Grapes Reduce Risks For Heart Disease

               
Grapes reduce risks for heart disease and diabetes 

Findings show grape consumption lowered blood pressure, improved heart function and reduced other risk factors for heart disease and metabolic syndrome

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Could eating grapes slow what’s for many Americans a downhill sequence of high blood pressure and insulin resistance leading to heart disease and type 2 diabetes?

Scientists at the University of Michigan Health System are teasing out clues to the effect of grapes in reducing risk factors related to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The effect is thought to be due to phytochemicals -- naturally occurring antioxidants – that grapes contain.

Findings from a new animal study will be presented today at the Experimental Biology convention in Anaheim, Calif., and show encouraging results of a grape-enriched diet preventing risk factors for metabolic syndrome, a condition affecting an estimated 50 million Americans and is often a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

Researchers studied the effect of regular table grapes (a blend of green, red and black grapes) that were mixed into a powdered form and integrated into the diets of laboratory rats as part of a high-fat, American style diet. All of the rats used were from a research breed that is prone to being overweight.

They performed many comparisons between the rats consuming a grape-enriched diet and the control rats receiving no grape powder. Researchers added calories and sugars to the control group to balance the extra calories and sugars gained from getting the grape powder.

After three months, the rats that received the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and reduced indicators of inflammation in the heart and the blood than rats who received no grape powder. Rats also had lower triglycerides and improved glucose tolerance.

The effects were seen even though the grape-fed animals had no change in body weight.

In all, researchers say the study demonstrates that a grape-enriched diet can have broad effects on the development of heart disease and metabolic syndrome and the risk factors that go along with it.

“The possible reasoning behind the lessening of metabolic syndrome is that the phytochemicals were active in protecting the heart cells from the damaging effects of metabolic syndrome. In the rats, inflammation of the heart and heart function was maintained far better,” says Steven Bolling, M.D., heart surgeon at the U-M Cardiovascular Center and head of the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory.

The researchers also looked for signs of inflammation, oxidative damage and other molecular indicators of cardiac stress. Again, the rats who consumed the grape powder had lower levels of these markers than rats who did not receive grapes.

There is no well-accepted way to diagnose metabolic syndrome which is really a cluster of characteristics: excess belly fat (for men, a waist measuring 40 inches or more and for women, a waist measuring 35 inches or more); high triglycerides which can lead to plague build-up in the artery walls; high blood pressure; reduced glucose tolerance; and elevated c-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation in the body.

Those with metabolic syndrome are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

But the U-M study suggests that it may be possible that grape consumption can change the downhill sequence that leads to heart disease by prolonging the time between when symptoms begin to occur and a time of diagnosis.

“Reducing these risk factors may delay the onset of diabetes or heart disease, or lessen the severity of the diseases,” says E. Mitchell Seymour, Ph.D., lead researcher and manager of the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory. “Ultimately it may lessen the health burden of these increasingly common conditions.”

Rats were fed the same weight of food each day, with powdered grapes making up 3 percent of the diet. Although the current study was supported in part by the California Table Grape Commission, which also supplied the grape powder, the researchers note that the commission played no role in the study’s design, conduct, analysis or preparation of the presentation. But because of differences in body weight, metabolic rate, lean body mass, daily calorie intake and other factors, U-M researchers cannot predict a cups a day equivalency for humans. The federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends consuming 5 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Research on grapes and other fruits containing high levels of antioxidant phytochemicals continues to show promise. U-M will further its research this summer when it begins a clinical trial to test the impact of grape product consumption on heart risk factors.

“Although there’s not a particular direct correlation between this study and what humans should do, it’s very interesting to postulate that a diet higher in phytochemical-rich fruits, such as grapes, may benefit humans,” Bolling says.

Bolling says that people who want to lower their blood pressure, reduce their risk of diabetes or help with weakened hearts retain as much pumping power as possible should follow some tried-and-true advice to eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, achieve a desirable weight and increase physical activity.

New research shows grapes reduce risk for heart disease and diabetes


The millions of Americans with heart disease and type 2 diabetes didn't develop these diseases out of the blue. Their disorders are the result of a cascade of problems including high blood pressure, insulin resistance, abdominal fat and other symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Now University of Michigan (U-M) scientists say they've found something that could help put the brakes on this downward spiral of ill health. It's not a new drug but a delicious and easy lifestyle change: just eat grapes.

The U-M research findings, announced April 26th at the Experimental Biology convention held in Anaheim, California, showed grape consumption lowered blood pressure, improved heart function and reduced other risk factors for heart disease and metabolic syndrome, a condition affecting an estimated 50 million Americans that often leads to type 2 diabetes. The scientists stated the beneficial effects of grapes appear to be due to the rich supply of phytochemicals in the fruit.

The research team tested a mixture of green, red and black grapes on laboratory rats that are prone to being overweight. For three months, one group of the animals ate powdered grapes mixed into their regular feed, which was devised to imitate a typical high-fat, American style diet. A control group of similar rats received no grape powder in their food (which was supplemented so it had the same number of calories as the grape-added diet).

The results of the experiment showed the rats eating the grape-enriched diet had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and reduced indicators of inflammation in the heart and the blood than rats who received no grape powder. What's more, the grape eating rats had lower triglycerides and improved glucose tolerance even though there was no change in their body weight.

"The possible reasoning behind the lessening of metabolic syndrome is that the phytochemicals were active in protecting the heart cells from the damaging effects of metabolic syndrome," Steven Bolling, M.D., heart surgeon at the U-M Cardiovascular Center and head of the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory, said in a statement to the media.

While this was an animal study, the scientists noted there's good reason to think eating grapes -- along with tried-and-true natural strategies such as eating little saturated fat, keeping weight under control and exercising regularly -- could have broad effects on the development of heart disease and metabolic syndrome in people.

"Reducing these risk factors may delay the onset of diabetes or heart disease, or lessen the severity of the diseases," said E. Mitchell Seymour, Ph.D., lead researcher and manager of the U-M Cardioprotection Research Laboratory. "Ultimately it may lessen the health burden of these increasingly common conditions."


Grapes And High Blood Pressure
How To Use Grape Seed Extract to Manage High Blood Pressure

Grapes have a long and storied history within the realm of healing, from the grape leaves that were once used to quell pain, inflammation and bleeding to the avowed healing properties of wine. In the more recent past, it has been discovered that many of the healing properties of grapes stem from the polyphenol content of their seeds. Polyphenols are powerful anti-oxidants that neutralize free radicals in your bloodstream. For more information on how free radicals and anti-oxidants work, see How To Understand Anti-Oxidants. Polyphenol antioxidants also naturally increase blood vessel dilation (vasodilation), which increases blood flow and decreases blood pressure. Grape seed extract is exactly what it sounds like--an extract produced from the seeds of grapes--with high levels of polyphenols, particularly one polyphenol known as proanthocyanidin that can lower blood pressure naturally.

Here's what you should know about how to use this extract to manage high blood pressure:
Grape seed extract is available in capsules, tablets, and tinctures. Look for products that are standardized to 95% OPC content. (OPC is an abbreviation for oligomeric proanthocyanidins, which are a class of flavonoid complexes.)
In its first human trial, grape seed extract performed well. In results reported in March, 2006, a University of California-Davis study showed that systolic blood pressure (the top number of a blood pressure reading) and diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of a blood pressure reading) dropped an average of 12 and 8 points respectively, in male and female subjects with metabolic syndrome who took either a 150 or 300 milligram dose of of grape seed extract daily.

The UC Davis research team recently is currently doing another human trial of grape seed extract using pre-hypertension subjects with a systolic blood pressure of 120-139 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of 80-89 mmHg. In animal studies, grape seed extract has reduced blood pressure in pre-hypertensive subjects.
A study reported in the Journal of Hypertension found that grape seed polyphenols in combination with Vitamin C increased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This study suggests caution in combining Vitamin C supplements with grape seed extract.
Grape seed extract is considered safe. However, because herbs and dietary supplements are not strictly regulated by the U.S. food and Drug Administration, it is difficult to verify the purity and strength of products claiming to contain the extract. Also remember that the extract may interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For example, it increase the risk of bleeding. Grape seed extract should only be used with the guidance of a qualified health care professional.
And while this might seem obvious....if you are allergic to grapes, odds are that you are allergic to grape seed extract and should not take it to reduce high blood pressure or for any other reasons.

