Light Legs

The grape cure is one of the oldest protocols in naturopathy. Marchesseau, Carton, Désiré Mérien, all practiced and prescribed it. In September, when chasselas arrives at the markets, that’s the signal. The cure consists of eating only grapes for 3 to 7 days. I always start with the juice: three days of fresh grape juice before moving to whole grapes. Fresh grape juice has absolutely nothing to do with bottled grape juice. The color is cloudy, the taste is vibrant, sweet with a hint of acidity, and the polyphenols are intact.

Want to evaluate your level of toxemia? Take the colloidal toxemia questionnaire and discover my article on hepatic detoxification.

Bioactive molecules

Grapes concentrate in their skin and seeds an exceptional density of polyphenols: resveratrol, proanthocyanidins (OPC), catechins and quercetin¹. Resveratrol activates sirtuins (SIRT1), longevity enzymes that regulate inflammation and aging². OPCs strengthen capillary walls and reduce vascular permeability, which is why grapes are the fruit for venous circulation³. The grape cure (uvale) is one of the oldest protocols in naturopathy⁴.

Grapes (Vitis vinifera) concentrate in their skin and seeds an exceptional density of polyphenols: resveratrol (1.5 mg/100g in dark varieties), proanthocyanidins (OPC), catechins and quercetin. Resveratrol activates sirtuins (SIRT1), longevity enzymes that regulate gene expression, DNA repair and energy metabolism. Baur and Sinclair (Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2006) demonstrated that resveratrol mimicked the effects of caloric restriction on longevity. Grape OPCs are the most powerful known vascular protectors: they strengthen collagen and elastin in the arterial wall, reduce capillary permeability and inhibit platelet aggregation. Glucose and fructose in grapes (16g/100g) provide immediately available energy. Potassium (191 mg/100g) and manganese contribute to electrolyte balance. The grape cure stimulates renal and hepatic drainage organs and constitutes a classic single-food diet for drainage in naturopathy.

Grape juice is the juice of the autumn cure par excellence. Concentrated in longevity polyphenols, vascular antioxidants and natural energy, it embodies terrain naturopathy in its most ancient and most effective form. September is the month of grapes, don’t miss it.

Table of key micronutrients

Micronutrient	Main role
Resveratrol	SIRT1 sirtuin activation, cellular longevity
OPC (proanthocyanidins)	Vascular protection, arterial collagen
Quercetin	Anti-inflammatory, antihistamine
Potassium	Electrolyte balance (191 mg/100g)
Glucose + Fructose	Immediate energy, drainage organs
Manganese	SOD2 cofactor, bone metabolism

Preparation with a juicer

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cucumber
• 200 g red grapes
• 1 peeled lemon
• A few red vine leaves (optional)

Choose well-ripened, sweet chasselas, ideally organic. Run the whole grains through the juicer, with skin and seeds: that’s where resveratrol and OPCs concentrate. Muscat juice is even more aromatic. For the cure, drink 500 ml per day for 3 to 5 days.

My recommended juicer

For this recipe, I use the Hurom H80-ST. Cold pressing preserves all the enzymes, vitamins and phytonutrients that a centrifuge’s heat would destroy.

Promo code: francoisbenavente20 for -20% off everything at Hurom.

---

Want personalized support? I offer video consultations to create your custom juice protocol. Book here.

---

To go further

Related articles

• Hepatic detoxification
• Toxemia: the root cause of disease

Test yourself

• Questionnaire: Colloidal toxemia
• Questionnaire: Vitality and toxemia

Complementary recipes

• The Ann Wigmore
• The Green Calcium
• The Anti-inflammatory
• The Red Elixir
• The Hypoallergenic

Go further

• All my health questionnaires
• My naturopathy shop
• Naturopathy video consultation
• My Living Juices ebook