How Many Calories Are in Grapes?

Grapes are a flavorful, healthy snack. You can have one cup (160 grams) and consume only 110 calories in grapes. This fruit offers various nutritional factors. They grow in clusters of 15 to 300 in various colors of yellow, green, orange, pink, dark blue, black and crimson. Grapes can be eaten fresh or frozen, made into juice or wine, processed into jams or dried to form raisins. The two main types of grapes are seeded or seedless. Grapes are classified into table or wine grapes. Some of the more popular brands are Thompsons, Perlettes, Red Flames, Monnukas, Concord and Ruby.

Health Benefits and Nutritional Facts



The biggest health benefit that grapes can offer is from the natural antioxidants, polyphenols, responsible for preventing harmful cholesterol build-up. This harmful build-up could cause atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke and high cholesterol levels. Ellagic acid, a flavonoid that has been found to help fight cancer, is also found in grapes. The most popular benefit of this fruit is the effectiveness of easing constipation. Grapes are a natural laxative food. Another important factor for the digestive system the grapes can battle is indigestion. They help relieve indigestion and sooth irritation in the stomach. For those with kidney disorders, this super fruit also reduces uric acid in urine, therefore keeping your kidneys from having to work so hard.

Grapes made into juice also hold ample health benefits. Studies show that drinking grape juice regularly helps with brain health and delays neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. Data also supports that grape juice also protects healthy breast cells, reduces mammary tumor size and number of tumors found. As a home remedy, people have been known to use grape juice to cure migraine headaches. (Tip: For a migraine, ripe grape juice should be drunk in the morning, without diluting with water.) Light/white grape juice helps put iron content back into the body, ultimately preventing fatigue, boosting your energy. In 8 fl. Oz. (240 grams), there are 170 calories in purple grape juice and 140 calories in white grape juice.

How to Store

Before storing fresh grapes, remove any spoiled or bruised fruit. Do not wash grapes prior to storing. Place the grapes in a plastic bag in the crisper of the refrigerator. Fresh grapes will be good for approximately one week. Wash grapes prior to serving.

To freeze grapes, rinse them thoroughly, then lay out to dry completely (should only take a few minutes). Spread them out on a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet and place them in the freezer. Check the grapes every half hour until they are frozen, then place in a zip-lock bag. Keep the grapes in the freezer until ready to serve. They will hold their flavor for approximately a week.

Healthy Recipe

Salad

Ingredients:

1 pound seedless green grapes
1 pound seedless red grapes
8 oz. package of (lowfat) cream cheese, whipped
6 oz. fat free frozen whipped cream

Directions:
In a medium bowl, mix together the whipped cream and cream cheese. Stir in grapes. Chill for 30 minutes, and then serve.



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