We all love eating grapes and also this grapefruit have some real good health benefits. However, have you ever thought that the tiny grape seeds that are present in the grapes can also be healthy and beneficial? Yes! There are a lot of health benefits of Grape seeds. You can also have grape seed in the form of supplements and capsules.
How Does Grape Seed Extract Work?
Polyphenols are known for their activity as highly influential antioxidants. French scientific studies have shown that the antioxidant power of polyphenols is 20 times more powerful than vitamin E, and 50 times greater than vitamin C. Polyphenols are involved in defence against ultraviolet radiation. Studies suggest that long-term consumption of diets rich in polyphenols protect against the development of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, osteoporosis and neurodegenerative diseases.
Oligomeric proanthocyanins (OPCs) have been studied for a variety of health conditions, they are most well known for their antioxidant activity. Polyphenols and OCPs help protect the blood vessels from damage, which help prevent high blood pressure and it also helps improve blood circulation by strengthening capillaries, arteries and veins.
About Grape Seed Extract
Most of the people eat grapes as part of a well-balanced diet. They know that grapes are good for the body and have many health benefits. Many people do not know that grape seed extract has been used for a number of years in different medical treatments. The entire grape fruit can be consumed from the flesh to the leaves to the sap. The seed is ground up and the extract is taken out. The grape seed extract is then used for different medical applications.
Origin of Grape Seed Extract
Grape seed extract has been used for many years in Europe. In fact, the medical use of this extract dates back since from thousands of years. Grape seed extract was used to treat* everything from the common cold to digestive problems.
What Are The Active Ingredients In Grape Seed Extract?
The predominant class of molecules found in grape seed extract is polyphenols. Polyphenols are a broad group of substances found in plants. They include tannins, lignins, flavonoids such as quercetin (a flavonol found in many fruits and vegetable) and EGCG (epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a catechin found in green tea), cinnamic acids such as caffeic acid (found in coffee and other plants), coumarins, and stilbenoids such as resveratrol (present in grapes and also other berries).
More specifically, in grape seed extract one type of polyphenol called oligomeric proanthocyanidin (OPC) is present at higher concentrations than all the others. OPC is a powerful antioxidant that is responsible for most of the beneficial therapeutic effects of grape seed extract. Proanthocyanidins are also found in other common foods and spices like fruits and especially berries, nuts, cinnamon, cocoa, and tea (EGCG is also a proanthocyanidin). Like these other foods, proanthocyanidins are found in grape skins and juice, but grape seed extract contains a much higher concentration. In fact, 70-90% of grape seed extract may be proanythocyanidins. The rest of grape seed extract contains procyanidin, different forms of catechins, and other bioactives in smaller amounts.
Nutrients Present in Grape Seeds
Grape seeds are known to have powerful antioxidant properties. These grape seeds contain Oligomeric proanthrocyanadin complexes which are known to be potent antioxidants. Apart from this, the grape seeds contain nutrients like Vitamin E, Linoleic acids and Flavonoids. The presence of all these nutrients in grape fruit seed makes it a potential stuff having some of the best health benefits.
How Can the Grape Seeds be used?
Grape seeds can be taken primarily as grape seed extract. Here let us talk about them.
Grape seed extract is developed from the grape seeds, by pressing the seeds to extract the oils present in them. This extract which is taken from the grape seed is extremely good for cooking at high temperature because it has a high smoke point of 485 F. This high smoke point in grape seed oil makes it beneficial to your health. Apart from the high smoke point, the grape seed extract is also rich in Omega-6 fatty acids and is low in the saturated fats. This is known to work great in fighting against heart disease as the Omega-6 fatty acid raises the blood serum levels of HDL or the good cholesterol that help in fighting against the heart disease.
Grape seed extracts are produced by extracting the compounds from the grape seeds that are the bi-products of wine and juice manufacturing. These grape seed extracts have various health benefits and with a proper consultation with the doctor, can be taken on regular basis in prescribed dosages. It is believed that taking 25 milligram to 125 milligrams of the grape seed extracts thrice a day can work as a great antioxidant. There are certain conditions, where you need to avoid taking grape seeds or the grape seed extracts which we will be talking in the following sections.
NOTE: Though, grapes make a healthy and safe snack for the children, Grape seed extracts are not recommended for the children.
Top Grape Seed extract benefits
Here below we will be discussing on the top benefits of grape seeds.
Grape Seeds are Beneficial in Fighting against with Certain Cancer
Grape seeds are also known for their beneficial properties in fighting against cancer. As you all know that the grape seed extracts provided protection against UV-induced photo carcinogenesis by reducing the tumor incidence, size of the tumor, tumor multiplicity etc and also by preventing the transformation of UVB-induced paillomas to malignant carcinomas. And also know that grape seed proanthocyanidins were proved beneficial in reducing azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis by inducing apoptosis.
