Everyone loves grapes. But did you know that one of the healthiest parts of a grape, the seed is often discarded?
Grape seeds and grape seed extract have been the focus of many published research studies evaluating their many health benefits, which range from supporting healthy blood pressure levels to providing antioxidant protection and supporting overall cardiovascular health.
Here are the top 3 health benefits of grape seed extract based on some of the latest published research studies that excite us the most about the potential benefits of grape seed extract:
1. Healthy blood pressure
In a recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, grape seed extract (GSE) was studied for its potential as a natural ingredient to help support healthy blood pressure. It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study that looked at middle-aged adults with blood pressure in the upper levels of the healthy zone. As a result of this study, grape seed extract was found to be a safe and effective food-derived ingredient to support healthy blood pressure levels.
2. 50x greater antioxidant power
Grape seeds contain not only fats, protein, and carbohydrates, they also contain 5-8% of a category of antioxidants called polyphenols. Polyphenols occur naturally in a variety of plant food sources and have antioxidant properties. Grape seeds contain a subgroup of polyphenols called proanthocyanidins, which have been shown in a number of scientific studies to have an antioxidant power that is 20 times greater than vitamin E and 50 times greater than vitamin C.
3. Cardiovascular health
A 2013 study evaluated the health benefits of a standardized grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in supporting healthy blood pressure levels when associated with non-drug intervention (diet and lifestyle modifications). This study evaluated a 300 mg/day dosage level of grape seed extract and used blood pressure and heart rate as the primary endpoints. After four months, the results suggested that that the beneficial effects of grape seed extract complement other diet and lifestyle modifications to support cardiovascular health and healthy blood pressure levels.
Sources:
- Effects of grape seed extract beverage on blood pressure and metabolic indices in individuals with pre-hypertension: a randomised, double-blinded, two-arm, parallel, placebo-controlled trial
- Polyphenolics in grape seeds-biochemistry and functionality
- Grape Seed Procyanidins in Pre- and Mild Hypertension: A Registry Study
- Grape seed extract enhances eNOS expression and NO production through regulating calcium-mediated AKT phosphorylation in H2O2-treated endothelium.