grape recipes

Try out some grape recipes to see how well this favorite snack works in salads and entrées.

This Asian chicken salad proves how grapes can make a meal great.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—If you enjoy grapes as finger food, but have never used them for cooking, you're missing out on the sweet taste and the healthy benefits they bring to the table. And you’ve probably heard a lot recently about red wine's health benefits. The primary focus of those studies is resveratrol, a flavonoid found in the grapes' skins. Resveratrol is the component in red grapes that’s thought to fight cancer. And though it's only just beginning, the research is promising. A study at the University of California, Irvine, showed that when patients with colon tumors ingested 80 milligrams of grape powder daily (the equivalent of half a glass of wine or three servings of grapes), biopsies showed a decrease in cancer activity. Very preliminary studies also show that people who drink resveratrol-rich red wine have a lower risk of death from heart disease. Preliminary research also links resveratrol to lower blood pressure and reduced LDL cholesterol levels.

Another reason to include some grape recipes in your meal plans? The antioxidants found in grapes may also be beneficial for brain health. A 2007 study showed that diets high in the flavonoids known as epicatechins, found in grapes, produced beneficial changes in areas of the brain responsible for learning and memory. It's thought that the epicatechins help protect against cognitive decline. Grapes are also an excellent source of vitamin C and a good source of the mineral manganese.