Grapes can Help and reduce heart disease:

Grapes can help

reduce heart

disease: Study

London: The humble grapes could help inprove heart function and reduce diabetes. American scientists have claimed.

           Researchers at the University of Michigan found that eating the fruit could slow a 'down hill sequence" of high blood pressure and insulin resistance that might lead to a development of those conditions.

            The scientists, after an animal test, discovered that a grape-enriched diet can prevent risk factors for metabolic syndrome -- a condition which is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

            For their study, the researchers fed laboratory rats a blend of green, red and black grapes as part of a high-fat American style diet and compared them with another test group fed with a similar diet full of fat and sugars.

            After three months, they found that the rats that received the grape enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and reduced indicators of inflammation in the heart and the blood than rats who received no grape powder. Rats also had lower triglycerides and improved glucose tolerance.

             Heart surgeon Dr Steven Bolling, head of the university's Cardioprotection Research Laboratory, said: "The possible reasoning behind the lessening of metabolic syndrome is that the phytochemicals were active in protecting the heart cells from the damaging effects of metabolic syndrome. In the rats, inflammation of the heart and heart function was maintained far better.

                "Although there's not a particular direct correlation between this study and what humans should do, it's very interesting to postulate that a diet higher in phytochemical-rich fruits, such as grapes, may benefit humans."

             Although, he added those wanting to lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of diabetes should follow some tried-and-true advice such as eating a healthy diet low in saturated fat.