HEALTH TIPS - FROM GRAPE
Vitis Vinifera Linn.
COMMON NAMES
Vigne-cultive (Fr.)
Frapa, Ampelos (Gr)
Weinbeere , Traube (Ger.)
Liva (Sp.)
Enav (Her.)
Acinus (Lat.)
Angoor & Farshak (Pers.)
Aeino, Uva (It.)
Angoor (Hindi, Urdu, Punj.)
Vinograd (Russ.)
Inab (singular), Anab (plural) - (Arab.)
Draksha (Sans., Tel., Mar., Guj.)
Angur (Beng.)
Muntaranga (Mal.)
Dach (Kash.)
FAMILY : Vitaceae
HISTORY
The plant is also called Grape Vine. The name vine is derived from Veire (to twist), Grape is most delicious fruit provided to Mankind by Allah and that is why there are eleven references of this fruit in the Quran under the name of Inab (singular) and Anab (Plural).
Several wild verities of Grape have found in different part of the world and, therefore, it is difficult to establish its correct nativity, However, some scientists consider the hilly region of America and Azerbaijan to be the native area of the plant. It is likely that the cultivation practices started in this area about three thousand years ago and from here rt of Grape cultivation spread to Iran, Arabia and Egypt. It is said that during the time of prophet NOAH, Grape was already in cultivation. Thus, it may be said that the history of Grape is the oldest after Date amongst the fruits. In all the old civilisation of Africa and Asia, great emphasis was given to Grape cultivation and production of its wine through fermentation.
Uptil now, about eight thousand varieties of Grape have been developed throughout the world and some of them like Thomson Seedless are being grown in huge quantities in several countries, the leading amongst them being Italy, France, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Japan, Syria, Algeria, Morocco and U.S.A. Half of the total world production of Grape comes from European countries. India used to import Grapes from Iran and Afghanistan but during the last thirty years its successful cultivation has been done in Maharastra, Andhra and karnataka resulting in the production of three lakh tonnes of grapes every year.
Grape must have been known to Indians from early times because its Sanskrit equivalent Draksha is often found in old Indian Literature. Charak and Sushustra have also described grapes (Draksha & Darakh) in their works. However, the history of its cultivation in India does not seem to be very old. The real boost for the production of cultivated Grape was given by Akbar the Great. However, since early times, grapes and resins, under the names Kishmish and Munaqqa used to be imported from Hirat area of Afghanistan.
Medical Properties :
Grape is one of the finest natural source of glucose and fructose which are present in it upto twenty five percent. Apart from Sugars, Grape is good source of Tartaric acid and Malic acid. Minerals like Sodium, potassium, Calcium and Iron are also present in sizeable quantities while the presence of protein and fat is negligible. The characteristic smell of Grape is due to Geraniol and Linalool present in it. Recently another compound named as Vitamin P has been isolated from it. This Vitamin is said to be very effective in checking bleeding caused by diabetes, and helps in the inflammation of veins of the human body and cures Atherosclerosis effectively.
Grapes are eaten throughout the world, but 80% of the total Grape production is used to make wine and 7% is used for making raisin (dried Grapes - known as Zabib in Arabic, Muviz in Persian and Kishmish in Pers, Hindi and Urdu)
- Because of its chemical composition, Grape is a good stimulant, digestive, demulcent, stomatic, refrigerant and diuretic.
- It increases and purifies the blood in human body and helps in case of general debility.
- Juice of unripe fruit is astringent and a remedy for ailments of throat.
- The sap form the stems is useful in skin diseases and in opthalmia.\
- Grapes are also beneficial in chronic bronchitis, heart-diseases, Bright's disease and gout.
- Grape juice is given to children to prevent convulsion due to constipation and is invaluable during cold and fevers.
- It is also a good diet for persons suffering from jaundice.
- Medicinally raisins are more useful than grapes. Raisins are very useful in fevers, coughs, catarrh, jaundice and in sub-acute cases of enlarge liver and spleen.
Leaves - Grape juice cures piles, inflammation of spleen, syphilis, headache; juice is applied in scabies; allays vomiting and stop bleeding from mouth.
Ashes - The ashes of the stem are good for joint pains, piles, swelling of the testicles and removing stones in the bladder.
Flowers - Good in chronic bronchitis; emmenagogue; produces constipation, Expectorant, tonic to Liver.
Fruit - Fruits are soar and sweet; expectorant, digestive, stomachic, good for kidney, liver and lungs; purifies and enriches the blood, useful in old fevers, fattens the body, and recommended to weak people.
Seeds - cooling, astringent to the bowels, aphrodisiac; their ash is applied to reduce inflammation.
In cases of anaemia and in a state of exhaustion the restorative power of grapes is striking, especially when take along with light nourishing diet. Fully ripe and sweet grapes are given to those requiring heat to control and support the wasting of tissue.
Resins ( Dried grapes) - Resins are demulcent, nutritive and slightly laxative.
Nutritive value (Grapes Green)
Proteins : 0.5 gm
Fat : 0.3 gm
Minerals : 0.6 gm
Crude Fibre : 2.9 gm
Carbohydrates :16.5 gm
Iron : 0.5 gm
Calcium :20.0 gm
phosphorus :30.0 gm
And (Raisins)
Proteins : 1.8 gm
Fat : 0.3 gm
Minerals : 2.0 gm
Crude Fibre : 1.1 gm
Carbohydrates : 74.6 gm
Iron : 7.70 gm
Calcium : 87.0 gm
Phosphorus : 80.0 gm
Values are per 100 gms of edible portion.
Source Nutritive value of Indian Foods. NIN, Hyderabad.
***
0 comments:
Post a Comment