How Can Grape Make You Feel Great?

AYURVEDIC ANALYSIS

Grapes quench thirst, moisten tissues and increase metabolism. They are unique because most foods that increase metabolism cause dryness. And, most foods that moisten tissues depress metabolism. Grapes are easy to digest, providing instant energy. They are helpful for patients recovering from illness or surgery and those who are overworking mentally or physically.

Grapes are sweet and slightly sour, making them useful as a liver tonic, and are a restorative for many hot Pitta and dry Vata conditions. They nourish the blood and calm inflammation. As a blood tonic, they are useful for women during menstruation, pregnancy, post-partum, or breast feeding. Grapes has been suggested as a remedy for low white blood cell count. They are a muscle tonic, a bone tonic, and increase fertility in both men and women.

Their sour taste and mild nervine quality calms an overworked, irritable, burnt out, or confused mind. Their ability to calm the mind and cool the liver makes grapes especially useful for heat in the eyes, eye strain or tension, and insomnia. Purple or red grapes contain more beta carotene and are especially useful for the eyes. Grapes help mitigate the effects of alcohol. Their moistening quality helps reduce dry rashes & prevent liver spots.

Grapes contain resveretrol, a chemical that has been shown to increased lifespan in mice, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Medical research on Concord grapes show potential benefits in cancer prevention, platelet aggregation, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. They help to prevent loss of physical performance or mental acuity due to aging.

Their high fiber content is useful for constipation. Grapes are high in sugar, iron, pectins, bioflavanoids and phenols. The high sugar content of grapes makes them unsuitable for diabetics. Although grapes quench thirst, they are also a diuretic.

ABOUT GRAPE

Grapes are considered a superior fruit to all others in Ayurvedic. They are an important tonic (rasayana) for late summer. Grapes have been a sign of abundance since Greek times. The Greek God or agriculture, Dionysus, is often portrayed with a crown of grape leaves and wine, "the fruit of the vine". Grapes play an important role in many religions as well, especially Christianity, where wine is used in the Last Supper and also symbolizes the blood of Christ. Cultivation of grapes began in the near east aroudn 6-8,000 B.C.

BUYING & PREPARATION

Buy organic grapes only. Conventional grapes require heavy pesticide use, especially seedless grapes. Seedless grapes are promulgated by cuttings, resulting in a mono crop with less genetic diversity. The high sugar content of grapes, together with low genetic diversity makes grapes vulnerable to pests. Browse Recipes

COOKING GRAPE

Grapes can be eaten raw or made into juice, jams, jellies, raisins, wine and vinegar. Grape seeds have important health benefits and should be eaten.

WHY SHOULD YOU EAT AYURVEDICALLY?

Eating Ayurvedically makes you feel nourished and energized. An Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body type and the specific imbalances you are working with at any given time. Foods that supplement your specific body type’s needs and digest easily create your menu. Watch as you eat less but feel more satisfied because what you are eating truly nourishes you. Since Ayurveda believes all disease begins in the digestive tract, food is your first medicine. By eating a healthy diet that’s ideal for your body, you experience optimal health.

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Is Grape Good for Me?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether Grape is a good fit for you. Time to complete: approximately 1 minute.

MEDICINAL QUALITIES

INCREASES Increases These Qualities (Gunas) Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main states (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which states are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every state has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite state. Learn More	EASY ABOUT EASY GUNA Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly. LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY COLD ABOUT COLD GUNA Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow. LEARN MORE ABOUT COLD
TASTES The 6 Tastes Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below? Learn More	SWEET ABOUT SWEET GUNA Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET SOUR ABOUT SOUR GUNA Sour refers to anything fermented or acidic. LEARN MORE ABOUT SOUR
DOSHAS The Three Doshas / Body Types People tend to get sick, over and over again, due to similar causes and habitual imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history. The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. Catabolic people tend to be easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic people tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic people are heavy, stable and grounded, but if they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Learn More	PACIFIES AGGRAVATES
HAS THE FOLLOWING	EFFECT Alkalizing ALKALIZING An herb or food that makes the urine more alkaline (higher pH). This herbal action can be helpful for a number of inflammatory conditions. LEARN MORE ABOUT ALKALIZING , Ojas OJAS Ojas is the essence of healthy tissue, immunity, stable energy and happiness. Substances that improve ojas are recommended after long-term illness, debility, emotional and physical trauma, and even sadness. LEARN MORE ABOUT OJAS , Sattvic SATTVIC Sattvic foods promote awareness and a refreshed mind by nourishing the body without taxing digestion. Sattvic foods do not stimulate desire or nervous energy. They create clarity instead of drowsiness or heaviness. LEARN MORE ABOUT SATTVIC TYPE Fruits ELEMENT Water WATER Resembles water (ap) in quality - fluid, sticky, soft, heavy, stable, cool. LEARN MORE ABOUT WATER COLOR Blue Purple NOURISHES Red Blood RED-BLOOD Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels. LEARN MORE ABOUT RED-BLOOD

