The Secret Health Benefits of Purple Grapes: Your New Superfood for Heart Health!

Tired of starting your mornings with a glass of orange juice? How about trying another juice that packs more than twice the natural antioxidant power of orange juice? What will we find in grape juice? Ongoing studies over the past decade have shown that purple grapes are loaded with several powerful antioxidants also found in berries, cocoa, red wine, and tea. In fact, purple grape juice has the highest level of antioxidant activity among 13 tested juices, according to a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in March 2007.

Adding More Purple to Your Diet:

Naturally, purple grape juice belongs to the purple family. Recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) revealed that people who regularly consumed purple/blue fruits and vegetables had a lower risk of metabolic syndrome. (Metabolic syndrome is a condition where a cluster of risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes occur together.)

5 Easy Ways to Add More Purple to Your Diet:

1. Whole fruit, with high fiber and low calories, is always better than fruit juice. Add blueberries to your breakfast cereal or purple grapes to salads.
2. If you crave a glass of juice, try purple grape juice. Check labels and look for 100% pure purple grape juice instead of juice blends.
3. Add dried fruits like raisins and prunes to your dishes.
4. Use grape juice instead of red wine for cooking. This results in flavorful dishes without the alcohol.
5. Get creative in the kitchen daily! Try grilling sliced eggplant.

Cardiovascular Health Benefits of Purple Grapes:

• Improves Arterial Health: Researchers at the University of Wisconsin conducted a small study to investigate the potential benefits of purple grape juice and found that people who drank about two cups of this juice daily for two weeks had more flexible arteries. The same group of researchers followed up with a second study two years later and found that similar health benefits were achieved by drinking just one cup of purple grape juice. The results of this study were published in the American Journal of Cardiology in September 2001.
• Maintains Low Blood Pressure: Researchers in South Korea investigated the effects of drinking purple grape juice among men with high blood pressure. They found that those who drank about one and a half cups of juice daily for eight weeks significantly reduced their systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The results of this study were published in BioFactors in December 2004.

For more detailed information, you can explore these studies directly through their respective journals:

1. Antioxidant Activity of Purple Grape Juice – Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
2. Health Benefits of Purple Grape Juice – American Journal of Cardiology
3. Impact of Grape Juice on Blood Pressure – BioFactors

By incorporating more purple grapes into your diet, you can enjoy these surprising health benefits while adding variety to your daily meals.