In addition to its ability to manage and control blood pressure, grape seed extract has some additional benefits:
Grape seed extract may also protect against cardiovascular disease by restoring impaired endothelial function and by protecting against the oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or the "bad" cholesterol.

Animal studies have suggested that topical grape seed extract promotes antitumor activity. Test tube studies suggest that it inhibits human lung cancer, breast cancer, and gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Human trials of the extract's cancer-fighting properties have not yet been conducted.

Some animal studies suggest that procyanidins from grape seed may promote hair growth. Expect a human trial soon.

Remember that grape seed extract is not a panacea. If you do decide to use it to manage high blood pressure, you still need to follow your doctor's lifestyle, medication and dietary recommendations for controlling your blood pressure.


Blood Pressure Lowering Effects of Grape Juice
Purpose

Recent studies suggest that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables can lower blood pressure, and a number of lines of evidence suggest that grape products may have such an effect. The purpose of this study is to determine whether consuming grape juice lowers blood pressure in individuals with pre-hypertension or stage I hypertension.


Condition Intervention
Hypertension Dietary Supplement: Concord Grape Juice

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Allocation: Randomized
Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Effect of Concord Grape Juice on Blood Pressure and Vascular Function in Subjects With Pre-Hypertension and Stage 1 HypertensionResource links provided by NLM:

MedlinePlus related topics: High Blood Pressure
U.S. FDA Resources

Further study details as provided by Boston University:


Secondary Outcome Measures:
Pulse wave velocity [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Pulse amplitude tonometry [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Blood pressure during mental tasks [ Time Frame: 8 weeks ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Estimated Enrollment: 60
Study Start Date: March 2006
Study Completion Date: May 2009
Intervention Details:
Dietary Supplement: Concord Grape Juice
Approximately 16 oz of grape juice or placebo
Detailed Description:

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is among the most common and important risk factors for atherosclerosis. A number of non-pharmacological therapies have successfully been applied to prevent the development of elevated BP or reduce elevated BP. For example the DASH Study showed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products, and reduced in saturated fat, total fat and cholesterol, substantially lowered blood pressure in normotensive and hypertensive individuals.

Within the past three years a number of small clinical trials have suggested suggest that drinking purple grape juice for a period of 6-12 weeks may lower blood pressure individuals with elevated blood pressure. Other clinical trials have shown that Concord grape juice improves the function of the vascular endothelium, possibly providing an explanation for the beneficial effect. However, there is a need for a prospective, controlled study to determine whether grape juice has a beneficial effect on blood pressure.

The present study will compare the effect of drinking Concord purple grape juice (7 ml/kg or about 16 oz/day for a 70 kg person) and the effect of calorie-matched placebo on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure, blood pressure reactivity, and vascular function in men and women in the category of "pre-hypertension" (defined as blood pressure greater than 120/80, but less than 149/89 mmHg and Stage 1 hypertension (defined as blood pressure greater than 140/90, but less than 160/100). This study will specifically recruit patients with systolic blood pressure of 130-159 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of 85-99 mmHg. The study will be double blind and have a crossover design with the order of treatment randomized (grape juice first or placebo first). A dietician will provide all subjects with formal instruction in a low salt diet, which is the current recommended initial therapy for patients with Stage 1 hypertension.

After a 1-week run-in period, subjects will consume each beverage for 8 weeks with a 4-week rest period between treatments. Blood pressure will be measured before and after each treatment period using a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure recording. After each treatment period, we will measure changes in blood pressure induced by psychological challenge (mental arithmetic and computer tasks) and by the cold pressor test. In order to gain insight into the potential mechanisms of benefit, we will also examine the effects of beverage consumption on endothelial function, stiffness of the central aorta, fasting glucose and insulin, body weight, and markers of systemic inflammation, including CD40 ligand and C-reactive protein. Finally, we will store plasma samples for future investigation of other potential effects of grape juice on the cardiovascular system.

We hypothesize that Concord grape juice will have favorable effects on blood pressure compared to placebo.


Eligibility
Ages Eligible for Study: 21 Years to 75 Years
Genders Eligible for Study: Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:
Adult males and females
Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 35.0 kg/m2
Systolic blood pressure (130-159 mmHg) and/or diastolic blood pressure (85-99 mm Hg) on two screening visits
Subject must be judged to be in good health on the basis of medical history; 5. Subject must not be taking any antihypertensive medications for at least one month prior to the Screening Visit

Exclusion Criteria:

History of clinically defined coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, stroke, active gastrointestinal ulcers, renal, or hepatic disease;
History of bleeding disorders or malabsorption syndromes;
Taking drugs for regulating hemostasis, including stable-dose aspirin;
History of active cancer
Females who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant
Use of weight-loss drugs (including over-the-counter and dietary supplements)
Diagnosed diabetes mellitus
Subjects who consume a vegetarian diet
Recent history (within the past 6 months) of alcohol or substance abuse.
Laboratory values outside the following ranges: serum potassium (3.5-5.1 mg/dl), creatinine (0.5-1.3 mg/dl), hematocrit (36-50%), white blood count (4.0-11.0 K/ul), platelet count (150-400 k/ul)

Red grapes 'are wonder cure for high blood pressure and cholesterol'

Red grapes are more than just the source for the world’s finest wine - the fruits themselves are a wonder cure against heart attacks, according to new research.

And while a glass of wine is a recognised part of a healthy Mediterranean-style diet, it seems the bits of the grape thrown away to make the tipple could be even healthier.

Researchers made a cocktail extracted from the most fibre-rich parts of the grape such as the skin and seeds which are the waste byproduct in vineyards.

Tests on human volunteers found the extract was extremely rich in both fibre and antioxidants which reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease - the world’s biggest killer.

Most other superfoods for the heart, like the plant extract psyllium or healthy oats for instance, are usually good for either fibre or antioxidants rather than both together.

But the tests at Madrid University using a concoction called Grape Antioxidant Dietary Fibre (GADF) was high in both potentially lifesaving ingredients.

Over a 16 week period, adding the extract to the volunteers’ regular diet ‘significantly’ reduced their ‘Lipid Profile’ - the range of tests to determine a patient’s risk of heart disease.

This included reducing blood pressure by up to five per cent and cholesterol by up to 14 per cent among the volunteers, said the research.

A Mediterranean-style diet including components like red wine, olive oil and tomatoes has long been considered healthier than other Western diets rich in deep fried and fast food.

The research suggests the grape extract would make such a diet up to 50 per cent even more effective in reducing the risks of heart attacks.

Cardiovascular disease is the biggest cause of death in the Western World accounting for up to 50 per cent of all natural mortalities.

The extract, if turned into a health supplement, could be particularly useful for those who suffer from high blood pressure or high cholesterol, said the researchers.

The results are published in the journal Nutrition today/Wed after 34 non-smoking adults were tested with the GADF extract over 16 weeks.

While that was going on, a further nine students from the university who were not given the extract were also monitored so they could be compared to the first group.

Those given GADF saw ‘significantly reduced total cholesterol’, particularly LDL, the type known as ‘bad cholesterol’ which can lead to heart problems in later life.

The reduction in both cholesterol and blood pressure was much bigger than the effects caused by other high fibre products on the market, they said.

Researcher Jara Perez Jimenez said: ‘GADF showed significant reducing effects in lipid profile and blood pressure.

‘The effects appear to be higher than the ones caused by other dietary fibres, such as oat fibre or psyllium, probably due to the combined effect of dietary fibre and antioxidants.’

Grapes May Fight High Blood Pressure


A hardy helping of grapes may fight high blood pressure and heart disease if you eat a salty diet, a new University of Michigan study shows.

Because black, green, and red grapes contain high levels of naturally occurring antioxidants, the fruits may reduce hypertension that can lead to heart failure, shows the study, published in the October issue of the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences.

Scientists including Mitchell Seymour, MS, report that flavonoids -- found in abundance in the skin, flesh, and seeds of grapes -- may be the substances that provide the beneficial effects they found in their study of laboratory rats.

Grapes and High Blood Pressure

The researchers studied the effects of regular table grapes -- a blend of green, red, and black fruits -- that were fed to rats in powdered form.

After 18 weeks, rats that ate the grape-enriched powder had lower blood pressure, better heart function, and reduced inflammation throughout their bodies than comparable rodents that didn't receive the mixture. Rats on salty diets plus hydralazine, a blood pressure medicine, had lower blood pressure, but their hearts weren't as protected from damage as the animals fed grapes.

