You may have heard that drinking a glass of red wine every day is good for your heart, but studies are now showing that red and purple grape juice may have the same benefit without the effects of alcohol. A study in the November 2004 journal "Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology" showed that drinking purple grape juice increased the HDL levels of the subjects in the study.
About the Study
Researcher Anne Albers and associates studied 20 subjects who had been diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Each participant was given either purple grape juice or a placebo beverage to drink every day for 14 days. The amount of beverage depended on the subject's body weight. A person weighing 150 lbs. was given about 2 cups of grape juice or placebo and a person weighing 125 lbs. was given about 1 ½ cups of grape juice or placebo. After 14 days, the subjects were given the opposite beverage. Blood was drawn to determine each subject's HDL level. When the subjects were drinking the placebo, the average HDL was 44.9 mg/dL. When they drank the purple grape juice, HDL levels increased to an average of 50.0 mg/dL. This study shows that drinking purple grape juice may increase HDL levels.
Benefits of HDL Cholesterol
HDL cholesterol is known as the "good" cholesterol because it protects against heart attacks. Scientists believe that HDL carries cholesterol out of the arteries, which helps prevent the buildup of plaque. If your HDL cholesterol is lower than 40 mg/dL, you are at higher risk for heart disease, according to the American Heart Association.
Other Benefits of Grape Juice
Martha Grogan, M.D., from the Mayo Clinic states that red grapes and red grape juice also protect the heart by reducing the risk of blood clots, reducing LDL cholesterol or the "bad" cholesterol, preventing damage to the blood vessels in your heart and helping to maintain a healthy blood pressure. A study in the 2001 journal "Circulation" showed that purple grape juice inhibits platelet function and increases the release of nitric oxide. Platelets are the sticky cells in your blood that cause clotting, and nitric oxide relaxes the lining of the blood vessels, thus allowing blood to flow more rapidly and easily. These two factors reduce blood clots, which cause heart attacks and stroke.
Types of Grape Juice
Red and purple grapes seem to be more beneficial than white or green grapes. The darker grapes have more flavonoids, which give grapes their color. The flavonoids are a type of antioxidant that have been shown to protect against many diseases, including heart disease. Dr. Grogan suggests eating whole grapes as well as drinking grape juice. Whole grapes have the same benefit as grape juice, but also contain fiber.
References
- "Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology"; The Anti-inflammatory Effects of Purple Grape Juice Consumption in Subjects with Stable Coronary Artery Disease; Albers, A. R., et al; November 2004
- American Heart Association: Good vs. Bad Cholesterol
- Mayo Clinic: Does Grape Juice Offer the Same Heart Benefits as Red Wine?; Grogan, M. July 23, 2011
- "Circulation"; Select Flavonoids and Whole Juice from Purple Grapes Inhibit Platelet Function and Enhance Nitric Oxide Release; Freedman, J. E., et al; 2001
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