Grapes shown to protect heart

In a study on mice, including grapes in a daily diet lowered blood pressure and protected the heart from oxidative stress. A group of mice taking a common blood pressure lowering drug, did have lower blood pressure but did not have the protection against oxidation like the group fed grapes. The benefits may be the result of the phytochemicals – naturally occurring antioxidants – turning on a protective process in the genes that reduces damage to the heart muscle.