HEALTHY BEVERAGES: Health benefits of grape juice
Grapes belong to the world’s largest fruit crops and is one of the most diffuse fruits in the world both as fresh fruit (table grape) and processed in wine and grape juice.
The composition of grape juice is similar to that of whole grapes except that crude fiber and oils, which are primarily present in the seed, are removed. Sugars, acids, methyl anthranilate (in Vitis labruscana), volatile esters, alcohols and aldehydes are major flavor constituents. Glucose and fructose are the major sugars present in grape juice.
Grape juices may provide some of the same heart benefits of red wine, including:
*Reducing the risk of blood clots
*Reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol
*Preventing damage to blood vessels in your heart
*Helping maintain a healthy blood pressure
The methods for the grape-juice preparation are very different to the varieties used and local traditions. In general, the main steps in juice preparations are destemming, crushing, depectination, pressing, pasteurization, setting, and filtration.
Labels: composition, grape fruit, grape juice, health