Grape Skin

History and Uses:
The Grape is a fruit or, more appropriately, a berry that grows in bunches on a vine. It is one of the oldest plants known to man and grows in virtually every country in the world. Grapes were first cultivated in Caucasia in about 6000 B.C., and viticulture progressed into Egypt and Phoenicia in about 3000 B.C. By 2000 B.C., grape cultivation reached Greece, followed by Italy, Sicily and North Africa and later to Spain, Portugal and France, finally spreading into eastern and northern Europe and even the British Isles. Grapes may be eaten fresh, but many Old World varieties are dried first into raisins or currants. Grapes are also used to make grape juice and wine. Grapes grow well where the winter is not too cold and where there is a long, warm summer that enables the plants to ripen their fruit slowly. This kind of climate is often found near lakes and oceans, and Grapes may be planted on nearby hillsides. The soil must be fertile, and care must be taken to keep insects and disease away. Grapevines must be carefully pruned each year, but a good grapevine may live more than fifty years and will produce large quantities of grapes, the amount depending on the variety and where and how it is grown. Grapes have been used for good health since ancient times from China to Greece, and Grapes were believed to have curative and preventative powers. It is now known that Grapes, particularly the skin and seeds, are beneficial to overall health, due to their high concentration of phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are biologically active substances that are responsible for giving plants their fragrance, color and flavor. Phytonutrients also contribute to the plant's self-defense system by protecting it from pests, viruses, bacteria and excessive sunlight. Evidence indicates that these same phytonutrients may also protect the human body from certain malignant diseases and heart disease. There are probably thousands of phytochemicals found in fruits, vegetables, grains and some herbs, but red Grapes are loaded with phytonutrients such as resveratrol, quercetin, anthocyanin and catechin. Resveratrol, found primarily in the skin of grapes, has been found in preliminary studies to fight malignant breast, liver and colon disease. Resveratrol is also believed to play a role in the reduction of heart disease and has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. Supplementing with red Grape products will give your body vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients essential to good health. Scientists have just begun to discover how drinking red wine (a grape skin product), which contains the compound, resveratrol, in moderation has contributed to controlling disease. Resveratrol has been shown to support integral proteins that aid in the prevention of malignant cells. The proteins responsible for stimulating gene functions that promote cell survival are known as nuclear factor kappa-B (Nf-kB) and are located inside the nucleus of all cells. Researchers have found that a compound in red wine or grape skins may also help to minimize brain damage from strokes. Many Americans have suffered from a stroke, and as many people know, strokes can be very unexpected, and the results can be permanent. Research has discovered that resveratrol in Grape Skin can absorb the free radicals, stopping them from doing any more damage to the brain.