Besides being a good source of manganese and vitamin C, Concord grapes also contain potent antioxidants, which are responsible for their color as well as their health effects. Research indicates that Concord grapes, especially in juice form, provide a host of benefits, including lowering blood pressure and reducing platelet aggregation.
Polyphenols
Concord grapes contain a group of antioxidants called polyphenols, which are natural components of plants. The three types of polyphenols found in grapes are flavonoids, phenolic acids and resveratrol. They are associated with several health benefits, from improving immune function to repairing DNA damage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture website.
Blood Pressure
Researchers from Kyunghee University in South Korea investigated the impact of Concord grape juice on blood pressure in patients with hypertension. Participants were randomly assigned to drink Concord grape juice or a placebo for eight weeks. At the end of the study, which was published in the 2004 issue of the journal "Biofactors," scientists found that the Concord grape juice group experienced decreases in blood pressure compared to the placebo group. Researchers stated that polyphenols found in Concord grape juice were responsible for the results of the study.
Platelet Aggregation
Platelet aggregation, or the clumping of platelets in the blood, is a risk factor for heart disease. Scientists from the University of Wisconsin studied the effects of grape juice, grapefruit juice and orange juice on platelet aggregation. They discovered that human subjects consuming grape juice for one week reduced platelet aggregation compared to subjects ingesting grapefruit juice or orange juice, according to the January 2000 issue of the "Journal of Nutrition."
Memory
In research published in the March 2010 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition," researchers from the University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center examined the impact of Concord grape juice on cognitive function in older adults with memory decline. Participants consumed Concord grape juice or a placebo for 12 weeks. Scientists found that the Concord grape juice group experienced improvements in memory function compared to the placebo group.
References
- USDA Agricultural Research Service: Human Nutrition: Phytonutrient FAQ; April 2005
- Biofactors; Concord Grape Juice Supplementation Reduces Blood Pressure...; Y.K. Park, et al.; 2004
- Journal of Nutrition; Grape Juice, But Not Orange Juice...; J.G. Keevil et al.; January 2000
- British Journal of Nutrition; Concord Grape Juice Supplementation Improves Memory Function...; R. Krikorian et al.; March 2010
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