Grapes Prevent Hardening of the Arteries

I was always told to avoid grapes in my diet. Nutritionists routinely warned people off of grapes because of their high sugar content. Then it was discovered that red grapes were very high in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are defined as flavonoid pigments found in many varieties of vegetables and fruits. They’re a good source of antioxidants. You probably heard about anthocyanins in relation to the Acai Berry.

Anyway I just saw a blurb in our paper (in the Dr. Mehmet Oz section) that says eating grapes can help prevent clogged arteries. A study showed that just three hours after eating the equivalent of 1 and 1/4 cups of grapes, people had better blood flow through their arteries than did people who drank a sugar solution. Blood-flow benefits were even better after three weeks of daily grape-eating.

Grapes have only 75 calories in a 1 and 1/4 cup serving.

Grapes may even help protect your blood vessels from fatty meals – something that normally does immediate damage. Early research suggests that grapes may help protect your blood pressure from salty foods too.