Grapes make raisins, they make wine, they are a tasty and refreshing snack, and now a new study suggests they may help protect your skin from the sun!
According to researchers led by scientists at Western New England University, regular grape consumption can change how genes behave, giving the skin an added defense system against sun damage. The scientists tracked a group of volunteers who first followed a restricted diet for two weeks to clear their systems. Then, for the next two weeks, they ate the equivalent of three daily servings of whole grapes, provided in a concentrated, freeze-dried powder form.
The scientists took small skin samples before and after the grape diet, testing them both under normal conditions and after exposing them to low doses of ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun.
Key Takeaways From This Study:
At the start of the study, each volunteer had their own pattern of gene activity. However, these patterns shifted noticeably after they ate grapes. When skin is exposed to UV rays, it normally creates a chemical called malondialdehyde, which is a warning sign of cellular damage. After eating grapes, the volunteers showed significantly less of this damaging chemical. In addition, the study found:
- While everyone’s individual genetic responses were unique, grape consumption changed gene expression across all participants.
- The changes in gene expression indicated improvements in skin health.
- Beyond skin, the researchers were nearly certain that grape consumption [positively] affects gene expression in other somatic tissues of the body, such as the liver, muscles, kidney and even brain.
You can read the complete study, which was published in the journal ACS Nutrition Science, by clicking on the link.