Wine isn’t the only vineyard product that can boost your health. New research shows people who eat other grape products — including raisins, juices, and even the fruit itself — tend to have healthier diets.
The study — presented at the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference and Exposition in Philadelphia this week — found a clear association between non-alcoholic grape product consumption and healthy, highly nutritious diets.
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"It is interesting to note that not only did grape consumers have increased intakes of healthy foods, critical vitamins and minerals," said researcher Carla McGill, "but grape consumers also ate less of the unhealthy foods, specifically solid fat and added sugars."
The findings are based on researchers’ analysis of the diets of more than 21,800 children and adults who participated in the long-running National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES). People who reported eating grapes and grape products tended to eat more total and whole fruit, dietary fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamins A, C, and B6, compared to those who don’t eat grapes.
Adult grape and grape product consumers also had increased intakes of vegetables, whole grains, nuts and seeds along with lower intakes of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.
"It reinforces the association between grapes and a healthier diet, which is good news for consumers," said Jean-Mari Peltier, director of the National Grape and Wine Initiative, an industry organization. "Grapes, raisins and 100 percent grape juice are all foods that people enjoy eating, and this information adds another dimension to the grape and health story."
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