There are 3 main categories of grapes: North American, European and French hybrids. According to The Geroge Mateljan Foundation, North American grapes include Vitis labrusca and V. rotundifolia, with varieties such as Concord that are large and blue-black; Delaware, pink-red and soft skin; and Niagara, not so sweet and amber-colored. These grapes have skins that can be easily removed.
European grapes include V. vinifera with varieties such as Thompson that are seedless and amber-green; Emperor, purple and bearing seeds; Champagne; and Black Corinth that are very small and purple. These types of grapes have skin that are hard to remove.
French hybrids include hybrids are derived from V. vinifera grapes.
The nutritional profile of a cup of grapes is about 65 calories rich in manganese, potassium, vitamins C, B-1, B-6 and contain phytonutrients called flavonoids. The two main flavonoids are quercitin and reservatrol. Both are said to have heart-protective benefits. This is because both are said to reduce harmful blood platelet clumping, the formation of blood clots and protecting LDL cholesterol from oxidizing when exposed to free radicals.
Red wines are high in resveratrol and may be the answer to the so-called French paradox of the consumption of a high fat diet but statistically lower rates of heart disease as compared to Americans. Red wine may be the protective factor. Red wine has the levels of resveratrol to achieve this, whereas one would have to consume more grape juice to get the same benefit.
In a study published in the Journal of Natural Products, Lawrence M. Szewczuk and Trevor M. Penning at the University of Pennsylvannia cite catechins and epicatechins as components that may be the elements that provide the heart-protective qualities of grapes and red wine.
According to one study cited by The World's Healthiests Foods, it may take 6 glasses of grape juice to equal the potential heart-protective benefits from consuming just 2 glasses of red wine. But if neither suit you, there is dealcoholized red wine. According to WHfoods.org, a nonprofit clearinghouse of information, a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition featured a 6-month study of female lab animals bred to be prone to heart disease, were given red, white or dealcoholized red wine. Resarchers concluded that the dealcoholized red wine had the same protective effects of red or white wine. They cited the polyphenolic elements in the red wine to be responsible.
To receive comparable benefits as those gained from drinking a glass of red wine, however, you need to drink more grape juice. A recent study found that 6 glasses of grape juice produced the same beneficial effect as 2 glasses of red wine in reducing platelet aggregation, the clumping that leads to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.
So if you want to avoid alcohol and protect your heart, toast your health with at least 3 daily glasses of red or purple grape juice.
What to Look for
Not everyone wants to drink 2 glasses of red wine every day. What you might consider is drinking 2 to 3 cups of purple or red grape juice from Concord grapes. Researchers say Concord grapes rate high in polyphenols and antioxidant qualities, as purple grape juice has flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamates that constitute most of the polyphenols.
Common Pitfalls
As with any medical application of a food, check with your physician or nutritionist for specific recommendations. The adage "a little is good and more better" does not apply here. The alcohol content of wine is a major concern, and for many people drinking grape juice will make much more sense than drinking wine, even in moderation.
As grapes are one of the crops often treated with pesticides, organic grapes are a good idea.
As for wine, there is a burgeoning industry for organic wine that are even low in sulfates. If you are planning to consume any food as a regular part of your diet, selecting organic sources is always a good idea.
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