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Health Benefits of Grape Juice

Health Benefits of Grape Juice

Dec. 30th, 2022

The first grape juice in the United States was produced by Dr. Thomas Welch in 1869. Today, growers will process over 336,000 tons of Concord grapes to produce grape juice, with the states New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri producing the most.1

Here are 4 health benefits of grape juice, as well as some ways you can add more grape juice to your diet.

Grape Juice Contains Vitamin C

It is estimated that one cup of grape juice contains 70% of the estimated daily value of vitamin C. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is unable to be produced by the body. However, vitamin C is responsible for protecting your bones, skin, and teeth.2

One way vitamin C benefits the body is it can boost your body’s collagen levels. Collagen is responsible for keeping your skin elastic and allowing it to stay youthful and free of wrinkles. Collagen also assists the body in wound reparation. Vitamin C aids in the production of hyaluronic acid, which is a key component in making collagen.3

Another benefit vitamin C provides the body is it can combat free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that occur when your body breaks down food or is exposed to tobacco smoke. Free radicals can spur on heart disease, cancer, and other diseases.4

Grape Juice Contains Antioxidants

Grape juice contains antioxidants such as anthocyanin, catechin, epicatechin, resveratrol, and proanthocyanidin. These antioxidants can help fight free radicals and prevent diseases and cancers. The seeds are the most likely to contain antioxidants, with 60–70% of grape seeds estimated to contain polyphenols. Grape juice is also more likely to contain the benefits of these seeds when it is freshly squeezed.5

Grape juice made from concord grapes or purple grapes is more likely to contain antioxidants. It has been found that these two grape varieties have more antioxidant content than the others.6

Grape Juice Can Prevent UTIs

Studies show that grape juice may be able to help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). A urinary tract infection occurs when E.coli infects the urinary tract by attaching itself to the bladder. Women are at greater risk for a UTI than men due to their anatomy, menopause, and use of birth control.7

One study was conducted five times and found that the proanthocyanidins in grape juice can help prevent E.coli from adhering to the bladder. The researchers used Welch’s Purple 100% Grape Juice and compared it to cranberry juice, and found the results to be similar.8

Grape Juice May Lower Blood Pressure

A study on grape juice found that men who had hypertension and drank grape juice had lower blood pressure by the end of the study. The average systolic blood pressure fell from 142.7 mm to Hg to 137 mm Hg. The U.S. health experts estimate that lowering systolic blood pressure by just five points can result in a 14% reduction in deaths from strokes and a 9% reduction in death from heart disease.9

One reason why grape juice may lower blood pressure is it has been proven to reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the “bad” cholesterol that builds up in your arteries and can increase your risk of coronary heart disease.10

How to Add More Grape Juice to Your Diet

  • Drink grape juice
  • Drink grape-infused water
  • Squeeze grape juice into your yogurt
  • Top your desserts with grape juice
  • Make a fruit smoothie with grape juice as an ingredient
  • Drink tea with grape juice mixed in

Drink more grape juice today!

Now that you know some grape juice benefits, you can add more grape juice to your diet. Make sure to drink grape juice that is as natural as possible, as extra sugars and additives can negate some of grape juice’s benefits.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long-term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

  1. “The History.” Concord Grape Association. Accessed 20 December 2022. Link: http://www.concordgrape.org/bodyhistory.html
  2. Link, Rachael. Meeks, Sade, ed. “Is Grape Juice Healthy? Sugar Content and More.” Healthline Media. 20 December 2022. Link: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/is-grape-juice-good-for-you
  3. “5 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Vitamin C.” Saber Healthcare Group. 4 September 2020. Accessed 20 December 2022. Link: https://www.saberhealth.com/news/blog/5-vitamin-c-benefits
  4. “6 Scientifically Proven Benefits of Lemon Juice.” Saber Healthcare Group. 29 August 2021. Accessed 20 December 2022. Link: https://www.saberhealth.com/news/blog/lemon-juice-health-benefits
  5. Kim, Min-Ju et al. “Antioxidant activities of fresh grape juices prepared using various household processing methods.” Food science and biotechnology vol. 26,4 861-869. 12 Jul. 2017, doi:10.1007/s10068-017-0120-4. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6049554/
  6. Baby, Dany Paul. “Grape Juice: Are There Health Benefits?” WebMd, Nourish. 13 September 2022. Accessed 20 December 2022. Link: https://www.webmd.com/diet/grape-juice-health-benefits
  7. “Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). 14 September 2022. Accessed 20 December 2022. Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447
  8. “Grape Juice May Provide Option for Women Worried About Urinary Tract Infections.” Newswire. Accessed 20 December 2022. Link: https://www.newswise.com/articles/grape-juice-may-provide-option-for-women-worried-about-urinary-tract-infections
  9. “Grape Juice Brings Down Blood Pressure.” William Reed Ltd 2022. 15 November 2022. Accessed 20 December 2022. Link: https://www.nutraingredients.com/Article/2003/04/15/grape-juice-brings-down-blood-pressure#
  10. “Mechanism of grape juice’s cholesterol benefits proposed.” William Reed Ltd 2022. 15 November 2022. Accessed 20 December 2022. Link: https://www.bakeryandsnacks.com/Article/2006/06/16/mechanism-of-grape-juice-s-cholesterol-benefits-proposed#:~:text=Previous%20research%20has%20linked%20polyphenols,of%20LDL%20(bad)%20cholesterol.
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