In the last year, up to 40% of adults in the U.S. were taking a medicine that interacts negatively with alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Among people 65 and older, it’s even more common — around 80%.

In addition, 5% to 6% of people who drink regularly have been prescribed a sedative hypnotic (sleep medication) or opioid for at least 30 days. Those combinations can be deadly.

Luckily, if you have to give up wine you don't have to give up the health benefits of grapes, and they’re far-reaching.

The resveratrol found in the skin of red and purple grapes may lower LDL cholesterol and protect heart health. And there is emerging evidence that the nutrients in grapes help keep the colon healthy, protect the retina from damage, and reduce inflammation that can damage the brain.

A mouse study also found that grapes reprogram your gut's microbiome to ease the stress on the liver caused by a high-fat diet, and they improve glucose regulation.

How do grapes do all this?

A cup of grapes contains 21% of your daily value for copper, 18% of the daily value for vitamin K, 9% of the daily value for thiamine, 8% of the daily value for riboflavin, and a good bit of potassium, vitamin C, manganese, and fiber.

On the negative side, grapes quickly raise your blood sugar, so enjoy them with high-fiber foods such as salads and whole grains as part of your plant-based diet.

One serving equals three-quarters of a cup, or 4.5 ounces.