A new study has found that eating grapes lowers cholesterol levels, which may help prevent heart attacks and strokes, according to the British newspaper, the Daily Mail, citing the journal Nutrients.
University of California researchers gave participants 46 grams per day of whole grape powder, equivalent to two servings of table grapes, and discovered that eating grapes significantly increased the diversity of bacteria in the gut, which are essential for a strong immune system.
lowering cholesterol
Eating grapes also significantly reduced levels of cholesterol, a fat-like substance in human blood that can clog arteries and lead to heart disease.
The researchers found that eating grapes reduces levels of bile acids, which play an essential role in the metabolism or processing of cholesterol.
expressive
Antioxidants
It has long been known that grapes and other fruits like apples contain antioxidants called polyphenols, which are organic compounds naturally found in plants that keep blood vessels healthy and flexible and thus ensure good blood circulation.
Polyphenols and other “phytochemicals” can also control blood sugar levels and blood pressure levels and reduce chronic inflammation, another risk factor for heart disease.
expressive
Heart health benefits
“This study deepens our knowledge and expands the range of health benefits of grapes, highlighting their heart-healthy benefits by lowering cholesterol,” said lead author of the new study, Professor Zhaoping Li, a dietitian and professor of medicine at UCLA.
In their study results, the researchers noted that following four weeks of grape consumption, there was an increase in gut microbiome diversity as measured by the Shannon Index, a commonly used tool for measuring species diversity.
Among the beneficial bacteria that increased was Ackermancia, a bacteria of great importance for its beneficial effect on glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as on the integrity of the intestinal lining.
expressive
bile acids
A decrease in blood cholesterol was also observed, including 6.1% of total cholesterol and 5.9% of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol.
It also showed a decrease in bile acids, the steroidal acids associated with cholesterol metabolism, by 40.9%.
According to the team of researchers, the findings point to a promising new role for grapes in gut health and to enhance the benefits of grapes for heart health.
blood pressure
A study, conducted by researchers from Germany and Northern Ireland, has also revealed that another type of phytochemical called flavonoid, which is a nutrient abundant in fruits, vegetables, tea and other plant foods, has a positive effect on blood pressure levels.
The flavonoids are broken down by a powerful community of trillions of microorganisms in the human gut, known as germs.
Reduced inflammation in the heart
In 2010, University of Michigan researchers studied the effect of regular table grapes (a mixture of green, red and black grapes) mixed into a powdered form following incorporating it into the diet of lab rats, as part of a high-fat American diet.
After three months, the mice that received the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, improved heart function, and lower inflammatory markers in the heart and blood than the mice that didn’t get the grape powder.
