Imagine that your breakfast, which you thought was a symbol of health, is actually doing you more harm than a donut.
In 2023, the journal JAMA Internal Medicine published a study that caused a storm in nutrition science.
Scientists from the University of Toronto conducted an experiment involving 800 people: those who ate grapes on an empty stomach experienced sharp surges in insulin, slowing down fat burning by 45% during the day.
"The mannose in grapes is a hidden sugar that the liver instantly converts into stored fat," Dr. Richard Lee told CNN.
Why was this hidden?
Grape corporations spend $50 million a year lobbying for their interests.
In 2015, the WHO prepared a report on the dangers of fruits with a high glycemic index, but the document “disappeared” after a call from Washington.
"They pay scientists to do fake research on the benefits of grapes for the heart," a former USDA employee revealed in a memoir.
Real Stories: From Trust to Betrayal
Emily, 31, Miami: "I ate grapes for breakfast, as the blogger advised. A month later, I started having shortness of breath and my weight increased by 7 kg. The doctor diagnosed insulin resistance. Now I replace grapes with grapefruit - my sugar is normal, minus 10 kg in six months!"
How grapes became the “hero” of advertising
In the 1990s, the California Grape Association launched the "Grapes at the Heart of Your Health" campaign.
But independent studies have shown that the antioxidants in grapes are neutralized by sugars, making the fruit useless for blood vessels.
"It's a marketing ploy, like the tobacco companies of the 20th century," said journalist Michael Moss in his book Hooked.
What to do if you love grapes
Eat it only after your main meal to slow down the absorption of sugar.
Pair with fiber-rich foods: For example, add a handful of grapes to a kale and avocado salad.
Choose dark varieties: they contain 20% less mannose than green ones.
"Grapes are not the enemy, but they belong in dessert, not as a snack," nutritionist Lindsay Dixon emphasized on the Wellness Mama podcast.
