Muscadine Grape

Many of the phytonutrients present in the Muscadine Grape have been recognized as powerful antioxidants & anti-inflammatory agents. Antioxidants are important because they rid the body of free radicals that damage our cells. Free radicals are caused by exposure to radiation, tobacco smoke, pollutants, solvents, & even intense exercise. Damage to DNA can also occur which can cause cell mutations resulting in cancer.

There is strong evidence relating free radicals to aging & disease processes, e.g., cancer, atherosclerosis, immune system decline, brain dysfunction, cataracts, birth defects, rheumatoid arthritis, & inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease & ulcerative colitis. How Muscadine Grape phytonutrient antioxidants work is by binding & inactivating free radicals in the blood stream and in tissues.

Free radical production is controlled by several factors including antioxidants consumed as part of the diet. Some foods & supplements have higher antioxidant capacity than others. The Muscadine grape has over twice the antioxidant power as the blueberry based on Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) measurement. Antioxidants can help prevent the initiation, propagation, & termination of free radicals. Muscadine grapes & the antioxidants present in this grape have been studied as powerful antioxidants. Some of the most notable phytonutrients studied as antioxidants & anti-inflammatory agents found in the Muscadine grape include but are not limited to:

These phytonutrients are well-known in the scientific & health care professional community for their beneficial effects. Many have been studied as effective antioxidants & anti-inflammatory agents. While a high ORAC value is important, “many scientists think that the disease-fighting benefits of fruits & berries is not just due to their ability to provide antioxidant protection. It is also highly likely that phenolic compounds like resveratrol & quercetin produce specific gene responses reducing inflammation & improving the health of the heart & other organs.”

The Muscadine Grape is very unique! Muscadine grapes are scientifically known as Vitis rotundifolia & are genetically distinct from the French or bunch grape (Vitis vinifera). Muscadine grapes are native to SE United States & can be found growing wild in the yards of southern homes. The Muscadine grape differs from other grapes in several ways.

First, the most notable difference is the thick skin of the grape. This thick skin gives the Muscadine grape a natural resistance to disease, fungi, & insects. The skin is where much of the antioxidant power of the Muscadine grape is stored.

Second, Muscadine grapes have an extra set of chromosomes containing genes that allow them to produce a unique balance of phytonutrients that are virtually absent in other grapes.

Third, the Muscadine grape has significantly more antioxidant power than other grapes. Based on the ORAC standard measurement, Muscadine grapes have been measured as high as 6,800 per 100 grams, compared to 739 for red French grapes. Muscadine grape skins alone have about 6-8 times as much antioxidant capacity as whole blueberries.

The fourth main difference in Muscadine grapes, other grapes is the amount of natural resveratrol and ellagic acid. These phytonutrients have been studied as powerful antioxidants with potent anti-cancer properties.