Are Grape Seeds Safe To Eat? [Potency Limits]

Most grapes today are seedless although of course, the natural form of grapes contains seeds.

Seedless grapes exist due to genetic mutation, which prevents the hard seed from forming.

Grapes may contain one or several seeds, often tasting quite bitter.

Although they don’t always taste quite as juicy as the grape itself, they are fairly harmless to consume.

Despite them being fairly harmless, there are some people who may want to avoid consuming grape seeds.

They contain blood-thinning properties which could be a problem for those who take blood-thinning medication or for those who have a bleeding disorder.

Grape seeds are rich in antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation and protect the body from oxidative stress.

They also contain melatonin, which increases in potency as the grapes ripen.

Melatonin is a hormone that aids in sleep as it regulates the body’s natural circadian rhythm.

By consuming melatonin, sleepiness is often induced and this can help restore any sleep troubles and provide a higher quality of sleep.

Grape seeds are used to make healthy foods such as grape seed extract.

This is often consumed due to its ability to boost circulation and provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Grape seeds provide a ton of health benefits and a fairly small amount of harm.

Those on blood-thinning medication or bleeding disorders may want to avoid consuming grape seeds although if they do it would pose a fairly small risk.

It really depends on personal preference and health.

Is there cyanide in grape seeds?

Some seeds of fruits contain amygdalin, including apple, peach, and apricot seeds.

Amygdalin, not to be confused with the amygdala in the brain, is a kind of carbohydrate that reacts with an enzyme in the digestive system.

This then produces hydrogen cyanide, which is why there is a stir around fruit seeds containing cyanide.

It is important to note however that whilst technically these fruits may produce cyanide in the body, it is very unlikely anyone will consume enough of these seeds to produce a lethal amount of cyanide.

Apple seeds, for example, will only lead to the production of cyanide if the seeds are chewed.

When swallowed whole, the seeds cannot produce cyanide.

Even if the apple seeds are chewed, the body contains a digestive enzyme that aids in removing the cyanide from the body.

It’s just important not to chew the seeds of several apples at once.

Grape seeds do not contain amygdalin which means they cannot produce cyanide.

Consuming grape seeds can help reduce high blood pressure due to their high antioxidant content.

These antioxidants, which include flavonoids, and linoleic acid, help protect blood vessels from damage which aid in preventing high blood pressure.

The kidneys can often be affected by oxidative damage, which can be hard to reverse.

That’s why it is so important to consume enough antioxidants in order to aid the body in fighting off oxidative stress, and inflammation.

They can also help dilate blood vessels, lowering blood pressure for those with metabolic syndrome.

They also help with bone health as they can improve bone formation and bone strength, which has been demonstrated in animal studies.

Other animal studies have also shown that consuming grape seeds help with cognitive problems.

Research suggests that grape seeds can help reverse dysfunction of the hippocampal.

These little seeds do this by lessening oxidative stress and preserving mitochondrial function, great for brain health.

The flavonoid content of grape seeds helps to improve the amount of collagen in the body.

The grape seed extract is a rich source of flavonoids.

Collagen is important for the health and elasticity of the skin.

Collagen can also help reduce aches, and pains in the joints.

It is worth noting that in order to receive the benefits of grape seeds, it is fine to consume seeded grapes however it will not provide the necessary amount needed for health benefits.

Grape seed extract will provide these benefits as they are a concentrated form of grape seeds.

Seedless grapes exist due to cloning.

They are not grown from seeds, instead, they are grown using a piece of an existing grape plant.

This piece of the grape plant contains a genetic mutation which means it does not have seeds.

Although a bit more convenient, seedless grapes are not quite as healthy as seeded grapes.

This is because the grape seeds contain health benefits as demonstrated above, and are rich in healthy fats.

Healthy fats are important as they can help provide energy and aid the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamin A, D, and E. Vitamin A and E are great for skin health, and vitamin D is great for bone health and cognitive function.

Seedless grapes are still fairly healthy although some do say that our bodies cannot effectively digest seedless grapes as the body does not recognize them without the seeds.

Red grapes have more nutrients than white grapes and contain higher levels of vitamins C and K, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.

To benefit from grape seeds without the annoying bitter taste, try swallowing them whole.

Many people avoid consuming seeded grapes due to the irritating process of having to spit out the bitter seeds, however, attempting to swallow them whole can help avoid this.

Although if the bitter taste is not a problem, chewing the seeds can help the digestion process and make it a little easier for the body to absorb the benefits of the seeds.

When comparing both red and white grapes, their nutritional profile is almost identical.

Grapes contain phytonutrients, which benefit the body as they have both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Grapes contain carotenoids, phenols, polyphenols, and resveratrol.

Resveratrol appears to not have a ton of antioxidant activity once ingested into the body however it does provide anti-inflammatory benefits.

Carotenoids are said to be good for eye and immune health, some can be converted into Vitamin A.

Antioxidants are molecules that can counteract free radicals in the body, this can reduce oxidative stress.

There are approximately hundreds of antioxidants contained within grapes.

They have the more famous types such as vitamin C and some lesser-known antioxidants like beta-carotene.

Grapes are also a source of many of the B vitamins, copper, and vitamin K. Vitamin K is important for bone health and the prevention of fractures of breaks.

One study demonstrated that women who had at least 111 micrograms of vitamin K per day were 30% less likely to break a hip than women who had less.

Just another reason to add grapes to your five a day! Copper is also vital in keeping bones strong, it is an important enzyme for the synthesis of bone pieces.

The fiber content in grapes provides benefits to the digestive process, aiding in a smoother process.

Although it is not the most high-fiber food, it is a great snack if you are trying to up your fiber intake.

In one study, although fairly small-scale, adults with memory issues drank Concord grape juice every day for 12 weeks and had significant improvement in their verbal learning compared to those who did not drink the juice.

This demonstrates that grapes have the ability to improve cognitive health and could even prevent further deterioration of cognitive abilities.

The majority of health benefits of grapes are contained within the skin.

Be sure to consume the skin when eating grapes although some warn off it due to the potential pesticide on the skin.

That’s why it is recommended to thoroughly wash grapes before consuming them or purchase organic grapes.

Despite having almost identical nutritional profiles, red grapes are just that bit healthier as they have a slightly high amount of phytonutrients.

Red grapes flavonoids, which are high in antioxidant activity.

Grapes are safe to eat despite many reports or urban myths that they contain cyanide.

Some fruit seeds contain amygdalin which can turn into hydrogen cyanide within the body, grape seeds however do not have amygdalin.

This cyanide is fairly harmless to the human body in small amounts.

Grape seeds provide an abundance of health benefits, despite seedless grapes being so widely available and consumed.

Seedless grapes are in fact grown through cloning and not in the usual way of growing fruit, through their seeds.

Using grape seeds to make grape seed extract is the best and easiest way to receive the benefits these humble seeds have to offer.

Seeded grapes have the edge over seedless grapes, and are a tad healthier due to the health benefits of the grapes.

Red grapes also win the edge in the healthy race, as they are the healthiest grape option due to their higher amounts of phytonutrients and flavonoids.