Grape juice: Same heart benefits as wine?

Possibly. There is some evidence that drinking red wine may reduce the risk of heart disease. But this benefit is most likely due to other factors such as antioxidants called flavonoids found in red wine. Grapes and red grape juice also contain flavonoids.

Red wine also contains a substance called resveratrol, which may reduce the risk of blood clots. Resveratrol is found in the skin and seeds of grapes. But it isn't known if grapes provide enough resveratrol to have a significant health benefit.

The American Heart Association doesn't recommend that anyone start drinking alcohol just to prevent heart disease. If you already drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Keep in mind that drinking too much alcohol can increase the risk of:

• High blood pressure
• Obesity
• Stroke
• Cancer

In addition, even light drinking can lead to alcohol addiction.