In old movies, Roman emperors always seemed to be reclining on a long couch so that some servant could feed them these delicious little fruits one by one.
Back in the day, the Romans knew a thing or two about building straight roads, aqueducts, indoor plumbing, and conquering half the known world, so they probably knew a thing or two about this still-popular fruit as well.
You can find it in all grocery stores in a variety of colors, flavors, and shapes, and it can help to conquer high blood pressure quicker than a Roman legion conquering a barbarian horde.
Grapes! That’s what we’re talking about. They’re still as tasty and portable as ever, and they even go nicely with a chunk of brie on a sandwich, which is something you can’t say about any other medicine.
Medicine?
Well, you can think of grapes as nice fruit if you want to, but the fact they can help lower your blood pressure, along with a few other health benefits too, means that they’re more than just a juicy snack.
They’re good for you, and the National Health and Nutrition study found that it doesn’t even matter which ones you choose—grapes of all shapes and colors have amazing nutritional properties.
They are packed with potassium, vitamins A and C, vitamin B6, fiber, and calcium, which is probably why the study showed that people who eat grapes or raisins, or who drink fresh grape juice, have better overall health than those who don’t.
It’s the antioxidants in grapes—called polyphenols—that really pack the biggest punch. They’re great at keeping fat at bay in the body, your arteries clear, and your blood pressure low.
Of course, if everything else in your diet is terrible then don’t expect grapes to magically make up for that, but if you do like grapes then chances are you’ll make better overall food choices anyway.
We can say this because the study found that people who were regular grape eaters were also more likely to choose other nutritionally healthy foods. So why not try a few grapes today and you might find that you’re eating better overall as well?