"These findings support our theory that something within the grapes themselves has a direct impact on cardiovascular risk, beyond the simple blood-pressure-lowering impact that we already know can come from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables," says Seymour, who manages the University of Michigan Cardioprotection Research Laboratory.

Steven Bolling, MD, who heads the program, says the rats in the study were in a similar situation as millions of Americans who have high blood pressure related to their diets and who develop heart failure because of prolonged hypertension.

"The inevitable downhill sequence to hypertension and heart failure was changed by the addition of grape powder to a high-salt diet," Bolling says. "Although there are many natural compounds in the grape powder itself that may have an effect, the things that we think are having an effect against the hypertension may be the flavonoids, either by direct antioxidant effects, by indirect effects on cell function, or both."

Such naturally occurring substances already have been shown to reduce other potentially harmful molecular and cellular activity, the researchers say in a news release.

The study notes that grapes and other fruits high in antioxidant phytochemials show promise, as does research on the impact of red wine on heart health.

Still, the best advice for people with blood pressure problems is to cut down on the amount of salt they get, Bolling says.

"There is, as we know, a great variability, perhaps genetic even, in sensitivity to salt causing hypertension," he says. "Some people are very sensitive to salt intake, some are only moderately so, and there are perhaps some people who are salt resistant. But in general we say, 'Stay away from excess salt.'"

Grape-Enriched Diet

The researchers studied several groups of rats and assigned each group of 12 to various combinations of salty foods, grape powder, and hydralazine. All the rodents were fed the same weight of food daily, with powdered grapes making up 3% of the diet for the animals that received grapes as part of either a low-salt or high-salt diet. Rats receiving hydralazine lapped it up in their water supply.

After looking at various factors, including molecular indicators of cardiac stress, the researchers still found that the rats in the high-salt grape and high-salt hydralazine groups developed high blood pressure over time but had lower systolic blood pressures than the high-salt rats deprived of grape powder.

"Though it's true that your mom told you to eat all your fruits and your vegetables, and that we are learning a lot about what fruits, including grapes, can do ... we would not directly tell patients to throw all their pills away and just eat grapes," Bolling says.

The researchers say the study suggests that a grape-enriched diet can have broad effects on hypertension, but that more work is needed to see if the beneficial effects will apply to humans.

They write that the findings "may have particular importance to our aging population, which has reduced intake of both fruit and vegetables."

According to recent data, only 35% of women and 39% of men over age 60 consumed two servings of fruits per day, and only 6% of both women and men met the goal of three servings daily of vegetables.

The study was funded in part by the California Table Grape Commission, but the authors note that the commission had no involvement in study design, data analysis, or manuscript preparation.

Grapes And Heart Deseases

Grapes and Cardiovascular Disease

Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of wine, grape products, and other foods containing polyphenols is associated with decreased risk for cardiovascular disease. The benefits of wine consumption appear to be greater than other alcoholic beverages. Experimental studies indicate that grape polyphenols could reduce atherosclerosis by a number of mechanisms, including inhibition of oxidation of LDL and other favorable effects on cellular redox state, improvement of endothelial function, lowering blood pressure, inhibition of platelet aggregation, reducing inflammation, and activating novel proteins that prevent cell senescence, e.g. Sirtuin 1. Translational studies in humans support these beneficial effects. More clinical studies are needed to confirm these effects and formulate dietary guidelines. The available data, however, strongly support the recommendation that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, including grapes, can decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease.

Introduction

The medicinal value of the grapevine and its fruit, Vitis vinifera, has been recognized for over 6000 y . In ancient Egypt, sap from grapevines was made into an ointment to treat skin and eye conditions. The fruit was crushed into wine elixirs or ripened to serve as therapeutics for a multitude of conditions, including nausea, constipation, cholera, smallpox, liver disease, and cancers. In the past century, disease states such as hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke have become markedly more prevalent. Despite aggressive management of cardiovascular risk factors and improved outcomes, the societal burden from cardiovascular disease remains high, and in the past few decades there has been increased interest in lifestyle and dietary approaches to reducing cardiovascular risk. Recent evidence suggests there are cardioprotective benefits from diets rich in natural fruits and vegetables, such as grapes. This review will outline the epidemiological evidence supporting the cardiovascular benefits of grape consumption. We will then consider experimental and translational studies that elucidate potential mechanisms of benefit.

Epidemiology The “French Paradox


In 1979, St. Leger et al. drew attention to the protective effects of wine against ischemic heart disease. Epidemiologic data collected by the WHO revealed a discord in cardiovascular mortality in a cohort of subjects from Toulouse, France, compared with other cohorts from 17 Western countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom . Interestingly, the French cohort had lower risk despite higher consumption of saturated fat . This counterintuitive finding, which was coined the “French Paradox,” stimulated further analysis leading to the suggestion that increased consumption of wine in France and other Mediterranean countries might be the explanation.

More recent epidemiological studies provide further support for a beneficial effect of wine. Initially, reduced risk was attributed to its ethanol content . Other studies, however, indicated that wine might confer benefits above and beyond those of other alcoholic beverages, suggesting that nonalcoholic factors in wine may also play a protective role . For example, wine consumption was found to be cardioprotective, whereas beer intake was not, in a meta-analysis of 13 studies and 209,418 participants . Despite these data, it remains possible that ethanol and/or other aspects of the Mediterranean diet or lifestyle might better explain the French paradox.

Grape polyphenols and cardiovascular risk.

Grapes contain a wide variety of polyphenol compounds, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and resveratrol. There is extensive epidemiological evidence suggesting that dietary intake of these compounds reduces cardiovascular mortality . Numerous studies in vitro as well as in animals and humans demonstrate beneficial effects of grape polyphenols on traditional cardiovascular risk factors (Table 1). Population-based studies have observed markedly lower cardiovascular disease mortality in cohorts with higher consumption of relevant flavonoids, including flavonols, flavones, and flavan-3-ols . In a study of 34,489 postmenopausal American women, dietary intake of foods containing flavanones and anthocyanidins was associated with decreased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality . In that study, consumption of red wine was specifically associated with decreased risk of coronary heart disease.


                                  Grapes and Cardiovascular Disease

Further evidence that polyphenol content in wine accounts for cardiovascular benefits may be derived from studies comparing different types of wine. The highest concentrations of grape polyphenols are found in the skin, stems, and seeds. The longer contact with these components during the production of red wine increases polyphenolic content up to 10-fold compared with white wine (. Investigators suggest that this difference in phytochemical content explains the reported additional health benefit of red wine over white wine or grape juice . In support of this possibility, numerous human studies suggest that red wine has greater antioxidant effects and more favorable effects on lipid metabolism than white wine . It must be acknowledged, however, that several observational studies from North American cohorts did not reveal differential effects of red and white wines. 

Negative studies of polyphenol consumption and cardiovascular disease.

Despite the large body of evidence supporting a link between polyphenol consumption and reduced cardiovascular risk, some concerns are worth noting. A number of well-done observational studies have shown no relationship between polyphenol consumption and cardiovascular outcomes . These apparently discrepant results might be explained by a variety of factors. Dietary questionnaires are an imperfect method to assess polyphenol intake and the available studies have focused on only a few specific compounds. In addition, the overall levels and ranges of polyphenol intake within the studied cohorts and the confounding effects of socioeconomic class, other dietary factors, and concomitant risk factors might explain the lack of consistent findings. Despite these lingering questions, the accumulated data from multiple studies prompted the AHA to recommend a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, including grapes, as an approach to prevent cardiovascular disease .

Mechanistic studies


Antioxidant properties. 

     Grape polyphenols have important antioxidant properties. According to the oxidative hypothesis, oxidative modification of LDL is a primary initiating event in atherosclerosis [reviewed by Diaz et al. . As a corollary, this hypothesis suggests that antioxidant treatment to limit LDL oxidation should prevent atherosclerosis and its complications. These concepts stimulated many studies that examined the antiatherosclerotic effects of antioxidant vitamins in animal models and surrogate endpoints in humans and ultimately prompted investigators to conduct large-scale clinical trials of antioxidant treatment for cardiovascular disease . Despite the failure of randomized trials with antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, and ß carotene, there remains strong evidence that an imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense mechanisms contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis . We now understand that redox signaling is important for normal cellular physiology and the response to environmental stress, possibly explaining why high-dose antioxidant supplementation does not show benefits. It remains clear, however, that “oxidative stress” has pathophysiological effects on enzyme function, cell signaling, and gene expression that contribute to disease development. Interventions that affect cellular redox status have the potential to reduce risk.

