Table of Contents
Table of Contents
These days, supplements may find their moment of fame via social platforms like TikTok or Instagram, where stardom is often on a grand stage (in terms of views), but also incredibly short-lived. Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer the botanicals I take to have a long history of use and proven, science-backed benefits. Grape seed extract, for instance, is a supplement with staying power.
Grape seed extract is one of the most powerful natural medicines available. Its use dates back to ancient Greece, when grapes (and wine) were used to treat everything from fevers to digestive issues to life-threatening conditions like sepsis.
In modern times, grape seed extract continues to be the subject of a wide body of clinical and scientific research. Grape seed extract also has amazing antioxidant power, including the ability to protect cells from serious oxidative damage.
Grape seed extract is so potent because it contains oligomeric proanthocyanidins, or OPCs.
OPCs aren’t a single compound. Instead, they are a group of closely related compounds found in a wide range of healthy foods, beverages, and herbs, including cranberries, blueberries, onions, tea, red wine, and parsley.
OPCs provide great protective value, but to be beneficial, their molecular structure needs to be tiny and readily absorbable. The best OPCs are found in a French variety of grape seed extract because it supplies concentrated, low molecular weight OPCs, which are highly absorbable—and therefore more effective—in the body. Taking a supplement containing French grape seed extract can provide 50 to 200 times more free-radical power than berries, chocolate, or even vitamins C and E!
Grape seed extract may improve many of the conditions in the body that may lead to serious heart disease. It may help prevent the dangerous oxidation of LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol, lowers high blood pressure, and protects the walls of blood vessels from free radical damage. In a nutshell, it can potentially lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
One clinical study compared the results of individuals with mildly high cholesterol taking a grape seed extract versus a placebo for eight weeks. Results for the grape seed extract group showed that lipid profiles and oxidized LDL cholesterol were improved. The researchers concluded that grape seed extract decreased the risk of blood clotting and other cardiovascular disorders.
In another clinical study, people with either pre- or mild hypertension (high blood pressure) were split into three groups. Two of the groups received either a low or high dose of grape seed extract, while the third group served as a control group, making simple changes to diet and exercise. At the end of the four-month trial, both grape seed extract groups saw an improvement in blood pressure. The group with the higher dosage of grape seed extract saw the most impressive results—normalized blood pressure numbers in 93 percent of the participants.
Cognitive decline is one of the most difficult aspects of aging, as it can affect decision-making, attention span, memory, and a person’s sense of independence. Research shows that oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain are likely to blame. But OPCs from grape seed extract have been studied for their ability to support mental clarity and brain function, and are actually on the cutting edge of research into cognitive aging.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, nearly 55 million people throughout the world are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. While scientists are still investigating possible remedies for this devastating disease, a growing body of research suggests that OPCs from grape seed extract may help prevent the formation of the “plaques and tangles” in the brain characteristic of Alzheimer’s. Additionally, research done at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai also suggests that grape seed extract may have the ability to break down existing plaques and tangles in the brain.
Grape seed extract OPCs are also well-known for benefiting brain health thanks to their strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Studies show that OPCs have the ability to protect the delicate circuitry of the brain. One study from India showed that grape seed OPCs reduce the effects of oxidative stress in the aging brain. Because of these studies, many researchers consider it a neuroprotectant to help prevent cognitive loss.
Type 2 diabetes and obesity remain very serious epidemics in the United States. With type 2 diabetes impacting more people each year, researchers remain vigilant about finding natural answers that work with the body to normalize blood sugar levels. While the single most important thing you can do to prevent type 2 diabetes is to follow a healthy eating plan, grape seed extract may play a key role in getting healthy and recovering from sugar addiction.
The American diet relies heavily on processed carbohydrates, which are believed to be a major contributor to type 2 diabetes. Amazingly, grape seed extract OPCs have been shown to stop blood sugar spikes after meals high in carbohydrates.
Grape seed extract also boosts adiponectin, a hormone and protein that affects several metabolic processes in the body, including insulin sensitivity. One study found that grape seed extract reduced both the buildup of abdominal fat and blood sugar levels. This was partly due to an increase in adiponectin!
OPCs are well-known for having powerful, free-radical-fighting potential. Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause damage to the body’s cells, causing them to oxidize and essentially “rust.” Over time, this oxidative stress may help prevent cells and tissues in the body from functioning properly, leading to premature aging or disease. Studies show that the OPCs in French grape seed extract are exceptional free-radical fighters. OPCs are more powerful at fighting free-radical damage than a combination of either vitamin C and vitamin E, or beta-carotene.
Grape seed extract OPCs also fight inflammation throughout the body. Its antioxidant powers balance immune response to reduce everything from allergic responses to chronic joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). One study found that OPCs were able to regulate the activity of certain immune-regulating T-cells in a way that stopped inflammatory markers. The researchers concluded that grape seed extract OPCs could become an adjunct therapy or possible treatment for those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
Backed by strong scientific support, grape seed extract has earned its place in the wellness world–and in my personal daily regimen. But because of its popularity, the market is also flooded with grape seed supplement options. Unfortunately, many of the grape seed extracts available today are adulterated with cheap ingredients, like peanut skins. (These are not only ineffective, but can be dangerous to anyone with nut allergies.) Many grape seed extracts also include high levels of tannins, which are OPCs with high molecular weight, little absorption ability, and very few health benefits.
The French grape seed extract I prefer is never adulterated and is standardized for only small-sized OPCs to ensure better absorption, and therefore, better health benefits.
When combined with a healthy, whole-foods diet and simple lifestyle changes, OPCs from French grape seed extract may support head-to-toe health. Among nature’s most trusted and effective disease-fighting botanicals, grape seed extract continues to stand out for its wide range of benefits for promoting long-term health. I encourage you to add this time-tested, proven botanical to your daily supplement routine. It may be the missing nutrient your body needs.
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This Wellness Hub does not intend to provide diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice. Read more. The content provided on this Wellness Hub is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a physician or other healthcare professional regarding any medical or health-related diagnosis or treatment options. Information on this Wellness Hub should not be considered as a substitute for advice from a healthcare professional. The claims made about specific products throughout this Wellness Hub are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.
