Dietitian says 'superfruit' new to UK 'balances blood sugar and helps weight loss'

A new superfruit has just arrived in the UK – and it could transform our approach to healthy eating, a dietitian has claimed. The Red Berry Grape, characterised as a natural hybrid between a table grape and a rare wine grape, is attracting interest for its potential to assist with blood sugar balance, appetite management and shedding pounds.

Dietician Nichola Ludlam-Raine, who sits on the Red Berry Grape Advisory Board, explained: "Hitting the 'sweet spot' in which you can enjoy some sweet food without playing havoc with your blood sugar levels is a common goal. With an estimated 4.6 million people in the UK living with a diagnosis of diabetes, potentially another 1.3 million with undiagnosed diabetes, an estimated seven million with pre-diabetes and 64% of the UK population overweight or obese, this aim to control blood sugar is not surprising.

"In fact, new real-world research commissioned by the Red Berry Grape Advisory Board suggests there is a keen consumer appetite for foods that will help them to control blood sugars. This research found that 60% of adults have tried to cut back on the sugar in their diet and another 10% recognise that they should.

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"But there is now a new superfruit – Red Berry Grapes – which may help support blood sugar balance, appetite control and weight loss. This could be a game-changer for those wanting to enjoy something super tasty while supporting blood glucose."

Research finds 'lower glucose uptakes'

Nichola said: "Evolving research from the technology center AINIA in Valencia, Spain, suggests that despite having similar amounts of fructose (a sugar found in fruit which may raise blood glucose), the new Red Berry Grape varieties showed significantly lower glucose uptakes than standard grape varieties.

"This is due to the Red Berry Grape being rich in polyphenols, as well as containing fibre. Together these ingredients seem to create a unique food matrix, which appears to slow glucose absorption compared to other fruits.

"This means that while new Red Berry Grapes are sweet to the taste, the combination of polyphenols they contain alters the way these sugars are transported and absorbed in the gut. This has major implications for weight control, insulin response and dietary advice around fruit consumption, because many people restrict intakes of these fruits rich in antioxidants because of concerns about the amount of sugar in fruit.

“The new Red Berry Grapes called BOOMBITES Red Berry Grapes are unique - being a berry on the inside and a grape on the outside created as a natural cross between table grapes and rare wine grapes. They contain a range of polyphenols, antioxidants known as anthocyanins and resveratrol. All of these are naturally occurring compounds are found in various plants, most notably in the skin of grapes, blueberries and raspberries.

“Resveratrol, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has long been associated with the so-called French paradox – the observation that France has lower rates of heart disease despite a diet rich in saturated fats. And resveratrol is thought to account for various health and wellness benefits.

"Testing by researchers at the University of Murcia, found that BOOMBITES Red Berry Grapes had three times more resveratrol than blueberries when tested and comparable levels of antioxidants. This content of resveratrol helps to give BOOMBITES Red Berry Grapes their superfruit status.”

BOOMBITES Red Berry Grapes are available now at Marks and Spencer and Ocado nationwide for a limited time. The research referred to was based on an omnibus poll of 1,508 people aged 18+ conducted in July 2025. BOOMBITES added that antioxidant levels will vary dramatically, year on year, depending on the harvest, climate and environmental factors across all fruits.