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Antioxidant Superfood |
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Welch's 100% Grape Juice is naturally abundant in protective antioxidantsIt may surprise you to learn that Welch's 100% Grape Juice, made from Welch's own Concord grapes, recently ranked #1 in antioxidant capacity per serving among all juices and beverages tested in an independent study of 1000+ common foods.1 In fact, Welch's Grape Juice has more than twice the natural antioxidant power of orange juice.2 The natural antioxidant power of fruits and vegetables comes from certain natural plant compounds. Concord grapes are abundant sources of natural plant compounds called polyphenols and, in particular, contain a subgroup of polyphenols called flavonoids. When we make our juices we press the whole grapes, straight from the vines, with skins and seeds intact. Because polyphenols are typically found in the seeds and skins, these natural plant nutrients are transferred into the juice during the press, making our purple 100% Grape Juice an antioxidant superstar. But not all grape juices are the same. Many purple grape juices are not made from antioxidant rich Concord grapes and, consequently, those juices may have significantly less total antioxidant capacity.
Antioxidants and HealthOver ten years of scientific research supports that drinking antioxidant-rich Concord grape juice assists with healthy cardiovascular function. Emerging science further suggests that eating a diet high in natural antioxidants such as those found in Concord grape juice may slow down the effects of aging, such as by protecting memory and reducing the signs of skin aging. To learn more, click on Heart Health & More. What are Antioxidants and how do they work?Antioxidants are compounds that act as cell protectors by slowing oxidation. They help the body neutralize the dangerous effects of unattached oxygen molecules (sometimes called free radicals) in the body. If you've ever seen an old car rusting in a junkyard, that gives you some sense of what would be happening inside your body without antioxidants. But instead of forming rust, free radicals attack otherwise healthy cells and may damage or even kill them. This damage from oxidation is often termed oxidative stress. Our bodies produce free radicals for a number of reasons. Some are just a natural byproduct of various physiological functions like eating and exercising. Others are produced when we are exposed to external factors. For example, exposure to cigarette smoke—even second hand smoke-triggers production of free radicals in the body. The National Cancer Institute states that "free radicals may play a part in cancer, heart disease, stroke and other diseases of aging."3 If you consume a diet rich in natural antioxidants, you are helping it keep these free radicals and their potential negative effects in check. The best way to get your antioxidants is to eat a diet rich in plant sources of antioxidants such as vegetables, fruits and fruit juices. Drink Welch's 100% Grape Juice daily – it's a delicious way to add natural antioxidants to your diet – your heart and your body will thank you. Click here for an easy-to-print Antioxidant Comparison Chart.
1 Halvorsen BL, Carlsen MH, Phillips KM, Bohn SK, Holte K, Jacobs DR, Jr. and Blomhoff R. Content of redox-active compounds (ie, antioxidants) in foods consumed in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006. 84(1):95-135. |
