Grape Seed Extract

Grape Seed Extract Benefits

Grape seed extract, which, as the name implies, comes from the bitter seeds of wine grapes. It’s rich in phenolic acids, anthocyanin, flavonoids, and oligomeric proanthocyanins (OPCs), making it an extremely potent antioxidant complex. As such, this extract helps protect against disease, especially those caused by oxidative stress.

Some of the most common uses for Grape seed extract are to help improve blood flow and enhance circulation, which has a direct impact on cardiovascular health, and the health of veins, arteries, and capillaries. In addition, because of its rich nutritional profile, and its effects on circulation, this extract has also been shown to prevent and slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration, to help prevent cataracts, and to protect cells in the retina. This is why supplementation is of great value to protect vision, most notably, night vision, and prevent diabetic eye disease.

As a supplement, it is also great for allergy sufferers because it naturally inhibits the release of histamine, which helps tame allergy symptoms. In addition, grapeseed extract has been shown to prevent liver & kidney damage, as well as improve organ function, to reduce high blood pressure, help protect against the formation of amyloid clusters in the brain, and protect overall cognitive health and memory.

Health Benefits of Grape Seed Extract

• Enhances Circulation
• Powerful Antioxidant Protection
• Protects Brain Health
• Reduces Allergy Symptoms

Who Should Use Grape Seed Extract Supplements?

Your health care practitioner may recommend a grape seed extract supplement to help strengthen your antioxidant profile and prevent free radical damage. Grapeseed extract may also be suggested (along with calcium) to stimulate bone formation in older or frail individuals, to increase production of vascular endothelial compounds that are critical to wound healing, to help ease allergy symptoms, and to help protect and preserve cardiovascular and cognitive health, especially in a mid to older population.

Grape Seed Extract Supplements

Potencies

This supplement is typically available in 50 or 100 mg potency, and the recommended daily dose will vary according to health status and can be anywhere from 300 to 800 mg.

Forms

When it comes to grape seed extract, standardization is key and is your assurance of the amount of oligomeric proanthocyanidins compounds (OPCs) present in a given formula. Look for supplements that list 40-80% proanthocyanidin content or 95% polyphenols for maximum benefits.

Formats

Grape seed extracts are available in capsules, tablets, caplets, liquids, and drops.

They're also available in phytosome form, which is a complex of a natural active ingredient and a phospholipid, which has been shown to increase absorption of herbal extracts.

Final Thoughts

Grape seed extract pairs especially well with the master antioxidant glutathione, as well as with N-acetylcysteine, coenzyme Q10, green tea, and most other antioxidants.

Grape seed extract is not recommended during pregnancy and should not be used in conjunction with blood thinners or NSAIDs, or by those with bleeding disorders or the inability to clot. It's also contraindicated for use with xanthine oxidase inhibitors for gout, or methotrexate.

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