Is Grape Juice Healthy?
March 17, 2022 | by Yashaswi Pathakamuri | Posted in Nutrition Facts
Grape juice is a fruit juice made from the pressed or crushed whole grapes. It is often served cold in wine glasses as an alcoholic drink.
Grape juice has been around since ancient times, but it was only in the 20th century that it became a popular beverage. It’s now one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, and its production has increased dramatically over the years.
Grape juice can be used to make a variety of different drinks. Some common examples are grapefruit juice, grape soda, and grape flavored sparkling water.
Grape juice is a great source of vitamin C, which is good for your immune system. It also has antioxidants that can help fight cell damage and disease. However, it does contain sugar and calories.
Types of grape juice
Grape juice is a popular drink that can be found in almost any restaurant or cafe. There are many types of grape juice that vary in color, flavor and texture.
Grape juice is made from grapes, which are crushed and then boiled with water to extract the juice. Grape juice can be diluted with water or other liquids to make different types of drinks such as grapefruit juice, white grape juice, and red grapefruit juice.
There are three types of grape juice. These include:
- Sparkling grape juice: This type is made with grapes that are not fermented. They are cold-pressed and then sparkling water is added to them.
- Still grape juice: This type has a low alcohol content, which makes it suitable for consumption by children and the elderly. It also has a milder flavor than other types of grape juice.
- Wine or hard grape juice: This type is made from fermented grapes that have been allowed to dry out, then the sugar content in them is reduced through fermentation, aging, and filtering before they are bottled or canned as wine or hard cider.
Nutrients
Though grape juice is high in carbs and natural sugar, it’s also a good source of several nutrients, including vitamin C and manganese. Grape juice contains some vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. However, it also contains sugar and calories. A glass of grape juice can contain up to 160 calories.
One cup (237 mL) of unsweetened purple grape juice contains the following nutrients:
- Calories: 152
- Protein: 1 gram
- Fat: 0.3 grams
- Carbs: 37.4 grams
- Fiber: 0.5 grams
- Vitamin C: 70% of the Daily Value (DV)
- Manganese: 26% of the DV
- Magnesium: 6% of the DV
- Potassium: 6% of the DV
- Copper: 5% of the DV
Many types of grape juice contain added ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C. This nutrient is essential for immune function and skin health .
Grape juice is also rich in manganese, a mineral involved in bone formation and the production of certain neurotransmitters in your brain.
What’s more, grape juice contains several flavonoids and polyphenols. These are plant compounds that act as antioxidants to protect against oxidative stress and inflammation.
Is grape juice healthy?
The answer to this question depends on the type of grape juice you’re drinking. Some grape juices are made from concentrate with added sugar while others are made from pure fruit juice with no added sugar or preservatives.
Grape juice is a popular beverage that is enjoyed by many and has been consumed for centuries. It is often considered as a healthy option, but does it really have health benefits?
Benefits
Grape juice is a good source of nutrients and vitamins. It is rich in antioxidants, which are good for your health. It also has high levels of potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium.
Grape juice has been used for centuries to treat a wide range of health conditions such as kidney stones, urinary tract infections and gout.
Grape juice is a healthy drink that provides a variety of benefits. It has been found to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It also helps in weight loss and improves brain function.
Promotes Immune Function
Many varieties of grape juice are enriched with the micronutrient vitamin C. Vitamin C can help reduce oxidative stress and support the function of your immune cells.
Getting enough vitamin C in your daily diet may reduce your susceptibility to illness and infection, including respiratory infections, like the common cold. Grape juice is also a great source of antioxidants, like resveratrol, a compound that can reduce inflammation and regulate immune cells.
Improves Heart Health
Grapes are known for their antioxidant content and several studies on the subject have found that grape juice is good for supporting heart health.
According to some reviews, a specific flavonoid in Concord grape juice could help reduce the risk factors for heart disease. It also includes some other benefits such as these: lowering blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels, and preventing heart attack.
- Inflammation
- Plaque build-up in the arteries
- Platelet aggregation
- Cholesterol and triglyceride levels
In a small study involving 25 women, drinking white grape juice for 30 days increased levels of HDL cholesterol by 16%. This drink has also been shown to help people with belly fat.
Similarly, a review reported that grape products, including grape juice, could significantly improve levels of total, LDL (bad), and HDL (good) cholesterol compared with a control. As such, it might help protect against heart disease.
Improves Digestive Health
Some research has found that grape juice might support your digestive system. A recent study found that taking a grape powder supplement, equivalent to about 3.4 ounces of grape juice, is effective for promoting digestive health.
Some types of grape juice also contain a small amount of fiber, with around 0.5 grams per cup (237 mL).
While this is much less than the amount found in whole grapes, it can help you meet your daily needs for fiber, an essential nutrient that promotes regularity and digestive health. More research is needed on the long-term effects of this juice on the heart.
Should You Drink Grape Juice with Sugar?
Grape juice is a good source of several important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and can fit into a healthy, well-rounded diet.
While the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting your intake to 4–10 ounces (118–296 mL) per day, other research shows that drinking 3.4–5 ounces (100–150 mL) per day may offer the most health benefits.
Sweeten things up with natural unprocessed sugars like those you can find in fruits and vegetables to be healthy. Increasing your fruit & vegetable intake is good for your digestion, cardiovascular health, and beltline.
Ideally, choose unsweetened varieties made with 100% grape juice and steer clear of brands that contain added sugar like high fructose corn syrup.
Alternatively, opt for whole grapes instead. These contain the same beneficial nutrients as grape juice, along with a higher amount of fiber to support healthy blood sugar levels.
Summary
Grape juice is a good source of several important nutrients, including vitamin C, manganese, and antioxidants. It’s also linked to several health benefits. For example, it may support heart health, immune function, and digestive health.
However, it’s also high in sugar and has less fiber than whole fruits. It could increase blood sugar levels or contribute to weight gain if consumed in large amounts.
Therefore, it’s best to stick to a moderate intake and select unsweetened varieties made with 100% grape juice whenever possible.
Alternatively, choose whole fruits instead to increase your fiber intake and take advantage of the many health benefits that grapes have to offer.
Grape juice can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Stick to unsweetened varieties made with 100% grape juice or opt for whole, fiber-rich grapes instead.