Grape Jelly Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Grape jelly is a traditional household staple. It’s most commonly produced and distributed as a food spread to put on toast, scones or other pastries. Grape jelly is widely produced and distributed throughout the world. However, many individuals also make homemade grape jelly using fresh grapes.

Grape jelly is commonly made with concord grapes, a common fruit that grows on a vine (vitis vinifera). Concord grapes are a specific kind of grape that originate in Concord, Massachusetts. Like the grape itself, grape jelly is a deep purple color. When processed, grape jelly is a shiny, gel substance, which makes it easy to spread on food. Grape jelly typically has a sweet, refreshing and sometimes tart taste.

Grape Jelly Health Uses and Health Benefits

Deep purple and blue colored foods, like grapes and grape jelly are considered superfoods. That’s because of their high antioxidant content. The antioxidants in blue and purple colored foods are called polyphenols, which are responsible for the grape jelly health benefits.

Polyphenols, like those found in grape jelly offer many different health benefits for improved health and lowered risk of developing diseases. One of the most well-known grape jelly health benefits from polyphenols is that it helps to lower blood pressure.

Antioxidants like polyphenols, are also helpful in lowering inflammation. Antioxidants help to kill excessive amounts of free radicals in the body. Free radicals cause oxidative stress throughout the body, which leads to increased inflammation. Over time, free radicals can trigger a variety of disease, including cancer. Research has discovered that flavonoids are the type of polyphenol that help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.^1,2

Concord grapes, grape juice and grape jelly health benefits also help to improve memory function. People who suffer from mild cognitive decline can boost memory function and learning by taking grape jelly and other grape products.¹

Other grape juice and grape jelly health benefits include: 

• Boosting immune system function
• Enhancing athletic performance
• Improving cardiovascular health
• Increasing blood circulation
• Protecting skin against sun damage
• Preventing skin cancer

Grape Jelly Side Effects and Precautions

There are no known severe grape jelly side effects. However, taking grape jelly may result in a laxative effect for some people. People who have allergies to grapes may experience allergic reactions from taking grape jelly.⁴

References

1. http://www.livestrong.com/article/281281-benefits-of-eating-concord-grapes/
2. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2016-07-25/8-surprising-facts-about-concord-grapes 
3. http://www.healwithfood.org/health-benefits/concord-grapes-purple-variety.php 
4. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-472-grape.aspx?activeingredientid=472&activeingredientname=grape