Los Angeles: American medical experts have discovered that eating just one pound (252 grams) of grapes or raisins a day lowers harmful cholesterol in the body.
They discovered this after a limited pilot study of 20 healthy volunteers that lasted eight weeks. The volunteers ranged in age from 18 to 55.
The medical benefits of grapes have been known to us for centuries, but modern scientific research has shown that it contains a variety of useful plant compounds, ie phytochemicals, including catechins, pro-anthocyanidins, anthocyanins, leuko-anthocyanidins, quercetin. , Campferol, staphylococci, ellagic acids and hydrocephalus. In addition, grapes are rich in dietary fiber.
More recent research has shown that in addition to antioxidants, grape, grape juice, or grapefruit-derived compounds derived from grapes are also effective against germs and viruses.
The new study furthers the research conducted by Dr. Xiaoping and colleagues at the University of California, Los Angeles.
During the first four weeks, all the volunteers were placed on a low polyphenol diet, after which the same diet was continued for the next four weeks and only 46 grams of dried grapefruit powder was added daily.
This amount of grape juice was equal to 252 grams of fresh grapes.
Before and after the study began, all volunteers were examined for their cholesterol and bile acids (bile acids) as well as their microbiome.
After review and comparison, it was found that after consuming 46 grams of dried grapefruit powder daily for four weeks, the total cholesterol level in these volunteers was reduced by 6.1% while the unhealthy cholesterol (LDL) was reduced by 5.9%.
Harmful germs in their stomachs were reduced while the number of healthy germs increased which was undoubtedly good news.
Among them is a type of bacterium called “acremenia” which helps in breaking down and digesting glucose and fats while also strengthening the lining of the intestines.
Cholesterol bile acids, which affect digestion, were also found to be 40.9% lower at the end of the study, which is a sign of better health.
“We’ve discovered the beneficial effects of grapes on stomach germs, which is a great thing, because keeping the stomach healthy is essential for good health,” said Dr. Lee.
Note: Details of this research are published in the latest issue of the online research journal “Nutrients”.