In this context, many studies investigating beneficial mechanisms of grape polyphenols have focused on their antioxidant properties. Flavonoids and other polyphenols found in grapes have the capacity to scavenge reactive oxygen species . When fed to animals and humans, such compounds have been shown to increase the radical scavenging capacity of plasma . In addition to scavenging radicals, polyphenols alter cellular redox status by other mechanisms, including chelating metals that promote lipid peroxidation and modulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes.

Given the oxidative hypothesis of atherosclerosis, a potentially important property of grape-derived polyphenols is the ability to inhibit LDL oxidation. In the key initial step in atherogenesis, oxidized LDL (oxLDL) is taken up by macrophages in an unregulated manner to form foam cells. OxLDL also promotes atherosclerosis by altering endothelial function, stimulating platelet activation, and inducing a proinflammatory state in the vascular wall . In vitro studies have demonstrated that grape-derived flavonoids and resveratrol limit ex vivo LDL oxidation . Red wine has been found to be more potent than white wine or pure ethanol in this regard .

There is evidence that these effects are relevant to atherogenesis in animals. Hayek et al. observed that hypercholesterolemic mice consuming wine polyphenols for 6 wk had markedly less atherosclerosis than control animals. These treatments were associated with protection against LDL oxidation. Vinson et al. demonstrated reduced aortic atherosclerosis in hamsters supplemented with polyphenol-rich beverages. Zern et al. observed a reduction in cholesterol accumulation in the aortas of ovariectomized guinea pigs fed a lyophilized grape preparation. Interestingly, Stocker et al.observed reduced atherosclerosis but no decrease in LDL oxidation within the arterial wall following treatment with dealcoholized red wine in mice, suggesting that mechanisms other than LDL protection may also be important.

To translate these mechanistic findings to humans, Stein et al. demonstrated a reduction in the susceptibility of LDL to copper-mediated oxidation following consumption of purple grape juice for 2 wk in patients with coronary artery disease. Red wine consumption in healthy subjects also reduced urinary levels of prostoglandin F2-a, a marker of systemic lipid peroxidation . A similar effect on urinary isoprostane concentrations were observed in pre- and postmenopausal women following treatment with lyophilized grape powder for 4 wk . At the present time, no study, to our knowledge, has shown a relation between polyphenol consumption and reduced atherosclerosis in humans. It remains to be determined whether inhibition of LDL oxidation is a clinically relevant mechanism in humans.

Endothelial function

The vascular endothelium plays a central role in the regulation of vascular tone, thrombosis, local inflammation, and cell proliferation by producing paracrine factors that act on the arterial wall and blood cells . Endothelium-derived nitric oxide  is a vasodilator and inhibits platelets, leukocyte adhesion to the endothelial surface, and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. When healthy, the endothelium promotes a vasodilator, antithrombotic, and antiinflammatory state. However, cardiovascular disease risk factors alter endothelial phenotype in a manner that promotes atherogenesis, lesion progression, and plaque vulnerability.

In humans, endothelial dysfunction is associated with traditional risk factors and established atherosclerosis (. Furthermore, endothelial dysfunction predicts progression of atherosclerosis and incidence of cardiovascular events . Furthermore, endothelial dysfunction is reversed by a number of interventions proven to reduce cardiovascular risk, such as lipid-lowering therapy, angiotensin-converting inhibitors, smoking cessation, and weight loss . Failure of the endothelium to respond to such therapy identifies patients at higher risk .

In vitro studies have demonstrated favorable effects of grape products on endothelial function. In cultured endothelial cells, wine, grape juice, grape seed extract, and specific polyphenols increase the activity of the endothelial isoform of NO synthase and stimulate NO production . In the short term, polyphenols stimulate endothelial NO synthase phosphorylation via phsophatidylinositol-3-hydroxy kinase and Akt. Longer term exposure to red wine extracts or resveratrol stimulates an increase in enzyme expression and activity . The effects of resveratrol on endothelial function may be mediated through an effect on Sirtuin-1, which regulates the expression of genes related to cell survival and the stress response . Furthermore, activation of Sirtuin-1 decreases the activity of p53, a regulator of apoptosis and the cell cycle, and activates AMP-dependent protein kinase, a regulator of cellular energy status .

Human studies support a benefit of grape beverages on endothelial function. Stein et al. observed that consumption of purple grape juice for 2 or 4 wk improved endothelium-dependent brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in patients with coronary artery disease. Dealcoholized wine also improved brachial artery flow-mediated dilation in healthy subjects . Interestingly, red wine consumption prevents the acute impairment of endothelial function that occurs following cigarette smoking or consumption of a high-fat meal .

In addition to the effects on NO, grapes have important effects on other molecular aspects of vascular function. For example, flavonoid-containing beverages increase endothelial production of prostacyclin and suppress production of endothelin-1, a potent endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor. In regard to regulation of fibrinolysis, catechins and resveratrol increase protein levels and activity of tissue plasminogen activator, an effect that is likely to be cardioprotective. Finally, there is increasing evidence that polyphenols affect endothelial regulation of inflammation. Red wine constituents reduce adhesion of monocytes to the endothelial surface and block cytokine-induced expression of endothelial adhesion molecules . Thus, grape polyphenols induce multiple favorable changes in endothelial cell phenotype that could reduce cardiovascular risk.

Antiplatelet effects.

Platelets play a critical role in all phases of atherosclerosis. Antiplatelet drugs, particularly aspirin, have proven beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk. Because polyphenols have been shown to have platelet inhibitory effects, there is great interest in the possibility that grape consumption might provide similar protection. In vitro studies have shown that grape-derived polyphenols inhibit platelet activity and elucidated a number of potential mechanisms. Flavonoids inhibit cyclooxygenase and reduce production of thromboxane A2. Red wine polyphenols also decrease platelet production of hydrogen peroxide and inhibit activation of phospholipase C and protein kinase . Dilute grape juice inhibits platelet aggregation and this effect is associated with decreased production of superoxide anion and increased platelet  production .

Feeding grape juice to animals also has important antiplatelet effects. Demrow et al. used a coronary artery platelet aggregation model that mimics acute coronary syndromes to demonstrate platelet inhibition following oral administration of red wine to dogs. Similar effects were observed in monkeys and these effects have been shown to depend on NO production.

Human studies have also demonstrated antiplatelet effects of grape-derived beverages. Freedman et al. demonstrated that grape juice consumption for 14 d decreased platelet aggregation and superoxide production and increased NO production in healthy volunteers. In that study, grape juice also inhibited protein kinase C and spared cellular antioxidants. Red wine has more potent antiplatelet effects than white wine and these effects are not seen with other beverages, such as orange juice and grapefruit juice, which contain other antioxidants .

Antiinflammatory and other mechanisms.

The importance of inflammation for all stages of atherosclerosis is increasingly recognized and there are data suggesting that grape polyphenols have antiinflammatory effects. For example, red wine and polyphenols inhibit activation of nuclear factor-?B and production of proinflammatory factors in endothelial cells and inflammatory cells . Incubation of monocytes with catechin decreased their adhesion to endothelial cells. Relevant polyphenols also inhibit activation of nuclear factor-?B in T lymphocyte cell lines. Resveratrol has also been shown to have antiinflammatory effects, including inhibition of adhesion molecule expression . In humans, treatment with lyophilized grape powder for 4 wk was associated with a reduction in tissue necrosis factor-a, but not C-reactive protein or interleukin-6 . Wine and gin consumption for 4 wk also reduced systemic markers of inflammation in healthy men and the effect was more marked following wine consumption. Thus, antiinflammatory effects might be a contributing mechanism for the benefits of grape polyphenols against cardiovascular disease.

Clinical implications

As reviewed in the preceding sections, there is strong epidemiological evidence linking reduced cardiovascular risk with consumption of grapes and other polyphenol-rich foods. Experimental and translational studies suggest several important mechanisms that might account for such an effect. An important remaining question is how to incorporate these data into specific recommendations for dietary intake for the general public. A detailed discussion of these issues is beyond the scope of this review, but a number of factors complicate the formulation of such recommendations at the population level. For example, obtaining an accurate estimate of current intake is confounded by structural diversity, wide distribution in foods, and variations in content of polyphenols . Polyphenol bioactivity is further clouded by variable bioavailability due in part to differences in food matrix and human gut absorption (74,75). Ultimately, such efforts are limited, because it remains uncertain which components of polyphenol-rich foods actually confer benefit.

