How Helpful Are Grapes for Weight Loss?

The resveratrol in grapes has anti-obesity properties. Research in cells as well as animal models has revealed that resveratrol, a compound found in grapes, stimulates the expression of adiponectin, a hormone resulting from cells that make and store fat.¹✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M110.188144

Adiponectin is released by fat tissue and functions within the human brain to help reduce body weight. As opposed to leptin, an associated hormone, adiponectin can result in weight loss by increasing metabolic rate without affecting appetite.

Another compound present in grapes, and structuraly similar to resveratrol, has the ability to stop cellular processes that enable fat cells to develop. This compound piceatannol stops an immature fat cell’s capability to develop and grow.²✅ JOURNAL REFERENCE
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M111.259721

Piceatannol basically changes the timing of gene functions and insulin action at the time of adipogenesis, the process when immature fat cells develop into mature fat cells.

Piceatannol adheres to insulin receptors of early stage fat cells in the 1st phase of adipogenesis, preventing insulin’s capability to control cell cycles and trigger genes that execute additional phases of fat cell creation. Piceatannol effectively blocks the pathways needed for early stage fat cells to mature and develop.

Piceatannol is also found in different quantities in red grape seeds and skin, passion fruit, blueberries as well as other fruits.