You've probably justified drinking red wine with its touted benefits to reduce heart disease, although some research suggests that white wine might be just as beneficial as red wine. However, if you want to reduce your alcohol intake or you are a nondrinker, you can obtain similar benefits from grapes, grape juice and grape seed extract, since they all contain at least some of the heart-protecting properties of red wine.
Grapes
Grapes contain a number of antioxidants, which are believed to fight free radicals that might cause heart disease. The antioxidants in grapes include catechins, epicatechins, resveratrol and proanthocyanidins. Resveratrol is found in the skin of the grape while proanthocyanidins are found in the seeds. Eating whole grapes also provides your body with fiber, which can reduce the risk of heart disease. Grape seed extract is also used in an attempt to prevent heart disease, although more research is needed to determine its effectiveness.
Wine
Wine contains the antioxidants found in grapes -- mainly resveratrol and proanthocyanidin. According to a December 2009 study in the "Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology," wine "can attenuate cardiac diseases such as atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease." Red wine is associated with regulating blood pressure, lowering LDL cholesterol, lowering chances of developing blood clots and preventing blood vessel damage in the heart. Red wine also has flavonoid antioxidants, which seem to raise HDL, or good, cholesterol and reduce risk of clogged arteries. Nonetheless, you should keep your alcohol intake to one drink or fewer per day for women and two or fewer a day for men. Some scientists believe the alcohol is a factor in fighting heart disease, although more research is needed.
Grape Juice
Red and purple grape juices seems to have the same heart benefits as red wine, notes Dr. Martha Grogan of MayoClinic.com. Grape juice is thought to help your blood vessels relax so your blood can flow better. Just like wine, grape juice contains antioxidants from grapes, especially resveratrol. Grape juice also contains the flavonoids found in red wine. However, more research is needed on the potential heart benefits of grape juice.
Red Versus White
Since red wine ferments longer with grape skins and seeds than white wine, it contains much higher levels of antioxidants than white wine, leading to contentions that it is better for the heart. However, a study in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" found that the flesh of grapes protects the heart just as much as the skin and seeds, despite that the flesh has fewer antioxidants. This study suggests that white grapes are just as beneficial to the heart as red or purple ones. Nonetheless, more research is needed to confirm these results.
References
- "Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology"; Grapes, Wine, Resveretrol and Heart Health; A.A. Bertelli, et al.; December 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Grape Seed
- MayoClinic.com; Does Grape Juice Offer the Same Heart Benefits as Red Wine?; Martha Grogan; Jul. 24, 2009
- "The Journal of Nutrition"; Grapes and Cardiovascular Disease; Mustali M. Dohadwala, et al.; Sept. 2009
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Comparison of Cardioprotective Abilities Between the Flesh and Skin of Grapes; M. Falchi, et al.; 2006
- "Science Daily"; Red Wine and White Wine May be Equally Good for the Heart; Aug. 21, 2006
