Even if resveratrol flunks, grapes are still great food

Consider the fruit of the vine: the ubiquitous, seasonless grape. This ancient and ever popular fruit, part of the berry family, can be enjoyed fresh, dried in the form of raisins, or drunk, whether as wine or juice.The first grapes were dark skinned. The lighter-skinned varieties we see today are evolved mutations. While all grapes have a relatively low glycemic index, making them good for balancing blood sugar, it’s in darker skinned grapes that the most nutrients can be found.This tasty and versatile fruit has in recent years also been touted as a wonder food, primarily due to phytochemicals found in their seeds and skins (along with naturally occurring yeast, necessary for creating alcohol).A glass of red wine has been dubbed the quickest way to healthy hedonism. Studies have been published claiming that resveratrol, the primary phytonutrient found in the skin and seeds of red grapes, helps to reduce the buildup of platelets. Resveratrol offers other cardiovascular benefits as well, offering a new twist on the so-called French Paradox.The research on resveratrol, however, is far from conclusive. You can accompany your steak dinner with a glass of wine and call it good nutrition, but alcohol consumption needs to be light-to-moderate for its benefits to outweigh its detriments.The benefits of resveratrol are also being questioned these days. The research that’s been done in the lab is in its infancy and so far inconclusive.Thankfully grapes have other things going for them. High in manganese, which acts as an antioxidant, as well as vitamin K (good for your bones!), and vitamins B1 and B6, whole grapes make for a nutritious snack. Watch out for juices that are mostly blends, high in sugar and low in actual grape juice. The skins of grapes can also, unfortunately, be coated with pesticides — unless of course you’re buying organic. While it might not always be worth the extra effort to go organic, if you’re going to do it with any fruit, do it with grapes.