What if someone told you that one little seed could combat cancer, eradicate heart disease, turn back the cruel clock of aging, and keep our peepers sharp? What if they were right? Grape seed extract, specifically derived from the muscadine grape, is once again taking center stage in the arena of natural remedies and holistic medicinals. Although many of us who trust in the healing properties found in – gasp – foods and plants found in nature had already implemented the use of grapeseeds, skeptics from the Western medical world have traditionally kept their critical distance from such claims. Until now.
A recently published study from the Anschutz Medical School in Colorado confirms that, “Grape seed in itself is full of antioxidants, phenolics and phytochemicals – an enormous – contributor to whole body health. It protects the body from adverse damages done by the hundreds of toxins we absorb daily and is demonstrating itself as a strong anti-carcinogen. Not only does the muscadine grape seed flush out many of these toxins, but it works to rebuild the body after the damage.”
Hippocrates: Father of Medicine
Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers Dr. E. Ann Tallant and Dr. Patricia E. Gallagher provided the American Association for Cancer Research the conclusion that, “These results [from a University study] demonstrate that extracts from muscadine grape seeds and muscadine grape skins inhibit the growth of human lung, colon, prostate, breast, skin, brain, and lukemia cells in vitro – suggesting that further studies are warranted to investigate their potential use in the prevention or treatment of cancer.”
Grape seed extract contains one of the most potent sources of oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPCs) around. OPCs are super-powerful antioxidants. Free radicals are the predominant cause of skin aging (along with poor lifestyle choices -ahem- weekend benders). Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Two plus two, people. Math made simple.
I personally have been using grapeseed oil topically as a moisturizer for just over a year now. Denver’s altitude had begun taunting my skin, maliciously coaxing it into early retirement, so I proactively (okay, desperately) researched better options than what I was finding on the shelves at Walgreens. Aside from receiving compliments on the appearance of my skin, I feel sufficiently hydrated and ready to take on whatever happens weather-wise. I would recommend buying the highest, food-grade quality oil you can find. It’s still pretty cheap, and a little goes a long way. (Note of caution: Don’t let the stuff come anywhere close to your eyes- trust me on this one.)
Taking as a supplement, applying topically, and cooking with the various byproducts of the humble grape seed needs to be put at the top of your to-do list for 2013. Hippocrates once said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. What a novel notion. Cheers to your health.
Jodilyn Stuart is the owner of ModaBody Fitness and has been a fitness professional since 1997. She currently contributes to 303 Magazine as a Fitness and Health writer. If you have questions, feel free to email at: Jodilyn@303Magazine.com