health, and more. Additionally, in two small human colon cancer studies, grape consumption inhibited target genes that promote cancer growth, and protected the healthy colon tissue.
With a keen interest in the healthy reach grapes have, check out more from the California Table Grape Commission here.
