Concord Grape Juice

Species Name: Vitis labrusca

Also Known As: Fox grape

Concord grapes are dark purple, very sweet and usually contain seeds. These grapes can be eaten whole, or made into wine, juice, and jelly.

These grapes pack a very powerful nutritional punch.

Full of naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, resveratrol, phytochemicals and flavonoids- It's not just delicious but an excellent antioxidant.

Polyphenols are also in concord grapes. These antioxidant nutrients help our body stay healthy and combat every day stress. It's the same antioxidant found in red wine, and is what gives the grapes their deep purple color.

Concord grape juice is made from mashed, cooked and strained grapes. This juice is commercially available in regular and concentrated form.

Make Your Own Concord Grape Juice:

This very concentrated grape juice can be mixed with other juices or water. Sugar or sweetener can be added to this juice to flavor.

1. Put just enough water in a stock pot to cover the bottom. After rinsing and removing grapes from the stems, add the grapes to the pot and heat on high.
2. As the water starts to boil, use a potato masher and mash the grapes. After about ten minutes of boiling and mashing the pits and skins will separate from the grape flesh, at this point take the pot off the heat and allow the mashed grapes to cool.
3. When the grapes have cooled down, line another pot or very large bowl with a double layer of damp cheesecloth, draping it over the sides so it won’t collapse. Pour the mashed grapes into the center of the cloth, and carefully gather the edge of the cheesecloth together, tying the top loosely together.
4. Leave handles that you can tie with a string and hang the bag somewhere (Say the sink faucet?) and let it drip into the bowl for about ½ hour, then squeeze the rest out.

Home Remedies Using Concord Grape Juice:

Benefits of Concord Grape Juice:

Loaded with powerful antioxidants, concord grapes juice ranks the highest of 13 tested juices in the amount of antioxidant activity. It is a great energy source and reinforces the immune system. Concord grape juice may prove beneficial in the treatment of:

• Preventing damage to arteries
• To lower blood pressure
• Reduce blood clot risk
• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol
• Diminish signs of ageing

Concord grape juice contains a substance called Resveratrol, this substance has been found to slow the growth of cancer cells and obstruct the formation of tumors in the lymph, breast, stomach, liver, and colon areas.

There is research on grapes, red wines, and other sources about the possible health benefits of resveratrol. Not only can you enjoy a glass of grape juice but you can drink it knowing you're helping to improve your health.

Side Effects of Concord Grape Juice:

Concord Grape Juice has no known side effects.

Image courtesy of picdrops, CC BY Flickr.