Grape

From ArticleWorld

Grapes are a fruit that grow on a woody vine. The grapevine belongs to the family Vitaceae. Grapes grow in clusters of six to three hundred, and can be black, blue, golden, green, purple-red and white. They can be eaten raw or used for making, among other things, grape juice, jelly, and wine. Hybrids are being developed on a regular basis as the tastes and needs of consumers, and winemakers, change.

Grapevines

There are many species of grapes, and grapevines, including:

• Vitis vinifera, the European winemaking grapevine.
• Vitis labrusca, the North American table and grape juice grapevines.
• Vitis riparia, a wild vine of North America, sometimes used for winemaking and for jam.
• Vitis rotundifolia, the muscadines, native to the Southeastern U.S. and used for both jams, and wine.
• Vitis californica - A grapevine important to the California wine industry for its rootstock which is able to withstand pests and cooler weather.
• Vitis vulpina – The Frost Grape is native from the Midwest east, to the coast, up through New York.

Grape seed extract

The seeds of grapes contain procyanidolic oligomers, also known as PCOs. Researchers have concluded that PCOs have several health benefits including the ability to strengthen blood vessels, and improve blood circulation. As a result, grape seed extract may help slow aging, prevent heart disease, deter cancer, lessen allergy symptoms, and eye strain, and fight certain skin diseases. In recent studies, grape extract has also been shown to lessen celulite, lower cholestral, and lower blood pressure levels. Grape seed extract is available in forms such as liquid, tablet, and capsule.