In addition to developing better dietary recommendations, emerging studies showing cardiovascular benefits of polyphenol-rich foods have also prompted interest by the pharmaceutical industry. It is possible that purified formulations of specific grape constituents, e.g. resveratrol, might be efficacious as drugs for cardiovascular disease treatment or prevention. Indeed, such promise has led to identifying synthetic polyphenol analogs that might have greater potency and therapeutic potential. Such compounds will require large-scale trials before they can be approved for clinical use. In the meantime, the available evidence supports a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, including grapes, as an appropriate strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Grapes-nutrient analysis

Types of Grapes

For Red and White Wine Different types of grapes produce wines that vary in flavor, body, aroma, color, tannin, and even alcohol content. If you're a wine drinker, knowing something about the grapes from which it is made enhances your experience of every sip.


Green Chardonnay Grapes


Chardonnay

Because it is a very adaptable, you'll find Chardonnay cultivated around the world in varying climates. It makes a rich, fruity wine , infamous for its oak flavors. Sometimes this is because it is aged in oak barrels, but sometimes the oak flavor comes from adding oak chips and even oak essences to the wine as it ages. In France, you can find wine made from Chardonnay grapes that does not have this oak flavor, notably Chablis. Chardonnay is one of the principal grapes used to make Champagne.




Chenin Blanc

 In France this grape is grown in the Loire Valley and is used to produce Vouvray and other well known wines. High in acidity, Chenin Blanc produces a viscous wine that gives an impression of thickness in your mouth.





Gewurtztraminer

These grapes produce a flavorful wine with an intense color . Gewurtztraminer was introduced in France in the late 1800's from Germany and the Alsace region is noted for its use of this grape. Despite it's strong fruity notes and high alcohol content, this is a dry or off-dry white wine.




Muscat

In Europe, the Muscat grape is used to make quite a variety of different wines, including Asti, a sparkling Italian wine, some dry white wines from Alsace, and with the addition of alcohol, sweet dessert wines from the south of France.




Pinot Gris

This grape is known as a Tokay in Alsace, the only French wine region that grows this varietal, where it is customarily used to make a dry, spicy white wine, although it can also be used to create sweet wines.




Riesling

- This is a more difficult grape to grow, and outside of Germany there are very few successful Rieslings. In France, the Alsace region makes wines using this grape. It produces a light refreshing wine, some sweet and some dry.





Semillon

Frequently combined with Pinot Blanc, this grape produces a wine with subtle aromas and relatively low acidity. It is used along with Sauvignon Blanc to make Sauternes , a sweet white wine from the Bordeaux region.





Sauvignon Blanc

This grape produces a characteristically grassy, acid and usually dry wine. You will frequently find it with oak flavors, but in France you can easily find it without. Sauvignon blanc is used to make Bordeaux blanc as well as several wines from the Loire Valley region, notably Pouilly Fum? and Sancerre.




Cabernet Sauvignon Grapes

Cabernet Sauvignon

A robust grape grown the world over that produces a wine rich in tannin. The characteristics of the wine can vary considerably depending on when the grapes are picked (some climates don't permit it to reach full maturity). Despite the notoriety if its name, buying a Cabernet Sauvignon doesn't guarantee you a good wine. These grapes are used to make a large range of wines, varying in price and quality. In France, Cabernet Sauvignon is often associated with other grapes such as Merlot.




Gamay

In France, this grape is grown in Beaujolais. Gamay grapes produces light red wines, low in tannins.






Merlot

These types of grapes produce a deep colored, full bodied wine that is low in tannin and often has the flavor of prunes or sometimes chocolate. It is cultivated in the Bordeaux region, along with Cabernet Sauvignon.





Pinot Noir

As this is a more difficult grape to grow, you will have a harder time finding wines made from this grape. In France, Pinot Noir is grown in the Bourgogne region and produces a paler, lighter wine than the popular Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. It is not so high in tannins, although it is sometimes aged in oak barrels to encourage this quality. The flavors and aromas vary considerably depending on the growing and processing of these grapes.




Sangiovese

This is an Italian grape used to make Chianti and other fruity wines, varying in body and tannin content.







Syrah

A grape grown in the Rhone Valley in France, Syrah produces a full bodied, dark colored wine rich in tannins. In Australia this grape is known as a Shiraz and is used to elaborate lighter, fruity wines.





Zinfandel

Despite the fact that it used to make White Zinfandel, this is a red grape. It is one of the oldest grapes grown in California and its origins are a bit mysterious. A red Zinfandel is a rich and colorful wine, high in alcohol content, but alas it is not cultivated in France.

Grapes in Hadith

In Sahih Bukhri

(1) Narrated 'Aisha: Once the sun eclipsed and Allah's Apostle stood up for the prayer and recited a very long Sura and when bowed for a long while and then raised his head and started reciting another Sura. Then he bowed, and after finishing, he prostrated and did the same in the second Raka and then said, "These (lunar and solar eclipses) are two of the signs of Allah and if you see them, pray till the eclipse is over. No doubt, while standing at this place I saw everything promised to me by Allah and I saw (Paradise) and I wanted to pluck a bunch (of grapes) therefrom, at the time when you saw me stepping forward. No doubt, I saw Hell with its different parts destroying each other when you saw me retreating and in it I saw 'Amr bin Luhai who started the tradition of freeing animals (set them free) in the name of idols." (Book #22, Hadith #303)

(2) Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: We used to give one Sa' of meal or one Sa' of barley or one Sa' of dates, or one Sa' of cottage cheese or one Sa' of Raisins (dried grapes) as Zakat-ul-Fitr. (Book #25, Hadith #582)

(3) Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri: In the life-time of the Prophet we used to give one Sa' of food or one Sa' of dates or one Sa' of barley or one Sa' of Raisins (dried grapes) as Sadaqat-ul-Fitr. And when Muawiya became the Caliph and the wheat was (available in abundance) he said, "I think (observe) that one Mudd (of wheat) equals two Mudds (of any of the above mentioned things). (Book #25, Hadith #584)

(4) Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: In the life-time of Allah's Apostle , we used to give one Sa' of food (edible things) as Sadaqat-ul-Fit,r (to the poor). Our food used to be either of barley, raisins (dried grapes), cottage cheese or dates. (Book #25, Hadith #586)

(5) Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle forbade Muzabana; and Muzabana is the selling of fresh dates for dried old dates by measure, and the selling of fresh grapes for dried grapes by measure. (Book #34, Hadith #380)

(6) Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: Allah's Apostle forbade Muzabana; and Muzabana means the selling of fresh dates (on the trees) for dried dates by measure and also the selling of fresh grapes for dried grapes by measure. (Book #34, Hadith #390)

(7) Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle forbade Al-Muzabana, i.e. to sell ungathered dates of one's garden for measured dried dates or fresh ungathered grapes for measured dried grapes; or standing crops for measured quantity of foodstuff. He forbade all such bargains. (Book #34, Hadith #407)

(8) Narrated Shu'ba: Muhammad or 'Abdullah bin Abu Al-Mujalid said, "Abdullah bin Shaddad and Abu Burda differed regarding As-Salam, so they sent me to Ibn Abi Aufa and I asked him about it. He replied, 'In the life-time of Allah's Apostle, Abu Bakr and 'Umar, we used to pay in advance the prices of wheat, barley, dried grapes and dates to be delivered later. I also asked Ibn Abza and he, too, replied as above.' " (Book #35, Hadith #446)

(9) Narrated Ash-Shaibani: who said "We used to pay in advance for wheat barley and dried grapes." (Book #35, Hadith #449)

