Raise a Purple Glass to Healthy Living

Research shows Concord grape juice loaded with beneficial compounds

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Sept. 14 /CNW/ - Welch's 100% Grape Juice - the juice that gave us the purple smile years ago - is being rediscovered by Canadians for its family-wide health benefits. Research has found that juice made from Concord grapes is a veritable treasure trove of health benefits for every member of the family.

"While Welch's 100% Grape Juice has long been a favourite of Canadian families for its great taste, just how healthy Concord grape juice is for people has not been well understood," said Doug Cook , Registered Dietitian. "As more clinical research is done, greater acceptance of 100 per cent Concord grape juice as a healthy choice grows. And because the juice tastes good and is so familiar, it's easy to get the whole family drinking it."

Recent information indicates that 100% Concord grape juice - in particular Welch's 100% Grape Juice - consistently delivers high levels of natural polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, which may be beneficial for the body's heart and arteries.

What makes Concord grape juice such a substantial source of antioxidants stems from the characteristics of Concord grapes themselves. Dark skinned fruits in general tend to have a high concentration of polyphenol compounds. The Concord grape in particular contains a very high concentration of natural plant nutrients which act as powerful polyphenols. Much of the concentration of these polyphenols come from the skin and seeds and only Welch's 100% Grape Juice uses the entire grape in its juice, unlike other 100 per cent juices that are blends of several fruit sources.

The amount of polyphenol compounds is so significant that a 250 ml (8-ounce) serving of 100 per cent Concord grape juice has(1):

    
    -   more than what is found in 100 per cent pomegranate juice
    -   more than twice as high as orange juice
    -   nearly twice as high as 100 per cent grapefruit juice
    -   more than twice as high as 100 per cent cranberry juice blend
    -   five times higher than found in 100 per cent tomato juice
    -   nearly six times higher than found in 100 per cent apple juice
    

"According to Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating, one 250 ml (8-ounce) serving of 100% Concord grape juice, such as Welch's, equals two servings of fruit," added Doug Cook . "Recognition of grape juice as a healthy choice has been reinforced since Welch's 100% Grape Juice made from Concord grapes now carries The Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation's "Health Check" designation."

For more information, visit www.welchs.com.

About Canada Dry Mott's Inc.

Canada Dry Mott's, is a leading beverage business marketing a wide range of soft drinks, juices, teas, mixers and other premium beverages throughout Canada . The company's portfolio includes Canada Dry, Mott's Clamato, Dr Pepper, Crush, Mott's Fruitsations, Schweppes, Orangina, Mott's Garden Cocktail and Mr. & Mrs. T mixers among other brands. Based in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada Dry Mott's is a subsidiary of Dr Pepper Snapple (NYSE: DPS), one of the leading refreshment beverage businesses in North America . For more information, please visit www.canadadrymotts.ca.

    
    (R) Trademark of Welch Foods Inc., a cooperative, used under license by
        Canada Dry Mott's Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their
        respective owners.

    (1) The USDA ORAC database reports antioxidant power per 100 grams - for
        this comparison the study values have been converted to values per
        8 oz. serving size for the beverages.
    

For further information: Whitney Shanfield - Veritas Communications, [phone], [email protected]; Stephanie Baxter - Veritas Communications, [phone], [email protected]; For more information about Canada Dry Mott's, please contact Alison Bing, Corporate Affairs Manager, [phone], [email protected]