Grapeseed
Grapeseed oil has been used for over 6,000 years in traditional folk healthcare. Its high in vitamin E, as well as a rich source of omega-6 fatty acids.
Usage
Blood pressure
Some studies confirmed that grapeseed extract can reduce blood pressure.
Blood flow
Can potentially reducing the risk of blood clots.
Ancient Herbal Therapy
The use of the vine in medicine was known to the ancient Egyptians and the ancient Greeks. The juice, squeezed from the herbaceous shoots, was then used as a popular remedy against various skin diseases.
The leaves, due to their astringent and hemostatic properties, are often used in the treatment of diarrhea, hemorrhage, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids.
For the treatment of a sore throat, the juice of green fruits is often squeezed and used for rinsing.
In Ayurveda, the ancient holistic Indian healing system, black grape fruits were used as an aphrodisiac, diuretic, laxative, against asthma, fever, eye diseases, jaundice, and sore throat.
How to add grapeseed to your diet?
Grape Seed Extract
Derived from the ground-up seeds of red wine grapes.
Grape Seed Oil
Grapeseed oil is processed from grape seeds.
Ancient Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen used the astringent and tonic action of red wine in the treatment of many diseases, while white wine was usually used as a diuretic.
Ancient Egyptians and Greeks used vine in medicine.
The first successful attempt to cultivate a vine was recorded in the region of the Caspian Sea.
Grapeseed oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids.
About
The grape vine (Vitis vinifera) has long been known to man, as shown by the archaeological finds of fossilized leaves and seeds from the Miocene and Tertiary periods, originating from continental Europe, England, Iceland, and North America.
The seeds of grape berries found in Bronze Age sites or in the tombs of ancient Egypt are morphologically very similar to those we know today. It is believed that the first successful attempt to cultivate a vine was recorded in the region of the Caspian Sea, from where the vine, now as a cultivated plant, spread both to the east and to the west.
Composition
Grape seed extract protects blood vessels from damage, strengthens capillaries, prevents fat oxidation and the occurrence of heart muscle infarction. Also, grape seed extract stabilizes venous blood vessels and reduces the risk of developing varicose veins. Grape seeds reduce atherosclerotic plaques - accumulations of fat on the walls of blood vessels and contribute to "clogging of blood vessels". It reduces the risk of damage to eye structures, as well as the possibility of developing macular degeneration and cataracts.
Grape seeds contain fiber, proteins, lipids (fats and oil), carbohydrates, minerals, and between 5% and 8% of polyphenolic compounds (like tannins), depending on the variety and other factors, such as climate, soil, and degree of ripeness. The grape seed extract is made from the crushed seeds of grape plants.
Science
The unsaturated fatty acid profile and antioxidant components in grapes and grape seed oil make the product very significant and beneficial for human health. Therefore, grape seed oil is very important as the main ingredient and intermediate for formulations of dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and food additives.
Some studies have shown that antioxidants of grape seed oil can be applied for the protection or treatment of ulcers, cancer, inflammation, allergies, cardiovascular and toxical diseases, prevention of oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, and thrombosis, lowering cholesterol serum levels, and regulation of autonomic nerve. Grape seed oil is also very popular for skin products and cosmetics due to its antioxidant, emollient, moisturizing, anti-wrinkle, and skin moisturizing effects.
Safety
The grape seed extract is generally well tolerated. Increased intake can have a laxative effect, and grapes should not be used by diabetics due to the increased sugar content. There is no firmly established dose of grape seed extract. Doses of between 100-300 milligrams/day have been used in studies and are prescribed in some European countries.
Side effects may include headache, itchy scalp, dizziness, and nausea. It could interact with drugs like blood thinners, some painkillers, certain heart medicines, cancer treatments, and others. Given the lack of evidence about its safety, grape seed extract is not recommended for children or for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Fun Facts
People have been cultivating hundreds of varieties of grapes for over 8 000 years.
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Bagchi, D., Swaroop, A., Preuss, H. G., & Bagchi, M. (2014). Free radical scavenging, antioxidant and cancer chemoprevention by grape seed proanthocyanidin: an overview. Mutation Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, 768, 69-73.
Nunes, M. A., Pimentel, F., Costa, A. S., Alves, R. C., & Oliveira, M. B. P. (2016). Cardioprotective properties of grape seed proanthocyanidins: An update. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 57, 31-39.
Rodríguez-Pérez, C., García-Villanova, B., Guerra-Hernández, E., & Verardo, V. (2019). Grape seeds proanthocyanidins: An overview of in vivo bioactivity in animal models. Nutrients, 11(10), 2435.
Recipes
