Grape Seed Extract Uses – What is it Good For?

Grape seed extract use has had a place in traditional medicine for many centuries. As a nutritional supplement, the range of conditions it is taken for is very broad.

Scientific evidence is growing in respect of grape seed extract uses, such as being beneficial for inhibiting the growth of some cancer cells, reducing high blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome, and having positive effects in reducing inflammation.

Research into these claims has seen promising initial results, but more evidence is needed to validate the effects for the medical community. In particular, research into grape seed extract uses and properties currently seeks to identify the active chemical compounds that make up this natural product. Once these have been isolated, and many already have, then they can be examined as to their possible effects.

Currently, the FDA has not approved grape seed extract as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions. At this time in the USA, grape seed extract is available as a dietary supplement only.

Grape Seed Extract

Anti-Oxidant Supplement

Heart Health

Brain Function

Anti- oxidant

How It Works:

• Supports brain health & alertness
• Improves heart health & cholesterol levels
• Potent anti-oxidant & procyanidins source

Dosage:

Between 150 - 300 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Possibly Safe

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What is Grape Seed Extract Used For?

Many people are interested in grape seed extract as an antioxidant to neutralize free radical particles.

Free radicals are created in vast amounts during normal metabolic processes. However, when they accumulate in number they can damage the structure and genetic material found in healthy cells. This triggers a chain reaction. The damaged cells can then multiply out of control and illness or other serious health problems may develop as a result.

Under normal circumstances, the body has enough antioxidants to minimize this damage and a natural aging process would occur. However, as we expose our bodies to more toxins, the body may not have enough antioxidants to control the effects.

Grape seed extract is proven to be higher in antioxidants than many other natural substances. The amount contained is proven to be higher than in vitamins C and E, which are the body’s two most prominent natural antioxidants.

This is because grape seed extract contains high amounts of flavonoids and polyphenols which neutralize the free radicals.

Grape Seed Extract Uses

Because of the antioxidant properties of grape seed extract it has been used for many different conditions such as:

• Cancers
• Degenerative conditions
• Eye disease
• Premature aging
• Arteriosclerosis
• Atherosclerosis
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Emphysema
• Ulcers
• Crohn’s disease
• Senility
• Oesteoporosis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is not the goal to rid the body completely of free radicals. These compounds do have a role to play in human metabolism. Yet if they are not kept under control they are implicated in all the illnesses noted above.

Many people take grape seed extract as a preventative against the potential illnesses which may occur as a result of free radical damage. While no long-term studies have been conducted into preventative effects of this natural supplement so far, the short-term studies do demonstrate significant antioxidant activity.

Stress, Free Radicals, and Grape Seed Extract Uses

Excess free radical production is mostly attributed to environmental pollutants, but mental stress can result in similar effects.

When someone gets stressed, the body overproduces certain chemicals such as cortisol and catecholamines to help cope with the situation.

As a result the proportionate number of free radicals is increased. Emotional stress may well trigger a biochemical reaction resulting in physical illness.

Avoiding stress or minimizing the effects of it both physically and mentally is important for health, but this can be difficult in the modern world. This means that the use of natural antioxidant supplements like Grape Seed Extract is more important in a preventative capacity.

Proanthocyanidins found in grape seeds have been found to reduce the effects of stress and prevent oxidative damage. The more free radicals are kept under control, the less likely we are to become physically ill.

Grape Seed Extract and Heart Health

Studies have demonstrated that the administration of grape seed extract supplements can significant reduce blood pressure in patients with metabolic syndrome. Twenty to twenty-five percent of the adult population in the United States has metabolic syndrome, and more than 40 percent of people in their 60s and 70s are affected by the syndrome.

Signs of metabolic syndrome can include obesity, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and insulin resistance. If you have this syndrome, you have an increased clinical risk factor for heart disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Grape seed extract has been found to improve heart health for individuals with this syndrome. It acts as a natural blood thinner and can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure while also promoting better cholesterol levels. Some studies have shown it may increase insulin sensitivity, but more research is needed in this area.

What Dose of Grape Seed Extract Can I Take?

Your personal dosage will depend on many factors including age, weight, physiological sensitivities, and what your individual grape seed extract uses are. Dosages of between 150 mg and 300 mg are typical for grape seed extract capsules. No upper limit of dosages has been established and according to some laboratory tests, you would need to consume 4,000 times the recommended dose before toxicity occurred.

This supplement can be used for long periods of time with most studies showing results after 4 weeks of consistent usage. No serious side effects have been reported in any studies and adverse reactions of any type are rare when taken on its own.

Speak to your doctor before using grape seed extract supplements to determine whether there are any contraindications or potential interactions with drugs or other supplements you may be using.

The costs involved in taking the nutritional supplement are not high. A standard 300 mg dose taken for many grape seed extract uses would probably cost as little as $0.25 per day. Products should contain at least 80-95% proanthocyanidins content as this is the highest quality grape seed extract available for sale today.

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