Did you know that you can consume grape leaves just like spinach, kale, Swiss chards and other dark green leafy vegetables? In fact, they are staples in Vietnamese, Turkish, Romanian, and of course Greek cuisines.
If you love grapes because of its taste and juiciness, the health-buff in you will surely adore grape leaves. It’s because of their impressive nutritional profile. Loaded with fiber, manganese, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and vitamins A, C, E and K, it is definitely a wonderful idea to include grape leaves in your diet on a regular basis.
Here are some of the reasons why eating grape leaves is good for you:
Controlled Blood Sugar
Being high in fiber, grape leaves are good for diabetics as well as those who are at risk of developing the disease. That’s for the fact that they help in regulating the release of sugar in the bloodstream. With the levels of blood sugar put under control, all sorts of diabetes complications can be kept at bay.
Regularized Bowel Movement
Another benefit that you can obtain from the consumption of fiber-rich grape leaves is reduced constipation risk. Fiber soaks up water in the gut, thus facilitating the removal of digestive waste materials. Fiber found lavishly in grape leaves also help ward off hemorrhoids, say experts.
Lowered Colon Cancer Risk
Including grape leaves and other dark green leafy vegetables in the diet on a regular basis may help prevent deadly colon cancer. That’s because they are able to sweep toxins out of the body before they cause cellular mutation. Tons of antioxidants in grape leaves also help in driving away colon cancer formation.
Reduced Oxidative Stress
Antioxidants present in abundant amounts in grape leaves help reduce oxidative stress by neutralizing excess free radicals in the body. There are so many health nightmares that are associated by experts with oxidative stress, and some of them include cancer and heart disease.
Optimized Heart Functioning
Speaking of heart disease, it’s something that can be kept at bay with the help of grape leaves. Potassium present in them helps to lower the blood pressure by causing the blood vessels to widen. Also, fiber in grape leaves helps to unclog the arteries, making sure that the heart and other organs of the body are supplied with oxygen.
Increased RBC Production
RBC stands for red blood cells, and they are the ones that enable the blood to carry oxygen to the various parts of your body. The production of RBCs greatly depends on iron, which is a mineral present in grape leaves. So in other words, eating grape leaves can help save you from having iron-deficiency anemia.
Toughened Bones
Calcium is one of the minerals present in grape leaves, and everyone knows that it’s important for keeping the bones strong. Earlier, it was mentioned that potassium, too, is found in grape leaves. Did you know that this nutrient also helps in making osteoporosis go away as it helps the bones absorb calcium better?
Strengthened Immune System
Grape leaves supply the body with good amounts of vitamin C, a nutrient so important for keeping the immune system up and running. Especially when the flu season is drawing closer, consuming grape leaves on a regular basis can help in saving you from winding up with an upper respiratory tract infection.
Beautified Skin
Vitamin C in grape leaves also help keep your skin looking young and beautiful. It’s for the fact that it is actually an antioxidant that saves the skin cells from being wrecked by free radicals. Vitamin C also encourages the production of collagen, a substance that helps keep the skin free of unsightly fine lines and wrinkles.
Sharpened Eyesight
Another vitamin that you can obtain from grape leaves is vitamin A. Everybody is well-aware that this nutrient is so important for keeping the eyes healthy. With your peepers in superb state, you can enjoy having sharp vision as your risk of eye diseases that can rob you of your eyesight is reduced.