(10) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle sent a Sariya of ten men as spies under the leadership of 'Asim bin Thabit al-Ansari, the grandfather of 'Asim bin Umar Al-Khattab. They proceeded till they reached Hadaa, a place between 'Usfan, and Mecca, and their news reached a branch of the tribe of Hudhail called Bani Lihyan. About two-hundred men, who were all archers, hurried to follow their tracks till they found the place where they had eaten dates they had brought with them from Medina. They said, "These are the dates of Yathrib (i.e. Medina), "and continued following their tracks When 'Asim and his companions saw their pursuers, they went up a high place and the infidels circled them. The infidels said to them, "Come down and surrender, and we promise and guarantee you that we will not kill any one of you" 'Asim bin Thabit; the leader of the Sariya said, "By Allah! I will not come down to be under the protection of infidels. O Allah! Convey our news to Your Prophet. Then the infidels threw arrows at them till they martyred 'Asim along with six other men, and three men came down accepting their promise and convention, and they were Khubaib-al-Ansari and Ibn Dathina and another man So, when the infidels captured them, they undid the strings of their bows and tied them. Then the third (of the captives) said, "This is the first betrayal. By Allah! I will not go with you. No doubt these, namely the martyred, have set a good example to us." So, they dragged him and tried to compel him to accompany them, but as he refused, they killed him. They took Khubaid and Ibn Dathina with them and sold them (as slaves) in Mecca (and all that took place) after the battle of Badr. Khubaib was bought by the sons of Al-Harith bin 'Amir bin Naufal bin 'Abd Manaf. It was Khubaib who had killed Al-Harith bin 'Amir on the day (of the battle of) Badr. So, Khubaib remained a prisoner with those people. Narrated Az-Zuhri: 'Ubaidullah bin 'Iyyad said that the daughter of Al-Harith had told him, "When those people gathered (to kill Khubaib) he borrowed a razor from me to shave his pubes and I gave it to him. Then he took a son of mine while I was unaware when he came upon him. I saw him placing my son on his thigh and the razor was in his hand. I got scared so much that Khubaib noticed the agitation on my face and said, 'Are you afraid that I will kill him? No, I will never do so.' By Allah, I never saw a prisoner better than Khubaib. By Allah, one day I saw him eating of a bunch of grapes in his hand while he was chained in irons, and there was no fruit at that time in Mecca." The daughter of Al-Harith used to say, "It was a boon Allah bestowed upon Khubaib." When they took him out of the Sanctuary (of Mecca) to kill him outside its boundaries, Khubaib requested them to let him offer two Rakat (prayer). They allowed him and he offered Two Rakat and then said, "Hadn't I been afraid that you would think that I was afraid (of being killed), I would have prolonged the prayer. O Allah, kill them all with no exception." (He then recited the poetic verse):-- "I being martyred as a Muslim, Do not mind how I am killed in Allah's Cause, For my killing is for Allah's Sake, And if Allah wishes, He will bless the amputated parts of a torn body" Then the son of Al Harith killed him. So, it was Khubaib who set the tradition for any Muslim sentenced to death in captivity, to offer a two-Rak'at prayer (before being killed). Allah fulfilled the invocation of Asim bin Thabit on that very day on which he was martyred. The Prophet informed his companions of their news and what had happened to them. Later on when some infidels from Quraish were informed that Asim had been killed, they sent some people to fetch a part of his body (i.e. his head) by which he would be recognized. (That was because) 'Asim had killed one of their chiefs on the day (of the battle) of Badr. So, a swarm of wasps, resembling a shady cloud, were sent to hover over Asim and protect him from their messenger and thus they could not cut off anything from his flesh. (Book #52, Hadith #281)

(11) Narrated Ibn Umar: In our holy battles, we used to get honey and grapes, as war booty which we would eat and would not store. (Book #53, Hadith #382)

(12) Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle sent out ten spies under the command of 'Asim bin Thabit Al-Ansari, the grand-father of 'Asim bin 'Umar Al-Khattab. When they reached (a place called) Al-Hadah between 'Usfan and Mecca, their presence was made known to a sub-tribe of Hudhail called Banu Lihyan. So they sent about one hundred archers after them. The archers traced the footsteps (of the Muslims) till they found the traces of dates which they had eaten at one of their camping places. The archers said, "These dates are of Yathrib (i.e. Medina)," and went on tracing the Muslims' footsteps. When 'Asim and his companions became aware of them, they took refuge in a (high) place. But the enemy encircled them and said, "Come down and surrender. We give you a solemn promise and covenant that we will not kill anyone of you." 'Asim bin Thabit said, "O people! As for myself, I will never get down to be under the protection of an infidel. O Allah! Inform your Prophet about us." So the archers threw their arrows at them and martyred 'Asim. Three of them came down and surrendered to them, accepting their promise and covenant and they were Khubaib, Zaid bin Ad-Dathina and another man. When the archers got hold of them, they untied the strings of the arrow bows and tied their captives with them. The third man said, "This is the first proof of treachery! By Allah, I will not go with you for I follow the example of these." He meant the martyred companions. The archers dragged him and struggled with him (till they martyred him). Then Khubaib and Zaid bin Ad-Dathina were taken away by them and later on they sold them as slaves in Mecca after the event of the Badr battle. The sons of Al-Harit bin 'Amr bin Naufal bought Khubaib for he was a person who had killed (their father) Al-Hari bin 'Amr on the day (of the battle) of Badr. Khubaib remained imprisoned by them till they decided unanimously to kill him. One day Khubaib borrowed from a daughter of Al-Harith, a razor for shaving his public hair, and she lent it to him. By chance, while she was inattentive, a little son of hers went to him (i.e. Khubaib) and she saw that Khubaib had seated him on his thigh while the razor was in his hand. She was so much terrified that Khubaib noticed her fear and said, "Are you afraid that I will kill him? Never would I do such a thing." Later on (while narrating the story) she said, "By Allah, I had never seen a better captive than Khubaib. By Allah, one day I saw him eating from a bunch of grapes in his hand while he was fettered with iron chains and (at that time) there was no fruit in Mecca." She used to say," It was food Allah had provided Khubaib with." When they took him to Al-Hil out of Mecca sanctuary to martyr him, Khubaib requested them. "Allow me to offer a two-Rak'at prayer." They allowed him and he prayed two Rakat and then said, "By Allah! Had I not been afraid that you would think I was worried, I would have prayed more." Then he (invoked evil upon them) saying, "O Allah! Count them and kill them one by one, and do not leave anyone of them"' Then he recited: "As I am martyred as a Muslim, I do not care in what way I receive my death for Allah's Sake, for this is for the Cause of Allah. If He wishes, He will bless the cut limbs of my body." Then Abu Sarva, 'Ubqa bin Al-Harith went up to him and killed him. It was Khubaib who set the tradition of praying for any Muslim to be martyred in captivity (before he is executed). The Prophet told his companions of what had happened (to those ten spies) on the same day they were martyred. Some Quraish people, being informed of 'Asim bin Thabit's death, sent some messengers to bring a part of his body so that his death might be known for certain, for he had previously killed one of their leaders (in the battle of Badr). But Allah sent a swarm of wasps to protect the dead body of 'Asim, and they shielded him from the messengers who could not cut anything from his body. (Book #59, Hadith #325)

(13) Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet sent a Sariya of spies and appointed 'Asim bin Thabit, the grandfather of 'Asim bin 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, as their leader. So they set out, and when they reached (a place) between 'Usfan and Mecca, they were mentioned to one of the branch tribes of Bani Hudhail called Lihyan. So, about one-hundred archers followed their traces till they (i.e. the archers) came to a journey station where they (i.e. 'Asim and his companions) had encamped and found stones of dates they had brought as journey food from Medina. The archers said, "These are the dates of Medina," and followed their traces till they took them over. When 'Asim and his companions were not able to go ahead, they went up a high place, and their pursuers encircled them and said, "You have a covenant and a promise that if you come down to us, we will not kill anyone of you." 'Asim said, "As for me, I will never come down on the security of an infidel. O Allah! Inform Your Prophet about us." So they fought with them till they killed 'Asim along with seven of his companions with arrows, and there remained Khubaib, Zaid and another man to whom they gave a promise and a covenant. So when the infidels gave them the covenant and promise, they came down. When they captured them, they opened the strings of their arrow bows and tied them with it. The third man who was with them said, "This is the first breach in the covenant," and refused to accompany them. They dragged him and tried to make him accompany them, but he refused, and they killed him. Then they proceeded on taking Khubaib and Zaid till they sold them in Mecca. The sons of Al-Harith bin 'Amr bin Naufal bought Khubaib. It was Khubaib who had killed Al-Harith bin 'Amr on the day of Badr. Khubaib stayed with them for a while as a captive till they decided unanimously to kill him. (At that time) Khubaib borrowed a razor from one of the daughters of Al-Harith to shave his pubic hair. She gave it to him. She said later on, "I was heedless of a little baby of mine, who moved towards Khubaib, and when it reached him, he put it on his thigh. When I saw it, I got scared so much that Khubaib noticed my distress while he was carrying the razor in his hand. He said 'Are you afraid that I will kill it? Allah willing, I will never do that,' " Later on she used to say, "I have never seen a captive better than Khubaib Once I saw him eating from a bunch of grapes although at that time no fruits were available at Mecca, and he was fettered with iron chains, and in fact, it was nothing but food bestowed upon him by Allah." So they took him out of the Sanctuary (of Mecca) to kill him. He said, "Allow me to offer a two-Rak'at prayer." Then he went to them and said, "Had I not been afraid that you would think I was afraid of death, I would have prayed for a longer time." So it was Khubaib who first set the tradition of praying two Rakat before being executed. He then said, "O Allah! Count them one by one," and added, 'When I am being martyred as a Muslim, I do not care in what way I receive my death for Allah's Sake, because this death is in Allah's Cause. If He wishes, He will bless the cut limbs." Then 'Uqba bin Al-Harith got up and martyred him. The narrator added: The Quraish (infidels) sent some people to 'Asim in order to bring a part of his body so that his death might be known for certain, for 'Asim had killed one of their chiefs on the day of Badr. But Allah sent a cloud of wasps which protected his body from their messengers who could not harm his body consequently. (Book #59, Hadith #412)