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Experiences are Personal

Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Digestion	Quenches thirst QUENCHES-THIRST An herb or substance that relieves thirst. LEARN MORE ABOUT QUENCHES-THIRST , Sialogogue SIALOGOGUE A sialogogue increases saliva. Sour foods are often great sialogogues, and increase output of all exocrine glands. Salty taste is very moistening as well. Bitter, pungent and sweettastes also increase salivary output but to a lesser degree. Astringents LEARN MORE ABOUT SIALOGOGUE
Energy Vitality Strength	Nutritive NUTRITIVE An herb that is strengthening and nourishing. LEARN MORE ABOUT NUTRITIVE , Tonic TONIC A tonic herb strengthens tissue, often restoring healthy function. Tonics usually target a specific organ, tissue, or system ie: brain, muscle or respiratory tonic. LEARN MORE ABOUT TONIC
Heart & Circulation	Alterative ALTERATIVE Literally, an herb that restores the proper function of the body. In practice, alteratives are usually blood cleansers and blood chemistry balancers. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter. LEARN MORE ABOUT ALTERATIVE , Blood Tonic BLOOD-TONIC An herb that produces more blood cells in the body or otherwise strengthens blood. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency. LEARN MORE ABOUT BLOOD-TONIC , Opthalmic OPTHALMIC Benefits the eyes. LEARN MORE ABOUT OPTHALMIC , Rebuilds Fluids REBUILDS-FLUIDS Herbs or substances that create moisture in the body and increase fluids. LEARN MORE ABOUT REBUILDS-FLUIDS
Immune System	Anti Inflammatory ANTI-INFLAMMATORY Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems. LEARN MORE ABOUT ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Kidney & Urinary	Diuretic DIURETIC Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure. LEARN MORE ABOUT DIURETIC
Liver & Gall Bladder	Livotonic LIVOTONIC An herb that strengthens the liver. It is helpful for people with a history of substance abuse, chronic liver issues from hepatitis and hemolytic anemias. LEARN MORE ABOUT LIVOTONIC
Mind, Stress & Sleep	Brain Tonic BRAIN-TONIC An herb that strengthens the brain, thereby improves either mental function, stamina, or stability. LEARN MORE ABOUT BRAIN-TONIC , Nervine NERVINE Herbs that specifically go to the nervous system and brain. They can help with stress, memory, early alzheimer?s, even chronic pain. LEARN MORE ABOUT NERVINE
Reproductive Health	Aphrodisiac APHRODISIAC Herbs that increase sexual arousal through various actions including increased circulation, relaxation, stimulation, or tonics that strengthen glandular health. LEARN MORE ABOUT APHRODISIAC , Builds Semen BUILDS-SEMEN Herbs that increase the production of semen, often by rebuilding fluids in general. LEARN MORE ABOUT BUILDS-SEMEN
Women's Health	Uterine Tonic UTERINE-TONIC An herb that tonifies and strengthens the uterus. Helpful for menstrual difficulties and fertility. Often herbs that increase ojas, but also circulation to reproductive system. LEARN MORE ABOUT UTERINE-TONIC
Bowel-Poop-Elimination	General Laxative GENERAL-LAXATIVE Promotes a bowel movement. General laxative is an umbrella term that refers to several different types of laxatives... LEARN MORE ABOUT GENERAL-LAXATIVE , High Fiber Laxative HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE A class of laxative that adds bulk and water to stools. The size of a stool stimulates peristalsis and the stool passes more easily through the colon. It is important to drink plenty of water when using high fiber laxatives, as they can be dehydrating. LEARN MORE ABOUT HIGH-FIBER-LAXATIVE , Stool Softener STOOL-SOFTENER An herb that softens stool that is hard and difficult to pass. They are the safest and most gentle type of laxative. Some foods are even stool softeners, such as warm milk with ghee. LEARN MORE ABOUT STOOL-SOFTENER