Grapes are an immensely popular fruit, thanks to their delicious sweetness (and, of course, thanks to the ancient tradition of making them into wine). Despite such popularity, though, this favored fruit holds a little-known secret: the most healthful part of grapes (by far) is their seeds.
Grape seeds contain all sorts of beneficial compounds, including powerful antioxidants called oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPC’s). OPC’s are closely related to resveratrol, the healing compound in grape skins that is often cited as the reason for wine’s health-promoting properties (when it’s consumed in moderation, of course).
But OPC’s, especially when combined with the other flavonoids and polyphenols in grape seeds, easily outshine even resveratrol. Get this: OPC’s are naturally antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-allergy…and that’s just scratching the surface.
OPC’s help the body produce glutathione, which is the master antioxidant that protects DNA and strengthens the immune system. They also increase intracellular vitamin C levels and strengthen capillaries and thus improve blood oxygen circulation throughout the body.
Best of all, grape seeds confer all of these benefits without the side effects that inevitably accompany allopathic medicines (such as microbiome imbalance in the case of antibiotics and antiviral medications, immune suppression in the case of pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories, and the debilitating effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy).
Because of all these mechanisms and more, many studies have found grape seeds to be immensely beneficial in the treatment of various conditions. Here’s a few examples…
Cancer. Given that the OPC’s in grape seeds are such powerful antioxidants, they work wonders for preventing cancer. These compounds, combined with hormone-balancing chemicals called aromatase inhibitors, even attenuate the negative effects of chemotherapy and stop the spread of hormone-dependent cancers like breast cancer. [1] One study also found that OPC’s stopped the spread (and even directly killed) prostate cancer cells. [2]
Blood pressure and circulation problems. Grape seeds are strongly vasodilatory, so they’re highly beneficial for a variety of blood pressure and circulatory conditions. They protect blood vessels from being damaged in the first place (which often contributes to high blood pressure), and their vessel-dilating effect helps lower blood pressure in those with hypertension. Studies have shown that grape seeds also improve the symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency and edema. [3]
Diabetes. Grape seeds help the body process fat more efficiently (and halt lipid peroxidation, the process by which fats are oxidized into toxic free radicals) and soothe hypertension. [4] Thus, especially when combined with proper diet and exercise, they’re an inexpensive and powerful remedy for both the complications and underlying factors of diabetes.
Cognitive decline. Study after study has been that high levels of antioxidants in the body are key to optimizing brain function. By reducing oxidative stress and boosting mitochondrial function (the part of your cells that generate energy), the polyphenols in grape seed extract have been shown to prevent and even treat Alzheimer’s disease and general cognitive decline. [5]
Oral health. Last but not least, some studies suggest that grape seeds can help keep your teeth and gums happy (the importance of oral health is often diminished nowadays, but some evidence connects many chronic conditions to low-grade tooth and gum infections). Grape seeds accomplish this feat by maintaining mineral balance in the mouth, which prevents and even reverses tooth decay. [6]
Hidden in plain view
So how come the benefits of grape seeds so little known? If the humble grape contains so many healing properties wrapped in its center, why isn’t it considered a superfood?
Here’s the rub: all the beneficial compounds in grape seeds (like polyphenols and flavonoids) are very bitter, so they’re usually removed through selective breeding and “de-bittering” processes. When it comes to large-scale food production, the American sweet tooth palate wins out over health concerns. Thus, most of the grapes you’ve consumed in your lifetime probably don’t even contain the healing compounds discussed above.
And even the grapes that still have their full therapeutic profile contain relatively small amounts of the compounds you’re looking for. You’d need to eat a lot of grapes to get all the potential benefits of grape seeds (which is inadvisable, considering how much sugar grapes contain).
Grape seed extract is an excellent way to get the benefits of grape seeds. It contains 95% OPC’s, which is more than any other antioxidant extract. You can easily find high-quality grape seed extract supplements in capsule form. If you suffer from any of the conditions listed above, or just want to add a fantastic natural supplement to your regimen, try taking 100-300 milligrams of grape seed extract a day. [7]
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References
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16740737
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18663730
[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22752876
[4] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24757634
[5] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3666959/
[6] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23151686
[7] http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle-guide-11/grape-seed-extract
