Promotional labels could soon be put on a new blend of fruit juices in order to inform shoppers about its benefits to heart health.

A team of scientists from the University of Strasbourg in France have discovered that mixing grape, apple, blueberry, strawberry, lingonberry, acerola and aronia juices brings together the perfrect blend of heart-protecting polyphenols.

More than half of the effect came from grapes alone, suggesting retailers could use promotional labels to help sell grape juice.

In the Royal Society of Chemistry journal article, the researchers demonstrated that the polyphenols relaxed the rings surrounding the coronary arteries, preventing abnormal or restricted blood flow to the heart.

This could in turn help patients to avoid the fibrosis and eventual cardiac weakening that occurs when the muscle begins to die through lack of oxygen.

Co-author of the report Dr Cyril Auger said: "Our data indicates that blends of fruit products can be developed to combine a high level of vasorelaxant activity and an enjoyable taste."

According to the NHS, coronary heart disease is the UK's biggest killer and causes 94,000 deaths each year.

Denny Bros Ltd, 05 May 2011