Grape Juice: Does it offer the same benefits as wine?

Much has been said about the health benefits of red wine but we heard little about the possible heart friendly effects of grape juice. When you really think of it, wine is made from grape fruit which lead most people to wonder if grape juice is also good for the heart too! Although there are no extensive studies on the effects of grapes on the human heart, many experts believe that it does have the same health giving goodness as red wine.

What do grapes contain?

Grapes have plenty of antioxidants called flavonoids which have been proven to have numerous beneficial biochemical effects. Several studies have proven that flavonoids which are also found in red wine, tea, soy, hops and beer, has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, antiviral and anti-tumor components. The flavonoids in red or purples grapes are known to have some anti-inflammatory and relaxing effects on the blood vessels. As the blood vessels relax, blood circulates more easily around the body.

Good blood circulation is beneficial to the heart and eases the load on it reducing high blood pressure. Aside from promoting good blood circulation, grape juice is believed to have the same effects as red wine on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol. Note that bad cholesterol has been linked to around 30,000 to 100,000 deaths in the United States very year so it is very important that people learn to control their cholesterol level to stay healthy.

Aside from lowering LDL, grape juice may also help prevent certain fatal coronary conditions. Recent studies revealed that red and purple grape juice help lessen the risk of blood clots, help prevent blood vessel damage especially around the heart and help stabilize blood pressure.

Is drinking the juice best for me?

Yes, there is a big possibility that grape juice can save your life so you should consider drinking this juice. Since grace juice may have the same beneficial effects on the heart as red wine, many experts suggest that people who wants to enjoy the health benefits of wine without the alcohol should drink grape juice instead.

Eating who grape fruits certainly have its benefits but it is still better to eat the whole fruit and at the same time drink plenty of grape juice.