Grape is the most favorite fruit that available around the world. This fruit has a fresh taste and contains a lot of vitamins and minerals. However, it is not only the fruit that can be consumed but also its leaves can be consumed as well and bring many health benefits. Grape leaves are rich in nutrients. Per 1 cup (14g) grape leaves contain nutrients as follow:
| Calories 13 | |
| % DV | |
| Total carbohydrate 2.4g | 1% |
| Dietary fiber 1.5g | 6% |
| Total Fat 0.3g | 0% |
| Omega-3 fatty acids 120mg | |
| Omega-6 fatty acids 20.7mg | |
| Protein 0.8g | 2% |
| Vitamin A 3853 IU | 77% |
| Vitamin C 1.6mg | 3% |
| Vitamin E 0.3mg | 1% |
| Vitamin K 15.2mcg | 19% |
| Niacin 0.3mg | 2% |
| Vitamin B6 0.1mg | 3% |
| Folate 11.6mcg | 3% |
| Choline 1.8mg | |
| Calcium 50.8mg | 5% |
| Iron 0.4mg | 2% |
| Magnesium 13.3mg | 3% |
| Phosphorus 12.7mg | 1% |
| Sodium 1.3mg | 0% |
| Zinc 0.1mg | 1% |
| Copper 0.1mg | 3% |
| Manganese 0.4mg | 20% |
| Selenium 0.1mcg | 0% |
| Water 10.3g |
Based on those nutrients, the health benefits of grape leaves can be described as follow:
- Reduce the inflammation
If you have the inflammation problem such as arthritis, tonsillitis, or chronic gastritis, you can consume grape leaves to relieve them. Grape leaves contain omega-3 fatty acid and antioxidant that responsible for the inflammation process. It will help you to reduce the inflammation and treat your chronic illness.
- Control the blood glucose level
Grape leaves have the low glycemic load. This is a good diet, especially for diabetic patients to control their blood glucose level. It is supported also by high dietary fiber inside the grape leaves that can lower the blood glucose level.
- Improve the digestive function
Grape leaves are great in dietary fiber. It helps to improve the digestive function and absorb the food well to get its nutrient.
- Prevent constipation
The dietary fiber in Grape leaves helps to prevent constipation. This fiber will digest the food well so the waste product of the food can be pushed out of the body easily.
- Help to treat diarrhea effectively and protect the intestinal mucosa
Grape leaves contain zinc mineral which can repair and protect the intestinal mucosa. This mechanism helps the intestine to recover quickly when there is mucosa damage like in diarrhea problem.
- Help to prevent anemia
Grape leaves are rich in an iron mineral that helps to prevent anemia. This mineral plays the important role in hemoglobin formation in the red blood cell. This health benefit is supported also by its vitamin C which helps to absorb the iron well so the anemia can be prevented.
- Boost your immune system
Grape leaves are rich in vitamin C which is the best vitamin to boost your immune system. It will keep your antibody in an alert mode to fight the bacteria or viruses that may come into your body.
- Help to fight the free radicals
The vitamin C in Grape leaves can also fight the free radicals in the body. It acts as an antioxidant agent that can prevent your body from any diseases.
- Prevent cancer
The antioxidant within Grape leaves can prevent the cancer cell mutation and inhibit the tumor growth. It works through its mechanism fighting the free radicals.
- Keep the healthy joint
Grape leaves are a good source for manganese mineral. This mineral plays the important role in the cartilage formation. It lubricates the joint to reduce the friction that may come as arthritis.
- Improve the heart function
Potassium mineral in Grape leaves is important for maintaining the normal contraction of the heart. It will make the blood can be pumped to all part of the body effectively.
- Help the bone formation
Grape leaves contain calcium which is important mineral for the bone formation. This mineral can strengthen the bone and make your bone always healthy.
- Help to strengthen the teeth
The calcium in grape leaves has the benefits to strengthen the teeth. This mineral is needed for the formation and maintaining the healthy teeth.
- Reduce the muscle cramp
Grape leaves have magnesium mineral which can reduce the muscle cramp. It works as a muscle relaxant in all part of the body.
- Help the formation of collagen
Grape leaves contain the copper mineral which helps in the formation of collagen. The collagen itself is an important substance to create the young and healthy skin.
- Make your skin stay healthy
Grape leaves are rich in vitamin E which helps to maintain your healthy skin. This vitamin is needed as the nutrient for your skin.
- Brighter your skin
Besides maintaining the healthy skin, grape leaves contain also vitamin C which makes your skin look brighter if you consume it regularly as a tea.
- Keep the healthy eyes
Grape leaves are also rich in vitamin A which keeps your eyes stay healthy.
- Protect the nervous system
The vitamin B within grape leaves can protect the nervous system. It protects each end of the nerves from any damages. It can be used to reduce the symptom of numbness or tingling sensation.
- Improve the cognitive function
Vitamin B6 which is contained in grape leaves plays the role in the central nervous system. It protects the brain and improves the cognitive function for the brain. It can prevent dementia as well.
- Keep the healthy organs
Grape leaves are rich in potassium, an important mineral that can keep the healthy organs such as the heart, liver, and kidney.
- Help the fetal development
Grape leaves contain folate which is essential for the development of the fetal brain and nervous system. It is good to be consumed by pregnant women in a proper amount.
- Help to treat chronic venous insufficiency
The extract of grape leaves can reduce the edema in patients with chronic venous insufficiency. This condition happens because the blood cannot return to the heart do the legs become edema. Grape leaves make this disease better by reducing the swelling symptom.
23 Health benefits of grape leaves have been explained above. It can improve your health and make your skin looks more beautiful if you consume it as a tea regularly every morning. Don’t forget to do the other healthy lifestyle such as healthy diet, regular exercise, and healthy habit as well.