With all the media attention surrounding the health benefits of red wine, you may be feeling left out if you do not drink alcohol. Fortunately, there is a way to reap many of the benefits of red wine without the alcohol -- grape juice. Certain types of grape juice appear to provide many of the same health benefits as red wine, and may actually be healthier in some respects. As with any health food, you should consult your doctor before making radical changes in your diet.
Benefits of Grape Juice
Grape juice, similar to red wine, contains a variety of healthy compounds, including antioxidants such as resveratrol and flavonoids. These antioxidants are thought to protect cells from the damaging products of metabolism. Drinking grape juice can also help prevent high blood pressure, protect coronary blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots and lower levels of low-density lipoprotein, also known as LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, according to MayoClinic.com.
Type of Grape
If you are looking for the healthiest type of grape juice, choose dark red or purple grape juice, because dark red and purple grapes contain higher levels of antioxidants than red or white grape juices, explains MayoClinic.com. In particular, the antioxidant resveratrol is found in higher levels in the skin and seeds of purple grapes compared to other types of grapes, the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University reports.
Alcohol
The alcohol in red wine may offer some additional benefits over grape juice. Alcohol acts as an anti-clotting agent, and the alcohol in red wine can potentially further reduce the risk of blood clot formation, according to Consumer Reports Health.org. Another benefit of alcohol is that it may increase levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also known as HDL, or "good" cholesterol, explains a research paper on the health benefits of wine published in the July 2000 issue of "Annual Review of Nutrition."
Grapes Versus Grape Juice
Eating fresh grapes is another non-alcoholic way to consume the healthy chemical found in red wine. Similar to grape juice, purple grapes contain more antioxidants that red or white grapes. However, if you want the highest possible concentration of antioxidants, grape juice may be a better choice, because the highest levels of antioxidants are actually found in the seeds of grapes, and most types of grape juice are made by crushing whole grapes, including the seeds.
References
- MayoClinic.com: Does Grape Juice Offer the Same Heart Benefits as Red Wine?; Martha Grogan; July 2009
- "Annual Review of Nutrition"; The Health Benefits of Wine; J. Bruce German; July 2000
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Resveratrol; William P. Steward et al.; May 2008
- Consumer Reports Health.org: Q&A: Grape Juice or Red Wine?; May 2009
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