Dried Plums, Tart Cherries, Grapes- What do they have in common?

Yes, they are all fruits. But what else do they have in common? Well, in the span of three days, three different studies have come out - each study touting the potential of slowing heart disease by eating a particular fruit. Today, I offer you a brief summary of each:

• Grapes- the University of Michigan came out with a study that showed that rats who ate grape powder had lower cardiovascular risks, better heart function, and less inflammation than rats who didn't eat the grapes, but had the same diet. It is believed the flavonoids in the grapes (just like in red wine) are the key. However, they still recommend people to "bench the salt" as they say on ESPN, in order to avoid high blood pressure.
  
• Dried Plums- another mice study, this one saying that mice that ate the dried plum powder had less atherosclerosis (this means less inflammation!) than mice that had the same diet, but did not eat the dried plum powder. This study was sponsored by the California Dried Plum Board so you may want to take this advice with a grain of salt- but not too much salt because that will raise your blood pressure!
• Tart Cherries- also from the University of Michigan. This study showed that rats who ate cherries had lowered cholesterol and reduced inflammation compared to the rats who had the same diet except for the cherries.
  

Lowering inflammation from these fruits seems to be the key. It seems we have to find a way to directly target the inflammatory process in our bodies in order to lower our cardiovascular risks. I have no doubt that lowering our inflammation would lower our risks for other diseases as well- cancer, diabetes- to name a couple.

I'll try to explore ways in our everyday life we can lower our inflammation next week in this blog- so stay tuned!