Grapes and the wine they make have been a part of human culture since ancient times. Today, grapes are used as a source of grape juice, raisins, wine, and pharmaceutical preparations.
Grapes and wine made from grapes have been a part of human culture since ancient times. Archaeologists around the world recently discovered several ceramic jars inside Neolithic relics dating back to around 6000 BC (Before Christ). The jars contained red residues of wine. This suggests that prehistoric wine was most likely made from wild grapes. Today, grapes are used as a source of raw materials for making grape juice, raisins, wine, and pharmaceutical preparations.
Colorful scenes of grape harvest and winemaking are found on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs, dating back to at least 2700 BC. 700 years later, sailors transported grapevines across the Mediterranean to Greece. From there, grapes were grown and spread throughout Europe and to many other countries around the world. Grapes are light-loving, sun-loving plants that can withstand high temperatures but cannot withstand humid, rainy climates.
Grapes (vitis vinifera) are a climbing plant, perennial, with tendrils divided into 2-3 branches, growing opposite the leaves. The leaves are simple, alternate, heart-shaped, with broad blades split from 5-7, with serrated edges. The flowers are small, grow in clusters, light green, and have male, female, and bisexual flowers. The berries are ovoid or spherical, with thin skin and about 4 pear-shaped seeds inside. Grapes bloom from May to July.
Grapes and grape wine have been used as food and medicine for thousands of years. Ancient Greek philosophers recorded their medicinal properties. Over the ages, almost all parts of the grape plant have been used as medicine in medicine. Europeans often use a wax from grapes to treat eye and skin diseases. Grape leaves are used as a poultice on wounds to help stop bleeding and reduce inflammation. Ripe grapes are good for people with kidney, liver, intestinal diseases and even cancer.
Grapes contain many B vitamins, vitamin C, carotene, riboflavin, tannins, enzymes, natural nitrogen compounds (especially found in grape seeds), flavonoids, phenolic compounds. Grapes also contain sugar (mainly glucose and fructose), wax, lipids (in seeds) and pectin.
Grapes are good for cardiovascular health, containing antioxidants (flavonoids), especially resveratrol, which is concentrated in the skin, seeds, and stems of grapes. Purple grape juice and red wine help prevent damage to the blood vessel lining, reduce “bad” cholesterol (LDL-cho), prevent blood clots, and effectively fight inflammation. Flavonoids and B vitamins in purple grapes are more beneficial than light-colored grapes. Therefore, red wine is better than white wine.
Grape seeds contain powerful antioxidants called proanthocyanidins. Currently, people around the world use grape seed extract to reduce blood cholesterol, lower blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and treat cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease and chronic venous insufficiency. In addition, grape seed extract also helps boost immunity, fight allergies and asthma. Compounds in red wine have also been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and inhibit the growth of certain strains of bacteria and viruses. According to traditional medicine, grapes are sweet, sour, and neutral. They have the effect of strengthening bones and muscles, eliminating rheumatism, promoting urination, and greatly nourishing the blood.
How to use grapes and grape products
– Grape wine: Women should drink 1 glass (100ml) per day, men should drink 1-2 glasses (100-200ml) per day.
– Grape juice: 50g fresh grapes, wash, leave the skin, squeeze to get the juice to drink every day. Can be diluted or combined with other fruits (watermelon, apple, kiwi…) depending on each person’s taste. Has the effect of purifying the body, treating sore throat, physical weakness…
– Grape smoothie: 200g purple grapes, 100ml skimmed fresh milk (or soy milk), and 1 box of unsweetened yogurt, ½ cup of ice, put all in a blender, blend until smooth. Pour the mixture into a cup, can be decorated with fresh grapes. This is a healthy and heart-healthy dish!
– Cure back pain, sore knees, painful urination, frequent urination: Take 20 – 40g of leaves, vines, and roots of grapes, boil and drink.
– Cure threatened miscarriage or vomiting: 40g of ripe grapes, eat fresh or boil and drink.
– Dried grapes: Have the effect of laxative, moistening the lungs, expectorant, use 10 – 20g per day.
– Grape seed extract: Used to prevent aging, protect the cardiovascular system, prevent lipid metabolism disorders, prevent atherosclerosis, apply to open wounds on the skin.
Note: Although grape wine is good for health, it should only be used in moderation, do not abuse it and drink too much. Pregnant women should not use red wine. Diabetic patients should not eat more than 50g/day of ripe grapes, and should not eat a lot at once.
