A Fruit That's Got Your Back

Here's a refreshing snack you should get to know if you want to keep your spine feeling fine: grapes.

Chill 'em, and eat a handful every day. New research suggests there's something in grapes that could help protect certain types of back cartilage.

It's Gotta Be the Resveratrol . . .
Yep, it's the resveratrol all right. This special anti-inflammatory compound found in grapes is already known to have heart-healthy benefits. Researchers now think that it might also have the ability to hinder degeneration of intervertebral disks, a part of the spine often associated with lower back pain. It's too early to know for sure, but a cow-cell culture study showed that resveratrol helped with the creation and buildup of important connective tissue in the disk called proteoglycan. Here's another great source of resveratrol.

Banish Back Pain
Of course, one of the most important things you can do to keep your back healthy is to exercise and keep your body strong. Use these other tricks of the trade as well:

• Put your feet up. Here's what we mean.
• Focus on your core. Check out these back-saving exercises.
• Listen to some tunes. Find out which kind ease pain.

The action of resveratrol, a phytoestrogen found in grapes, on the intervertebral disc. Li, X. et al., Spine 2008 Nov 15;33(24):2586-2595.