Living in my part of California, there are are endless rows of vineyards to be found in the out skirt of the city. They are the one plant that makes me feel right at home.
As for eating grapes, I don’t think I’m too fond of them. I think it’s because they never seem to taste the way I last remember them. It’s either too syrupy sweet (like cough medicine) or a bit tart.
Beautiful bunch clusters of Muscadine grapes. Photo from Apellation America.
But now I may think twice and start eating more grapes again. Clemson University researchers found various grape extracts and their compounds to be effective at inhibiting Helicobacter pylori, one of the leading causes of gastritis in humans. Basically, it’s good for your gut and digestive health.
H. pylori is often acquired by eating contaminated food and water. And also by person-to-person contact, it is linked with peptic ulcers and gastric cancer.
They’ve tested extracts from red, white, black and Muscadine grapes. The most beneficial grapes are the dark purple and black varieties. The researchers say, “grape extracts and their compounds were effective at inhibiting H. pylori in vitro, with highest efficacy by Muscadine grape skin extract.”
