This is kind of silly, right? We’re about to give you a “bunch” of reasons why grapes should be a recurring character in the sitcom that is any modern household kitchen. It’s like we’re actually absurd enough to think you need to be convinced to eat these naturally sweet treats by the handful. We don’t, by the way. But, sometimes, when something tastes as good as a Pretty Lady Scarlet Royal or Emerald green, we have to be reminded of the health benefits—lest we make the major mistake of being judicious with our grape consumption. So, we already know grapes make your taste buds super happy, but what other parts of the body jump for joy when you toss a grape in the air and actually manage to catch it in your mouth (which earns you dinner-table bragging rights basically forever, by the way)?
The list of vitamins and minerals a grape boasts reads like a who’s who of stuff your body needs:
Per one cup (151 grams) you get…
- Vitamin C: 27% of the Recommended Daily Allowance
- Vitamin K: 28% of the RDA
- Thiamine: 7% of the RDA
- Riboflavin: 6% of the RDA
- Vitamin B6: 6% of the RDA
- Potassium: 8% of the RDA
- Copper: 10% of the RDA
- Manganese: 5% of the RDA
But that’s not all! Hank, tell the people what else they’ve won!
Grapes are an exquisite source of fiber (1.4 grams), and even have a dollop of protein! And if we want to get super science-y for a moment, grapes house a host of bioactive compounds called polyphenols. Anthocyanins, flavanols, flavonols, and resveratrol are the little guys that really get things going—that’s because the antioxidants in these polyphenols do magical things like protect your heart, help prevent certain cancers, fight inflammation, and even fight ol’ Father Time with anti-aging properties.
So, the next time you’re snacking on an icy cold, freshly rinsed bunch of grapes, and you find yourself thinking, these taste like candy, just remember that taste alone is where the similarities end.