Beneficial Anti-Oxidant Properties of Grape Seeds
The grape seeds comprises of flavonoids which includes gallic acid, catechin epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin 3-O-gallate, and primarily the Oligomeric proanthocyanidins. It is found in research that the anti-oxidant properties of Proanthocyanidins is 20 times greater than Vitamin E and 50 times greater than vitamin C. This strong antioxidant property of grape seed had attracted the supplement manufacturers towards processing the grape seeds in to pills and capsules.
Now, this anti-oxidant property of grape seed make it a beneficial health supplement as antioxidants help in protecting your body from signs of premature aging, poor cardiovascular health, poor vision, skin diseases, asthma etc.
Benefits of Grape Seeds in Fat Loss
Grape seeds are known to be effective in fat loss. They can be used in treating or reducing the dietary fat absorption and the fat accumulation within the body.
Preventing high blood pressure
As mentioned earlier, grapeseed is loaded with powerful antioxidants, which include flavonoids, phenolic procyanidins and linoleic acid. These substances can potentially protect the blood vessels from becoming damaged, which may prevent high blood pressure. Generally a grape seed extract beverage was able to improve blood pressure in the human participants who had been diagnosed with prehypertension.
Strengthening the immune system
Grapeseed extract generally contains high levels of vitamin E – just one tablespoon offers 3.9 milligrams of the vitamin, which is about a third of the daily recommended requirement for adults, and twice the amount contained in a tablespoon of olive oil.
Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that most people could use more of in their diet. It offers significant benefits to the immune system. It stimulates the production of natural killer cells that will seek out and also destroy cancer cells and germs, and it also enhances the production of B-cells, which are the immune cells that produce the antibodies that eradicate bacteria.
Delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease
Grapeseed extract has been shown to help delay the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The grapeseed extract offers similar properties as the oil, it is used in reducing inflammation and prevent the accumulation of compounds known to form brain plaque linked to Alzheimer’s. The results after using grape seed extract were promising in delaying the development of the disease.
Benefits of Grape Seeds in Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Conditions
The cardiovascular health benefits of the grape seed extracts in human beings have been extremely promising. Grape seeds have been beneficial in reducing the heart attack, controlling tachycardia and also in providing protection against cardiotoxicity due to drug doxorubicin. Grape seeds are known to reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol levels and also in reducing biomarkers of early stage atherosclerosis.
For Beautiful hair
Grapeseed extract is often found in hair care products as it’s known to help make it soft and smooth, and even promote hair growth. This is ideal for moisturizing and conditioning dry hair, as it’s lighter than coconut oil and olive oil, and won’t leave your hair feeling greasy. As it has no scent, it won’t leave a lingering odor either. The oil works to prevent frizz, split ends and brittle hair while locking in moisture. You can also take this grapeseed oil in the form of supplements and as well as capsules. Its high vitamin E content, proteins, minerals and linoleic acid are what you have to thank for it!
For Better skin
As mentioned, many people use grapeseed extract to benefit their skin, mainly for its emollient properties. That’s why you’ll see it in so many cosmetics, such as creams, lotions and lip balm. Its powerful antioxidant properties can also work to delay skin aging by minimizing damage caused by free radicals. It leaves the skin looking younger, improving overall appearance.
The grape seed can also offer protection against sun damage, and it has astringent properties which work to tighten the skin. Because it contains linoleic acid, it can also benefit a variety of skin problems, including acne, eczema and dermatitis. This same compound helps to nourish and soothe as well as aiding in the repair of the skin. Vitamin E is the component that helps the skin stay smooth and firm.
The grape seed extract can be used to help reduce the appearance of age spots, relieve a sunburn, diminish wrinkles and stretch marks.
The grape seed extract can help to restore collagen too, thanks to it being rich in those OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins). These compounds help to eradicate free radicals and promote the restoration of collagen at the cellular level. It makes your skin feel firmer, while also minimizing and preventing signs of damage.
Grape Seeds are Beneficial in Reducing Leg Swelling
The proanthocyanidins present in grape seeds have been found to be beneficial in improving the blood circulation by strengthening arteries, veins and capillaries. Grape seed acts as a wonderful varicose vein busting diet. As you know that grape seed extract is able to reduce the leg swelling in women caused due to prolonged sitting.
Grapeseed is highly effective at treating numerous hair, skin and face conditions that you may encounter throughout your life. Just consume grape seed supplements regularly for best benefits.
Also, remember that the grape seed has numerous health benefits as well. Be sure to share the good news of grape seed oil to all your friends, family and loved ones. With grape seed, you can prevent the many annoyances that come with aging.
Where and How to Buy Grape Seed Extract?
Grape Seed Extract is available in market as well as in online. It can be purchased in the form of capsules, tablets, and powder. When buying Grape Seed, look for cold-pressed natural organic oil since it retains most of the natural beneficial ingredients compared to the chemically pressed oils.
Apart from all these above mentioned benefits; there are few other benefits of grape seeds.
