Unclog your arteries naturally: Grapes

Grapes…
Red seedless grapes are a good source of lutein – a carotenoid that’s been shown to help reduce early atherosclerosis. Recent studies have shown that lutein also helps prevent thickening of the carotid artery in the neck, an indication of atherolscrosis. It also lowers inflammation of LDL cholesterol in artery walls.

Concord Grape Juice…
Both grape skin extract and grape seed extract together have excellent heart-health properties. Grape juice, made from whole concord grapes is a powerful artery-clearing wonder. It protects your artery walls from cholesterol because of some powerful, potent substances.

Found in the skin of the grape is a flavinoid called “quercetin” which acts as an antioxident to prevent LDL cholesterol from sticking on the walls of your arteries. “Resveratrol” also found in the skin, removes inflammation and blood clots. Also, “procyanidins in the seeds help keep your blood vessels clear including added antioxident properties.

A new study indicates that not only does Concord grape juice stimulated an arterial relaxation effect in a similar fashion to red wine, in fact it even induced a prolonged relaxation effect that has not yet been reported with red wine.

Dr. Valérie Schini-Kerth and a team of researchers of the Université Louis Pasteur de Strasbourg, France, found that Concord grape juice stimulated the production of nitric oxide in endothelial cells, providing a vasorelaxation effect. It is known that nitric oxide is important in the body’s natural system for maintaining healthy, flexible blood vessels and helps support healthy blood pressure.

Researchers further discovered that Concord grape juice produced this relaxation effect by stimulating the same chemical reactions in the arteries that are activated by red wine.

The beneficial effect provided by Concord grape juice lasted up to six hours, whereas this extended effect has not been reported with red wine. This research suggests that the benefits of drinking Concord purple grape juice may last long after finishing the juice.

For more info about the wonderful benefits of the Concord Grape, visit: http://www.concordgrape.org/bodyproducts-health.html