11/27/2019 / By Melissa Smith
Long-term and increased oxidative stress can cause chronic inflammation. This can lead to health problems, such as diabetes, arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, heart disease and even cancer. You can reduce oxidative stress in your body by consuming antioxidant-rich foods. In a study published in the journal Nutrition Research, researchers suggested that fox grape (Vitis labrusca L.) juice could increase your antioxidant defenses without increasing blood sugar or uric acid levels.
Grape varieties and cultivation conditions influence the bioactive polyphenols in grapes. The fox grape variety is cultivated in tropical regions and traditionally used to make grape juice. It is known to be a rich source of polyphenols, which promote health.
The researchers, who were from the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, examined the effects of short-term consumption of organic and conventional juices made from fox grapes on antioxidant biomarkers in healthy people. They hypothesized that polyphenols from tropical grape juice would improve redox homeostasis, which plays a role in fighting oxidative stress, in healthy individuals.
To test this, they asked 24 participants to drink 400 milliliters (mL) of conventional juice, organic juice, or water with a two-week washout period for every drink. The researchers took the participants’ blood samples before and one hour after consuming the drink. They analyzed these samples for reduced glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, antioxidant enzymes, blood sugar levels and uric acid levels. Reduced glutathione is the stable, active form of glutathione needed for good health.
The researchers found that those who drank both grape juices had increased reduced glutathione levels and total antioxidant capacity, as well as increased activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Furthermore, both grape juices did not affect their glycemic status, maintaining healthy blood sugar and uric acid levels. These results demonstrated that grape juice polyphenols were associated with increased antioxidants, and there are no chemical differences between organic and conventional juices. (Related: Red wine and purple grape juice have high antioxidant activity: Study.)
Like red wine, which is also made from grapes, grape juice provides many health benefits. But unlike red wine, it does not contain alcohol, which makes it suitable for children. Here are several health benefits of drinking grape juice:
Learn more about the benefits of antioxidant-rich fruits like grapes at Antioxidants.news.
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