Red wine is often praised in the media for its purported health benefits. But turns out, you don't necessarily have to drink alcohol to benefit from the health-boosting properties of red wine polyphenols: Grape juice made from red, purple, or other dark-skinned grapes contains those very same polyphenols! Furthermore, grape juice does not contain alcohol, which may provide some added benefits. But can we go as far as to claim that purple or red grape juice is healthier than red wine? Here's a comparison of some of the most interesting health effects of grape juice versus red wine: By now everyone has heard that drinking red wine in moderation is good for your heart. But guess what, juice made from purple or red grapes contains the same polyphenols that are responsible for the heart health protecting qualities of red wine. Indeed, a study published in the June 2001 issue of the journal Circulation analyzed the effects of purple grape juice on cardiovascular health and reported that purple grape juice decreased platelet aggregation, increased platelet-derived nitric oxide release, and decreased superoxide production, both in vitro and in vivo.

All of these observations suggest that drinking purple grape juice may help protect cardiovascular health.Now, that's great, but guess what – there's more! A study published in the May 2001 issue of the journal Atherosclerosis found that red grape juice was much better than red wine and dealcoholized red wine at the same polyphenol dose at inhibiting atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and at improving lipid and antioxidant parameters in hamsters.best wine bars in italy Red grapes, along with grape juice and red wine, are excellent dietary sources of resveratrol, a phytochemical that has been shown to possess strong antioxidant and anti-cancer properties in test tube experiments (in vitro studies). best indian wine for healthHowever, the source of resveratrol may play a significant role in whether this powerful compound can exert its beneficial effects also in vivo.best type of wine for thai food

In one study, a group of scientists analyzed the relation between breast cancer risk and dietary intake of resveratrol in Switzerland. They based their analysis on data from a larger case-control study conducted between 1993 and 2003 on 369 cases and 602 controls. Their findings, which were reported in the April 2005 issue of the European Journal of Cancer Prevention, were interesting: resveratrol from grapes, but not from wine, was associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer.buy wine online cheap shippingAnd it gets worse: some studies have even associated wine consumption with an increased risk of breast cancer. best red wine to go with chinese foodThat association, however, remains highly controversial, and further studies are needed to determine whether red wine can really increase breast cancer risk.box of wine how many bottles

If you're trying to lose weight, think twice before indulging in a glass of wine. Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram, which is almost as many calories as in a gram of fat. Grape juice, by contrast, is made almost entirely of carbohydrates (which contain 4 calories per gram) and water (which contains no calories). As a result, an 8-ounce glass of red wine weighs in at about 200 calories, whereas a glass of grape juice only contains about 150 calories. Sponsored Links / AdsNutrition•February 9, 2015Trust us — you want the resveratrol in your diet! Research has done it again: reiterated just how healthy red wine’s potent ingredient is. The polyphenol resveratrol helps you live longer! It prevents heart disease! It protects your skin! And the latest: It helps your memory.And while there’s some truth to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties of the darker vino, alcohol isn’t always your best bet for a health defense. (Plus, some research suggests that in order to rein in some of resveratrol’s touted effects, you’d have to drink 52 bottles of wine a day, which no health expert would suggest you do.)

So, consider these four ways to sneak resveratrol into your diet — we won’t tell your Malbec-loving friends.Itadori Tea(Photo: Getty Images)This herbal tea popular in Japan and China has traditionally been used to fend off heart disease and strokes. But some research suggests that its high levels of resveratrol make it a perfect replacement for people who don’t drink red wine, says Ilyse Schapiro, a New York-based registered dietitian.Related: 5 Best Teas For Weight LossPeanuts (And Peanut Butter)(Photo: Aleksandar Cocek/Flickr)“Boiled peanuts actually contain more reservatrol than peanut butter,” Schapiro tells Yahoo Health. You’ll get less from a PB&J than a glass of wine, but the food is still considered a good source of the antioxidant.Invest in a Serum(Photo: Getty Images)“Antioxidants ingested through drinking do not directly help neutralize free radicals on the skin the way topical resveratrol does,” dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi, MD, co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, DC, tells Yahoo Health.

In product form, resveratrol can help your skin. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory and provides sun protection, says Joanna Vargas, celebrity facialist and founder of the Joanna Vargas Salon and Skincare Collection. (Studies in animals back this up.)Related: Potential Super-Antioxidant in Coffee May Protect Against ObesitySupplements(Photo: Getty Images)Before you pop a pill, keep this in mind: Supplements aren’t regulated by the FDA. But Joseph Maroon, MD, author of The Longevity Factor: How Resveratrol and Red Wine Activate Genes for a Longer and Healthier Life, says he doesn’t see a real downside to taking a resveratrol supplement. There are virtually no side effects, he says. It’s better to eat your nutrients than take them in vitamin form, he says, but for people who struggle to incorporate polyphenol-rich foods like berries or dark chocolate into their diets, a supplement could be a good idea. Try 250 or 500 milligrams of ResVitale, available at big-name stores like GNC.