(14) Narrated Abu Jamra: I said to Ibn 'Abbas, "I have an earthenware pot containing Nabidh (i.e. water and dates or grapes) for me, and I drink of it while it is sweet. If I drink much of it and stay with the people for a long time, I get afraid that they may discover it (for I will appear as if I were drunk). Ibn 'Abbas said, "A delegation of Abdul Qais came to Allah's Apostle and he said, "Welcome, O people! Neither will you have disgrace nor will you regret." They said, "O Allah's Apostle! There are the Mudar pagans between you and us, so we cannot come to you except in the sacred Months. So please teach us some orders on acting upon which we will enter Paradise. Besides, we will preach that to our people who are behind us." The Prophet said, "I order you to do four things and forbid you from four things (I order you): To believe in Allah...Do you know what is to believe in Allah? That is to testify that None has the right to be worshipped except Allah: (I order you also to offer prayers perfectly to pay Zakat; and to fast the month of Ramadan and to give the Khumus (i.e. one-fifth of the booty) (for Allah's Sake). I forbid you from four other things (i.e. the wine that is prepared in) Ad-Dubba, An-Naquir, Az-Hantam and Al-Muzaffat. (See Hadith No. 50 Vol. 1) (Book #59, Hadith #654)

(15) Narrated Ibn Umar: (The Verse of) prohibiting alcoholic drinks was revealed when there were in Medina five kinds of (alcoholic) drinks none of which was produced from grapes. (Book #60, Hadith #140)

(16) Narrated Ibn Umar: I heard 'Umar while he was on the pulpit of the Prophet saying, "Now then O people! The revelation about the prohibition of alcoholic drinks was revealed; and alcoholic drinks are extracted from five things: grapes, dates, honey, wheat and barley. And the alcoholic drink is that which confuses and stupefies the mind." (Book #60, Hadith #143)

(17) Narrated 'Abdullah bin Abbas: During the lifetime of Allah's Apostle, the sun eclipsed. Allah's Apostle offered the prayer of (the) eclipse) and so did the people along with him. He performed a long Qiyam (standing posture) during which Surat-al-Baqara could have been recited; then he performed a pro-longed bowing, then raised his head and stood for a long time which was slightly less than that of the first Qiyam (and recited Qur'an). Then he performed a prolonged bowing again but the period was shorter than the period of the first bowing, then he stood up and then prostrated. Again he stood up, but this time the period of standing was less than the first standing. Then he performed a prolonged bowing but of a lesser duration than the first, then he stood up again for a long time but for a lesser duration than the first. Then he performed a prolonged bowing but of lesser duration than the first, and then he again stood up, and then prostrated and then finished his prayer. By then the sun eclipse had cleared. The Prophet then said, "The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah, and they do not eclipse because of the death or birth of someone, so when you observe the eclipse, remember Allah (offer the eclipse prayer)." They (the people) said, "O Allah's Apostle! We saw you stretching your hand to take something at this place of yours, then we saw you stepping backward." He said, "I saw Paradise (or Paradise was shown to me), and I stretched my hand to pluck a bunch (of grapes), and had I plucked it, you would have eaten of it as long as this world exists. Then I saw the (Hell) Fire, and I have never before, seen such a horrible sight as that, and I saw that the majority of its dwellers were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! What is the reason for that?" He replied, "Because of their ungratefulness." It was said. "Do they disbelieve in Allah (are they ungrateful to Allah)?" He replied, "They are not thankful to their husbands and are ungrateful for the favors done to them. Even if you do good to one of them all your life, when she seems some harshness from you, she will say, "I have never seen any good from you.' " (Book #62, Hadith #125)

(18) Narrated Anas: "Alcoholic drinks were prohibited at the time we could rarely find wine made from grapes in Medina, for most of our liquors were made from unripe and ripe dates. (Book #69, Hadith #486)

(19) Narrated Ibn 'Umar: 'Umar stood up on the pulpit and said, "Now then, prohibition of alcoholic drinks have been revealed, and these drinks are prepared from five things, i.e.. grapes, dates, honey, wheat or barley And an alcoholic drink is that, that disturbs the mind. (Book #69, Hadith #487)

(20) Narrated Ibn 'Umar: 'Umar delivered a sermon on the pulpit of Allah's Apostle, saying, "Alcoholic drinks were prohibited by Divine Order, and these drinks used to be prepared from five things, i.e., grapes, dates, wheat, barley and honey. Alcoholic drink is that, that disturbs the mind." 'Umar added, "I wish Allah's Apostle had not left us before he had given us definite verdicts concerning three matters, i.e., how much a grandfather may inherit (of his grandson), the inheritance of Al-Kalala (the deceased person among whose heirs there is no father or son), and various types of Riba(1 ) (usury) ." (Book #69, Hadith #493)

(21) Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Don't call the grapes Al-Karm, and don't say 'Khai (Book #73, Hadith #201)


In Sahih Muslim

(1) 'A'isha, the wife of the Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him), reported There was an eclipse of the sun during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). So, the Messenger of Allah (may peace he upon him) went to the mosque and stood up and glorified Allah, and the people formed themselves in rows behind him. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) made a long recital (of the Qur'an) and then pronounced takbir and then observed a long ruku'. He then raised his head and said: Allah listened to him who praised Him: our Lord, praise is due to Thee. He then again stood up and made a long recital, which was less than the first recital. He pronounced takbir and observed a long ruku', and it was less than the first one. He again said: Allah listened to him who praised Him; our Lord, praise is due to Thee. (Abu Tahir, one of the narrators) made no mention of:" He then prostrated himself." He did like this in the second rak'ah, till he completed four rak'ahs and four prostrations and the sun became bright before he deported. He then stood up and addressed people, after lauding Allah as He deserved, and then said: The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah These do not eclipse either on the death of anyone or on his birth. So when you see them, hasten to prayer. He also said this: Observe prayer till Allah dispels the anxiety (of this extraordinary phenomenon) from you. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: I saw in my place everything which you have been promised. I even saw myself desiring to pluck a bunch (of grapes) from Paradise (and it was at the time) when you saw me moving forward. And I saw Hell and some of its parts crushing the others, when you saw me moving back; and I saw in it Ibn Luhayy and he was the person who made the she-camels loiter about. In the hadith transmitted by Abu Tahir the words are:" He hastened to prayer," and he made no mention of what follows. (Book #004, Hadith #1968)

(2) Jabir b. 'Abdullah reported: The sun eclipsed on one extremely hot day during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) prayed along with his Companions. He prolonged his qiyam (standing posture in prayer) till they (his Companions) began to fall down. He then observed a long ruku'. He raised his head (and stood up for long) and then observed a long ruku'. He then raised (his head and stood up) for a long time and then made two prostrations. He then stood up and did like this and thus he observed four ruku's and four prostrations (in two rak'ahs) and then said: All these things were brought to me in which you will be made to enter. Paradise was brought to me till (I was so close to it) that if I (had intended) to pluck a bunch (of grapes) out of it. I would have got it, or he (the Holy Prophet) said: I intended to get a bunch (out of that) but my hand could not reach it. Hell was also brought to me and I saw in it a woman belonging to the tribe of Israel who was tormented for a cat whom she had tied, but did not give it food nor set it free to eat the creatures of the earth; and I saw Abu Thumama 'Amr b. Malik who was dragging his intestines in Hell. They (the Arabs) used to say that the sun and the moon do not eclipse but on the death of some great person; but (in reality) both these (the sun and the moon) are among the signs of Allah which are shown to you; so when there is an eclipse, observe prayer till it (the sun or the moon) brightens. This hadith has been narrated by Hisham with the same chain of transmitters except this" I saw a dark woman with a tail stature and loud voice," but he made no mention of" from among Bani Israel". (Book #004, Hadith #1975)

(3) Ibn 'Abbas reported: There was an eclipse of the sun during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him). The Messenger of Allah, (may peace be upon him) prayed accompanied by the people. He stood for a long time, about as long as it would take to recite Surah al-Baqara; then he bowed for a long time; then he raised his head and stood for a long time, but it was less than the first qiyam. He then bowed for a long time but for a shorter while than the first. He then prostrated and then stood for a long time, but it was less than the first qiyam. He then bowed for a long time, but it was less than the first bowing. He then raised (his head) and stood for a long time, but it was less than the first qiyam. He then bowed for a long time but it was less than the first bowing. He then observed prostration, and then he finished, and the sun had cleared (by that time). He (the Holy Prophet) then said: The sun and moon are two signs from the signs of Allah. These two do not eclipse on account of the death of anyone or on account of the birth of anyone. So when you see that, remember Allah. They (his Companions) said: Messenger of Allah, we saw you reach out to something, while you were standing here, then we saw you restrain yourself. He said: I saw Paradise and reached out to a bunch of its grapes; and had I taken it you would have eaten of it as long as the world endured. I saw Hell also. No such (abominable) sight have I ever seen as that which I saw today; and I observed that most of its inhabitants were women. They said: Messenger of Allah, on what account is it so? He said: For their ingratitude or disbelief (bi-kufraihinna). It was said: Do they disbelieve in Allah? He said: (Not for their disbelief in God) but for their ingratitude to their husbands and ingratitude to kindness. If you were to treat one of them kindly for ever, but if she later saw anything (displeasing) in you, she would say: i have never seen any good in you. (Book #004, Hadith #1982)

(4) Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Muzabana, and Muzabana implies the selling of fresh dates for dry dates by measuring them out and the selling of raisins by measure for grapes. (Book #010, Hadith #3693)

(5) 'Abdullah (b. Umar) reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) forbade Muzabana, i. e. buying of fresh dates (on) the trees for dry dates by measure, and the buying of grapes for raisins by measure and the selling of field of corn for corn by measure. (Book #010, Hadith #3694)

(6) Ibn 'Umar (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Muzabana, and Muzabana is the selling of dry dates by measure for fresh dates and the selling of raisins by measure for grapes and selling of all Ports of fruits on the basis of calculation. (Book #010, Hadith #3696)

(7) Abdullah (b. Umar) (Allah be pleased with them) reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having forbidden Mazabana, and it implies that one should sell the fresh fruits of his orchard (for dry fruits) or, if it is fresh dates, for dry dates with a measure, or if it is grapes for raisins or if it is corn in the field for dry corn with a measure He (the Holy Prophet) in fact forbade all such transactions. Qutaiba has narrated it with a slight variation of words. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Nafi with another chain of transmitters. (Book #010, Hadith #3699)

(8) 'Abd al-Rahman b. Wa'ala as-Saba'i (who was an Egyptian) asked 'Abdullah b. Abbas; (Allah be pleased with them) about that which is extracted from the grapes, whereupon he said: A person presented to Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) a small water-skin of wine. Allab's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said to him: Do you know that Allah has forbidden it? He said: No. He then whisper- ed to another man. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) asked him what he had whispered. He said: I advised him to sell that, whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Verily He Who has forbidden its drinking has forbidden its sale also. He (the narrator) said: He opened the waterskin until what was contained in it was spilt. (Book #010, Hadith #3836)

(9) Jabir b. 'Abdullah al-Ansari reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace upon him) prohibited the mixing of grapes and fresh dates, and dry dates and fresh dates. (Book #023, Hadith #4896)

(10) Jabir b. 'Abdullah al-Ansari reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited the (preparation of) Nabidh by mixing together fresh dates and grapes, and he prohibited the preparation of Nabidh by mixing the fresh dates and unripe dates together. (Book #023, Hadith #4897)

(11) Jabir b. Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not mix fresh dates and dry dates, and grapes and fresh dates for preparing Nabidh. (Book #023, Hadith #4898)

(12) Jabir b. Abdullah al-Ansari reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) Prohibited the preparation of Nabidh by mixing grapes and fresh dates. and he forbade the preparation of Nabidh by mixing unripe dates with fresh dates. (Book #023, Hadith #4899)

(13) Abu Sa'id reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) prohibited that fresh dates and grapes be mixed together and that fresh dates and unripe dates be mixed together. (Book #023, Hadith #4900)

(14) Abu Sa'id reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited us to mix grapes and dry dates together and unripe dates and dry dates (to prepare Nabidh. (Book #023, Hadith #4901)

(15) Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who amongst you drinks Nabidh should drink that (prepared either from) grapes alone, or from dates alone, or from unripe dates alone (and not by mixing them with one another). Isma'il b. Muslim al-'Abadi reported on the authority of the same chain of transmitters: Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) prohibited us that we should mix dry dates with unripe dates or (mix) grapes with dry dates (and prepare Nabidh). He also said: He who amongst you drinks-the rest of the hadith is the same. (Book #023, Hadith #4903)

(16) Abu Qatada, on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) having said this: Do not prepare Nabidh by mixing nearly ripe dates and fresh dates together, and do not prepare Nabidh by mixing grapes and dates together, but prepare Nabidh from each (one of them) separately. (Book #023, Hadith #4904)

(17) Abu Qatada reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not prepare Nabidh by mixing nearly ripe and fresh dates and do not prepare Nabidh by mixing together fresh dates and grapes, but prepare Nabidh out of each (one of them) separately. Yahya stated that he had met 'Abdullah b. Abu Qatada and he narrated it on the authority of his father that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) said this. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Yahya b. Abu Kathir through these two chains of transmitters but with a slight variation of words. (Book #023, Hadith #4906)

(18) 'Abdullah b. Abu Qatada, on the authority of his father, reported Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) forbidding the preparation of the mixture of ripe dates and unripe dates, and the mixture of grapes and dates, and that of nearly ripe dates and fresh dates but the Prophet said: Prepare the Nabidh from each one of them separately. (Book #023, Hadith #4907)

(19) Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) forbade (the preparation of Nabidh) from grapes and dates, and unripe dates and dry dates (by mixing them together). He (the Holy Prophet also) said: Prepare Nabidh from each one of them separately. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira through another chain of transmitters. (Book #023, Hadith #4909)

(20) Ibn 'Abbas reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) forbade the mixing of dates and grapes together, and mixing of unripe dates and ripe dates together (for preparing Nabidh), and he wrote to the people of Jurash (in Yemen) forbidding them to prepare the mixture of dates and grapes. This hadith has been narrated through another chain of transmitters with a slight variation of words. (Book #023, Hadith #4910)

(21) Ibn Umar reported that he was forbidden to prepare Nabidh by mixing unripe dates and fresh dates, and dates with grapes. (Book #023, Hadith #4911)

(22) Ibn 'Umar reported that they were forbidden to prepare Nabidh by mixing dry dates and fresh dates and dates and grapes together. (Book #023, Hadith #4912)




In Abu Daud


(1) Narrated Anas ibn Malik: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) forbade the sale of grapes till they became black and the sale of grain till it had become hard. (Book #22, Hadith #3365)

(2) Narrated An-Nu'man ibn Bashir: The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: from grapes wine is made, from dried dates wine is made, from honey wine is made, from wheat wine is made, from barley wine is made. (Book #26, Hadith #3668)

(3) Narrated Ad-Daylami: We came to the Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) and said to him: Apostle of Allah, you know who we are, from where we are and to whom we have come. He said: To Allah and His Apostle. We said: Apostle of Allah, we have grapes; what should we do with them? He said: Make them raisins. We then asked: What should we do with raisins? He replied: Steep them in the morning and drink in the evening, and steep them in the evening and drink in the morning. Steep them in skin vessels and do not steep them in earthen jar, for it it is delayed in pressing, it becomes vinegar. (Book #26, Hadith #3701)