A grape way to stay healthy

We frequently mention the benefits of drinking a glass of red wine here on That's Fit. But, something we should also mention is that drinking grape juice (especially the not-as-easy-to-drink concentrate) is a non-alcoholic beverage that can also improve your circulation and reduce bad (LDL) cholesterol -- minus the fun of getting drunk and peeing in public.

The flavonols found in red wine are found in equal abundance in Concord and other purple grape juice; which, let's face it, makes sense considering they are both made from grapes. And, just like wine, grape juice can help your heart in three ways: By reducing the oxidation of bad (LDL) cholesterol, improving elasticity of the arteries, and reducing platelet clumping. Also, grape juice contains many essential vitamins and minerals, in addition to containing almost as much potassium as a banana.

In a research study held in Spain, the power of grape juice concentrate was put to the test. Researchers found that when people consumed 7 ounces of the ultra-sweet juice concentrate daily for two weeks, their LDL cholesterol dropped by 13 percent while their good (HDL) cholesterol rose by 16 percent.

Fortunately, you don't have force down grape juice concentrate if its sweetness is too much for you to take, because drinking a 100 percent grape juice like Welch's can provide similar benefits.