Health Hotline Magazine | August 2023

GRAPES FO THE LOVE OF O GANICS: YOUR O GANIC HEADQUA TE S ® By Morgaine Lee

May We Live Long and in Good Health, with the Help of Grapes A series of studies published earlier this year yielded some exciting results about the health benefits of grapes, showing a variety of ways this crisp fruit promotes good health. It’s all about the small joys in life: sharing a funny moment with a stranger, the sigh of relief when you find the keys you thought you lost, the feeling of a hot shower after a long hike, the smell of cookies baking in the oven, or munching on refreshingly cold grapes at a summer picnic. With their crisp bursts of sweet flavour, organic grapes reel in these sweet, small moments of joy.

LIVER We really are what we eat! Researcher Dr. John Pezzuto says, “as shown by our research with dietary grapes, [food] actually changes our genetic expression.” When it comes to liver health, grapes were found to reduce the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by altering the genetic expression linked with the disease.

HEART Show your heart some love. Grapes are a great source of antioxidants, particularly resveratrol and proanthocyanins. These antioxidants are well-researched for their cardio protective and anti-inflammatory e ects. Resveratrol is concentrated in the grape skins and is the antioxidant that gives wine its healthy reputation. Cheers to that!

BRAIN Keep your treasured memories close, and a bowl of organic grapes even closer. One study looking at the e ect of dietary grapes on the brain showed that grapes support cognitive function and memory. The study also looked at the e ect of grapes on our emotions and found positive results when it comes to supporting mental health. Though more research is needed, this is an exciting start.

If all these juicy health benefits for our organs weren’t enough, one study found that eating grapes supports longevity. So just as Spock taught us on Star Trek, may we all “live long and prosper” with organic grapes!

The Deadliest Pesticide in America? Paraquat is a highly toxic pesticide used in conventional farming of soybeans, cotton, and you guessed it, grapes. It’s the deadliest pesticide used in conventional U.S. agriculture, capable of killing a human with just a sip, and has been associated with Parkinson’s disease. The pesticide was banned in the UK in 2007 and in Canada in 2022. So why are we still using it here in the U.S.? It’s an herbicide that kills weeds that have become resistant to another toxic her bicide, glyphosate. But organic farming methods show us there is another way. Using

cover crops, for example, is an organic method that promotes healthy, nutrient-rich soil and biodiversity while keeping weeds at bay. Choosing organic grapes helps to keep these toxic chemicals away from farm workers, the environment, and our families. It also means reaping the most from the health benefits grapes o er—as we know organic fruits and veggies are higher in antioxidants and other nutrients when compared to conventional. So a toast to your health, with a glass of organic wine and a refreshing bowl of cold organic grapes!

32 | Health Hotline ®

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