What Is The Purpose Of Red Grape Seed Extract

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Derived from the seeds of grapes, grape seed extract consists of a mixture of compounds. The extract is an herbal remedy that may reduce your risk for several major diseases, including heart disease and cancer.

Features
The chemicals found within grape seed extract, called oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes or OPCs, which are powerful antioxidants, according to UMMC. Antioxidants help destroy free radicals in your body. Free radicals damage DNA and can cause cell death. They contribute to aging and numerous health problems like cancer and heart disease. People who take grape-seed extract can substantially increase levels of antioxidants in the blood, say the experts at UMMC.

Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance are classified under the umbrella of metabolic syndrome, disorders associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular disease. According to the UC Davis Health System, approximately 40 percent of Americans have metabolic syndrome. In a month long review of patients who received grape seed extract, UC Davis cardiovascular researchers ...
... noted patients experienced a significant reduction in blood pressure. Those with the highest levels of LDL cholesterol experienced the greatest improvement.

Cognitive Decline
Grape seed extract may be able to help prevent the deterioration of brain function that comes with aging, particularly Alzheimer's disease. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine reports that grape seed extract prevents the formation of amyloid in the brain, which is a molecule that is known to cause brain impairment similar to Alzheimer's disease.

Wound Healing
Scientists from Ohio State University's Heart and Lung Research Institute examined the effects of grape-seed extract on wound healing. They found that grape-seed extract improved wound healing by making the compound VEGF, which helps heal damaged blood vessels. In addition, grape-seed extract also increased the amount of free radicals to the wound site. This in turn clears bacteria from the wound, according to the Nutra-Ingredients website.

Usage
The extract is available in bottled liquid as well as capsules and tablets. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends buying products standardized to contain 40 to 80 percent proanthocyanidins or 95 percent or more OPC content. An example of one supplement label shows that each 50-mg capsule of grape seed extract contains 95 percent proanthocyanidins. Because of the low levels of extract consumed, no nutritional values are listed.

Safety
While grape seed extract is generally safe, possible side effects include dizziness, itchy scalp, nausea, headache, hives and indigestion. Do not take it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the actions of OPCs could cause issues if you use medications to thin your blood or have a bleeding disorder.

The grape seed extract is a top supplement. Get to know grape seed extract and grape seed extract suppliers so as to improve your health.