This Color Grape Is the Best for Your Health

Red and green grapes both contain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, red grapes have anthocyanins, which are not found in green grapes. Red grapes also contain more of the antioxidant resveratrol.

The Verdict: Which Grape Is Better?

Which grape is best depends on what you are looking for. All grapes have elements that promote beneficial health effects, though darker-colored grapes, like red grapes, may contain more antioxidants.

Choosing which type of grapes to consume largely comes down to preference.

Green Grapes vs. Red Grapes Nutrition Facts

Green vs. Red Grapes Similarities

All colors of grapes contain polyphenolswhich are found in the skin, flesh, and seeds of the grapes. Polyphenols promote antioxidant activity, and emerging research suggests they have health benefits like supporting heart health and healthy aging.

Grapes contain bioactive molecules, including:

• Phenolic acids
• Flavonoids
• Steel legs
• Proanthocyanidins (condensed tannins)

These compounds have health benefits such as activities that are:

• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antimicrobial
• Anti-carcinogenic

Phenolic compounds in grapes include:

• Caffeic acid
• Catechin gallate
• Epicatechin
• Gallic acid
• Protocatechuic acid
• Rutin

Grapes also have a high content of:

• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Lipids
• Fiber

The fiber in grapes makes it useful for treating and preventing constipation.

Grapes are part of a low FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet. Some research has found that eating two to three daily servings of low FODMAP fresh fruit may help to reduce irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) risk and prevent flare-ups in people with IBS.

Grapes are high in vitamin C, which plays a role in immune system health, connective tissue development, and wound healing.

They are also high in potassium, which has beneficial influences on blood pressure, cholesterol, nerve signal transmission, and heart, kidney, bone, and lung health.

The vitamin K in grapes helps with blood clotting and bone health.

Grapes are a source of the powerful antioxidants resveratrol and pterostilbene.

Other potential health benefits of grapes may include:

• Promoting eye health
• Supporting cognitive and brain health
• Helping to improve the flexibility and mobility of joints
• Helping to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and risk factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol
• Supporting colon health

Green vs. Red Grapes Differences

Taste

Red grapes tend to be sweeter than green grapes. Green grapes tend to have a more sour taste than red grapes.

Resveratrol

Both red and green grapes have resveratrol, but red and purple grapes contain more of it than green grapes.

Resveratrol is in the skin of the grape. White wine is made with grapes that have had the skin removed, while red wine is made using the skin of the grapes. This is why red wine has resveratrol, and white wine doesn’t.

Resveratrol has been found to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and anticancer properties.

Anthocyanins

While green grapes have the majority of their polyphenols in the form of flavanols, red grapes have the majority of theirs in the form of anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are pigments that give red grapes their color. They also have properties that are:

• Antioxidant
• Antidiabetic
• Anticancer
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antimicrobial

Anthocyanins derived from grape skin are used as a purple food additive in purple foods such as jams and beverages.

Summary

Grapes help support many areas of health, such as cardiovascular, vision, colon, and joints. Eating grapes is part of a nutritious diet, but does not treat any condition or symptom.

Which grape to choose primarily comes down to personal preference.