Besides being a good source of manganese and vitamin C, concord grapes possess powerful antioxidants called polyphenols, which are not only responsible for their color, but also for their health benefits, according to the World's Healthiest Foods. Incorporating concord grapes into your diet can help enhance overall health.
Lowers Blood Pressure
In a 2004 study published in the journal "Biofactors," researchers at Kyunghee University in Korea investigated the effects of concord grape juice supplementation on patients with high blood pressure. Subjects ingested concord grape juice or a placebo every day for eight weeks. Scientists discovered that the concord grape juice group lowered their blood pressure more than the placebo group. Scientists noted that the high content of polyphenols found in concord grape juice were responsible for the results.
Reduces Oxidative Stress
A team of researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center studied the comparison of the antioxidant effects of concord grape juice and alpha-tocopherol, a source of vitamin E, on markers of oxidative stress. Free radicals cause oxidative stress in the body, which in turn increases inflammation and damage of cells and organs. Healthy subjects ingested concord grape juice or alpha-tocopherol capsules for two weeks. Scientists observed that the concord grape juice group experienced lower levels of oxidative stress compared to the alpha-tocopherol group. They suggested that flavonoids, a type of polyphenol, were the reason for the results.
Boosts Memory
Researchers examined the effects of concord grape juice on memory, according to findings reported in the 2010 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition." Participants with mild memory decline received concord grape juice or a placebo for 12 weeks. Scientists found that the concord grape juice group experienced improvements in memory compared to the placebo group.
References
- World's Healthiest Foods: Grapes
- Biofactors: Concord grape juice supplementation reduces blood pressure in Korean hypertensive men: double-blind, placebo controlled intervention trial.
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Comparison of the antioxidant effects of Concord grape juice flavonoids -tocopherol on markers of oxidative stress in healthy adults
- NutraIngredients.com: Grape juice may boost memory in elderly: Study
Member Comments