Grapes and Heart Health
We’ve all heard about the health benefits of red wine. Red wine may be beneficial to our health due to the simple fact that it is made from red grapes. Millions of Americans have type II diabetes and heart disease. A number of causative factors are behind these diseases including insulin resistance, abdominal fat, high blood pressure – all signs of metabolic syndrome. Research from the University of Michigan concludes that the consumption of grapes can reduce many of these factors.
The research findings showed that can consuming red grapes lowers blood pressure, improves the function of the heart and reduces other risk factors which can lead to metabolic syndrome – which is a condition affecting approximately 50,000,000 Americans, that often results in type II diabetes – and heart disease. The beneficial affects of grape consumption seem to be due to the abundance of phytochemicals found in the fruit.
This study tested red, black and green grapes on rats which were forced into a genetic predisposition for being overweight. Over the course of three months one group of the rats consumed powdered grapes along with their regular feed, which imitated a typical North American diet. The control group of rats received no grape powder in their food. The caloric content of the control groups food matched that of the group receiving powdered grapes.
The experimental results showed that the rats which were receiving the powdered grapes and better functioning hearts, lower blood and reduced signs of heart inflammation than the rats which did not get any grape powder mixed in with their feed. In addition, the rats which received the grape powder had lower levels of triglycerides, and an improved tolerance to glucose.
Steven Bolling, M.D., heart surgeon at the U-M Cardiovascular Center and head of the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory, said that “The possible reasoning behind the lessening of metabolic syndrome is that the phytochemicals were active in protecting the heart cells from the damaging effects of metabolic syndrome.”
E. Mitchell Seymour, Ph.D.,leadresearcher and manager of the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory stated that “Reducing these risk factors may delay the onset ofdiabetesor heart disease, or lessen the severity of the diseases.”
Remember – though drinking moderate quantities of red wine is enjoyable, similar benefits may be derived simply from eating red graps or drinking grape juice. Try to choose organic grape products whenever possible.