Grapes are a complete source of health and can prevent or fight extremely severe diseases. Loaded with vitamins, minerals and other nutritive and beneficial naturally occurring compounds, grapes are recommended even in the most drastic diets. Grapes are excellent sources of vitamins A, C, B6 and folate, containing almost all the beneficial minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, phosphorus in high amounts and zinc, manganese and copper in smaller amounts). They are also loaded with proteins and fibers.

Grape seed may be a very potent natural 'tool' of fighting against cancer by shrinking tumors, according to a recent study carried out by researchers at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. The trial has been conducted only on mice so far, but results showed that grape seed extract works extremely well against colorectal tumors. Tests taken after the trial proved that grape seeds have reduced the particular tumors by 44%.

The findings of the study are due to be published in the Clinical Cancer Research Journal. Leader of the research Rajesh Agarwal, Professor in the department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Colorado stated: "With these results, we are not suggesting that people run out and buy and use grape seed extract. That could be dangerous, since so little is known about doses and side effects."

He also added that further research is still needed to clarify if the grape seed extract is safe for use on humans: "The value of this preclinical study is that it shows grape seed extract can attack cancer, and how it works, but much more investigation will be needed before these chemicals can be tested as a human cancer treatment and preventive."

Besides the fact that the University of Colorado team has revealed the beneficial effects of grape seeds against cancer tumors, they have also exactly identified how grape seeds work in inhibiting cancer cells proliferation. Grape seeds enhance levels of Cip1/p21 protein in malignant tumors, which 'freezes' cancer cells by causing them to stop proliferating and auto-destruct.