Eating Grapes Lowers Anxiety, Hypertension

SAN DIEGOEating antioxidant-rich grapes and grape products may be an inexpensive and nutritious way to reduce anxiety and related hypertension, as well as cognitive impairments associated with anxiety, according to new research presented last week at the Experimental Biology 2012 annual meeting.

Researchers at the University of Houston investigated the role of oxidative stress in the combined occurrence of anxiety-cognitive impairment and hypertension, using a rat model of oxidative stress. They found that feeding the animals a grape-enriched diet for two weeks prevented the anxiety-like behavior, learning and memory impairment, as well as the rise in blood pressure that was observed in the rats with induced oxidative stress but no grapes in their diet. The researchers attributed these benefits to the antioxidant effect of grapes.

"These results suggest promising potential for grapes in a very important area of health," said lead investigator Samina Salim, Ph.D. "We attribute the benefits of the grapes to their antioxidant activity and their ability to combat oxidative stress."

The study was supported by two grants from the National Institutes of Health, and a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship award. Grapes were provided in the form of a freeze-dried whole grape powder by the California Table Grape Commission.

Check out Food Product Designs Antioxidant Image Gallery to learn more about how science is uncovering the advantages of consuming dietary antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables.