It is said that drinking a glass of red wine every day may prevent cholesterol problems and even heart disease, but according to a group of universities’ study, purple grape juice may offer the same benefits.

A study conducted by the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Georgetown University and the University of California, Davis, suggests drinking purple grape juice may be just as healthy for the heart as drinking a glass of red wine because the juice contains the same disease-fighting antioxidants, called flavonoids, as wine.

Dr. Malhar Gor‚, physician with the Student Health Center, said flavonoids, chemicals found in plant materials, are also widely believed to fight cancer and heart disease.

“There have been studies done that show flavonoids help prevent cancer and reduce incidence of heart disease,” Gor‚ said. “It was suggested that the flavonoids have a directly inhibitory effect on tumor cells. Reduction in tumor size and delayed tumor development was found in breast tumors of rats.”

The study did show grape juice is not a perfect replacement for red wine, however. Although the juice can lower levels of “bad cholesterol,” low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), lessening the amount of plaque that forms in artery walls, it does not increase the levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs), “good cholesterol.”

Gor‚ said it is important to differentiate between HDLs and LDLs.

“The difference is in how they transport free fats to and from cells in the body,” he said. “It is important to increase HDL and decrease LDL. This can be done by not smoking, eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of aerobic exercise.”

Gor‚ also pointed out that further proof of the benefits of red wine is despite a high-fat diet, some Europeans who regularly consume wine have low levels of heart disease.

“It is known that populations in France and Northern Italy are at significant risk for heart disease, due to high-fat diets, but there are not as many cases as would be expected. This is known as the ‘French paradox,'” he said.

Unfortunately, simply snacking on red table grapes will not provide the flavonoids needed to fight heart disease and cancer, said Becky Hammitt, dietitian at the Student Wellness Center. The reasoning is that most of the antioxidants are found in the grape’s skin and seeds, two of the main elements in wine-making.

“Red wine and grape juice are both made with the skin of the grape that contains antioxidants,” Hammitt said. “Grape seeds are also used, and seed extract is available at grocery stores.”

Hammitt said grape juice and grapes are always good foods, whether they fight heart disease or not.

“Grape juice is good by any means. It is important to have at least five fruits and vegetables per day — six ounces of fruit juice is a serving,” she said.