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Grape Seed Extract - A potent and all around great antioxidant

What is an Antioxidant?

Antioxidants are very important to your health because they protect you against free radicals. Free radicals are unpaired electrons in the environment that have the power to cause degenerative and life threatening diseases by destroying cell membranes and damaging DNA.

Free radicals are produced by normal metabolism of the air we breath, exercise, smoking, pollution, dietary fats, certain chemicals, sunlight, drugs, alcohol, radiation and more.

Some antioxidants are produced by the body. Other antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta corotene, selenium, and bioflavanoids (including grape seed). These other antioxidants must be consumed in the diet on a daily basis by eating lots of fruits and vegetables, which most people don’t do. That is why taking a supplement is a good healthy decision for your body.

Why Grape Seed Extract is the best Antioxidant.

Have you ever heard of the French paradox? The French eat a diet high in saturated fats and cholesterol, but they have a lower rate of heart disease than any western society. Many Scientist believe that the reason lies in red wine that they drink. Red wine, unlike white, is processed using the grape seeds. Red and purple grapes contain oligomeric proanthocyanidins or "OPCs" also referred to as "PCOs."

OPC extracts have been scientifically studied and medically used in Europe since the 1950's. European doctors prescribe OPC containing drugs for various vascular disorders.

Sources of OPCs. OPCs can be found in many foods, but in extremely small concentrations. Best sources of OPCs are in the peels, skins and seeds of grapes, blueberries, cherries, and plums. Processing and storage can decrease the availability of the OPCs. Other great sources are tree barks of pine and several other trees. The highest known concentration of OPC is 95% found in grape seeds. Many studies have found that the OPCs in grape seeds are the most potent of all antioxidants. Grape seed’s OPC is 20 times more potent than vitamin C and 50 times more potent than vitamin E. But unfortunately, you would need to eat thousands of grapes daily to get the benefit of a grape seed supplement.

In addition to the superior antioxidant effects of grape seed, it is also anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-mutagenic

Scientifically documented, observed benefits of Grape Seed extracts include:

• Enhanced capillary strength and vascular function.
• Enhanced immune resistance.
• Increased peripheral circulation.
• Reduced adverse allergic and inflammatory responses.
• Reduction in skin aging and loss of elasticity.
  

Advantages of OPCs found in Grape Seed as opposed to other antioxidants are:

• OPC is water soluble, readily absorbed into the blood stream quickly.
• It is distributed to most every body organ and tissue and remains in the body for up to 3 days. It even crosses the blood brain barrier for improved health for the nervous system.
• In addition to neutralizing free radicals themselves, OPCs enhance the antioxidant effects of vitamins C and E.

Health Conditions that may benefit from Grape Seed Extract.

ADD / ADHD Disorders - powerfully effective in treating ADD and ADHD in both children and adults. Millions of parents are virtually frantic over the fact that not only have their children been diagnosed as having ADD, but that the prescribed treatment usually consists of powerful stimulant drugs such as Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Cylert. The problem with drug treatment are the frequent and dangerous side effects they produce. Now, thousands of grateful parents and adult sufferers are discovering dramatic relief from this entirely non-drug approach. Grape Seed Extract is not a drug and is far less costly than traditional drug therapy. It is as safe to use as Vitamin C. Grape Seed Extract is so effective because it is one of the few substances that crosses the blood barrier of the brain. It literally provides parents and children with a new lease on life.

Aging - Antioxidants have long bee hailed for there believed benefits to stop or slow down the aging process. This is due to the fact that free radicals can speed the aging process and cause tissue degeneration. Because grape seed is a more potent antioxidant, it has been referred to as the "anti-aging pill." Grape seed can reduce skin aging, by keeping the collagen and elastin in good shape and strengthening connective tisuue. This provides more elasticity and a more youthful look to the skin. Users of grape seed have reported improvement of cellulite, stretch marks and scarring.

Asthma - OCPs have been shown to be effective in the treatment of asthma due to it’s antihistamine and other chemical actions.

Allergies - This is due to the antihistamine effects of OPCs as well as their ability to strengthen membranes of the cells in our body responsible for producing allergic chemicals in response to a reaction. This helps prevents hypersensitivity to pollens, food allergens etc...

Cancer - Grape seed is not a cure for cancer, but many studies show that antioxidants greatly reduce your risk of all types of cancer. In addition OPCs will find and neutralize mutations in the cells DNA and protect it from oxidative damage, which can lead to cancer.

Cardiovascular (Heart) Disease - Many physicians in the U.S. have been prescribing vitamin E for years because of its antioxidant effects improving cardiovascular health. Grape seed has been reported to be 50 times more potent than vitamin E. Grape seed it thought to prevent plaque build up on arteries, lower LDL (bad cholesterol), prevent stickiness of blood platelets, enhance capillary strength and improve over all vascular function. Patients taking grape seed have reported lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, help with hemorrhoids, and spider and varicose veins.

Fibromylagia - This disorder is associated with chronic muscle discomforts. People with this disorder have reported much improvement with grape seed, probably due to its muscle cell protection power.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - MS is a disease that destroys the myelin sheath that surrounds and protects nerve fibers. The cause is thought to be an autoimmune or allergic response. OPCs have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier, providing benefits to the nervous system. Grape seed has been reported to reduce the progression of the disease and even improve mental clarity in others.

Skin Problems - The OPCs in grape seed help prevent the skin from the damaging effect of the sun that lead to wrinkles and skin cancer. Due to it’s anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects, grape seed extract has also been shown to improve conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Vision Problems - Studies have shown a halt in cataract progression and improvements and prevention of glaucoma, macular degeneration and eye strain using the antioxidant grape seed extract. The OPCs in grape seed prevent free radical damage, reinforces the collagen structure and increases blood flow to the tiny vessels in the eye .

Safety of Grape Seed Extract

• Grape Seed Extracts are very safe without side effects. (However, very occasionally stomach upset has been reported.) Even in mega doses, grape seed has been found to be nontoxic, non-carcinogenic, does not cause birth defects and does not cause cell mutations.
• There are no known drug or nutrient interactions. This means that it is safe to take with other supplements or medications. As always, it is recommended that you check with your doctor before taking any supplement if you are currently on prescribed mediation.
• Manufacturers of grape seed must comply with international standards for quality and safety.

For your info...

• ActiVin™ is the most extensively studied grape seed extract on the market today. Since 1997, more than 90 research presentations, publications and abstracts have reported on the great health benefits of ActiVin™.

• There is $17 million , in research and testing with proven results using "ActiVin™"  the trademark name for Grape Seed extract made by InterHealth Inc. It has been tested successfully against human cancer cells, cardiovascular protection and chemotherapy.    (more info. on ActiVin™)
  

By, Andrea Garland RN, BSN, owner Garland's Natural Health Web

With all the information available today it is impossible for any doctor to know everything about every medical treatment available. It is important as patients and consumers to become informed for the best health and welfare of ourselves and our families.