Grapes are not only among the most nutritious foods out there, but they’re also the most colorful. While available in a rainbow of colors, usually only the two main varieties, red and green, are available in supermarkets. So which is the better grape?
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
The darker the skin of a grape, the more phytonutrients it has. Phytonutrients are natural chemicals found in plants that help prevent disease and keep your body functioning properly. Red grapes contain more quercetin, a pigment with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
Winner: Red grapes
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Cancer Protection
Antioxidants, which are found in both red and green grapes, help lower the risk of cancer. Researchers believe that red grapes contain certain substances that can help prevent breast cancer, which are not found in green grapes. One study by the British Medical Journal found that drinking one glass of red wine (made with red grapes) per day lowers the risk of developing lung cancer more significantly than drinking one glass of white wine (made with green grapes).
Winner: Red grapes
Wine Making
White wine contains no pigmentation, so it’s almost always made from green grapes. Red wine, unsurprisingly, comes from dark grapes that have a red-tinted skin. The difference between these two is that red wine contains an organic substance known as tannins, found in grape skins. Tannins create a dry, puckery sensation in the mouth and help to better preserve the wine. However, both green grapes and red grapes produce delicious wines, so both win in this category.
Winner: Tie
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Overall Winner: Red grapes
Red grapes are generally more nutritious and have more antioxidants due to their darker pigmented skin. However, both are extremely healthy and taste delicious, so you really can’t go wrong with either.
Photo by Naib Mian