Grape Seed Extract Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Properties: Anti-cancer, Antioxidant, Anti-hypertensive, Cholesterol-lowering

What is Grape Seed Extract?

Grape seed extract is derived from the ground-up seeds of red wine grapes. For thousands of years Europeans, particularly those in the Mediterranean climates, have been aware of the medicinal value from consuming grapes in various form. Most commonly, grapes were made into wine and drank. They were also consumed raw and whole, however usually the grape seeds were spat out and discarded.^{1 2} Over the centuries, it was widely suspected that red wine was beneficial to health and that the source of the benefits came from the grape seeds. This led to intentionally extracting the oils from the seeds. The result is commonly referred to as grape seed extract and is available as dietary supplement uses in tablets, capsules, and liquid form. ¹

Grape Seed Extract Health Uses and Health Benefits

Grapes themselves are packed with nutrients. Grape seed extract health benefits are primarily from antioxidants such as resveratrol that destroy cancer provoking free radicals. These are harmful compounds in the body that damage DNA genetic material and cause cancerous cell death.^{3 4} Today, standardized extracts of grape seeds are used to treat a number of health problems including heart disease, diabetes, and cancers as well as protecting against bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus aureus. Grape seed extracts should contain 40 to 80 percent proanthocyanidins and oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OCP) of not less than 95 percent.^{1 2 3}

Grape seed extract health benefits are many. They’re known to lower cholesterol and blood pressure as well as addressing edema or swelling caused by injury or surgery. Chronic venous insufficiency is also helped by ingesting grape seed extracts. This is blood pooling in the legs that causes pain, fatigue, swelling, and visible or varicose veins.^{1 2 3} The most beneficial health benefits of grape seed extract appear to be in the treatment of various cancers. They include:

Stomach Cancer - The stomach is the body’s digestive organ which joins the esophagus to the small intestine. It mixes food with acid to digest protein. The antioxidants in grape seed extract help control cancer cells.
Leukemia - Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. White cells are formed in bone marrow and leukemia causes the marrow to produce abnormal cells. Grape seed extract helps to balance marrow production.
Pancreatic Cancer - The pancreas is responsible for secreting digestive juices and hormones. It’s a gland located between the stomach and the spine. Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose and spreads rapidly. Grape seed extract helps prevent pancreatic cancer and slows its spread.
Intestinal Cancer - Intestinal cancer is generally referred to as being in the small intestine, rather than in the large intestine or bowel. It’s relatively rare and slow to spread. Grape seed extract can be an effective relief for intestinal cancer.
Colorectal Cancer - This is usually called colon cancer and is a common form of cell disruption. It manifests in the colon or rectum and is readily treatable. Grape seed extract benefits include being a remedy for colon cancer.
Lung Cancer - Lung cancer is one of the most aggressive and fatal forms of cancer. It’s usually caused by inhaling toxic chemicals including tobacco smoke. Alternative treatments like grape seed extract can have some positive effect.

Grape Seed Extract Side Effects and Precautions

Grape seed extract side effects are few. It’s important to know that grape seed oil is abundant in polyunsaturated fats. They contain Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids which can be inflammatory when over consumed. This can lead to high cholesterol levels, hormonal imbalance, thyroid disorders, and obesity or weight gain.⁴ Grape seed extracts also don’t have the same nutrients as found in whole, raw grapes. Specifically, they lack Vitamin C, Vitamin K, copper, and potassium. Children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers should avoid taking grape seed extract.¹

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