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Overview:
Grape seed from the University of Maryland
Medical Center
The medicinal and nutritional value of grapes (Vitis vinifera)
has been heralded for thousands of years. Egyptians consumed
this fruit at least 6,000 years ago, and several ancient Greek
philosophers praised the healing power of grapes -- usually
in the form of wine. European folk healers developed an ointment
from the sap of grapevines to cure skin and eye diseases.
Grape leaves were used to stop bleeding, inflammation, and
pain, such as the kind brought on by hemorrhoids. Unripe grapes
were used to treat sore throats and dried grapes (raisins)
were used to heal consumption, constipation, and thirst. The
round, ripe, sweet grapes, were used to treat a range of health
problems including cancer, cholera, smallpox, nausea, eye
infections, and skin, kidney, and liver diseases.
Seedless varieties were developed to appeal to fickle consumers,
but researchers are now discovering that many of the health
properties of grapes may actually come from the seeds themselves.
Among other
beneficial effects, the active compounds in grape seed are
believed to have antioxidant properties. In fact, a recent
study of healthy volunteers found that supplementation with
grape seed extract substantially increased levels of antioxidants
in the blood. Antioxidants are substances that destroy free
radicals -- damaging compounds in the body that alter cell
membranes, tamper with DNA (genetic material), and even cause
cell death. Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but
environmental toxins (including ultraviolet light, radiation,
smoke, certain prescription and non-prescription drugs, and
air pollution) can also increase the number of these damaging
particles. Free radicals are believed to contribute to the
aging process as well as the development of a number of health
problems, including heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants
found in grape seeds can neutralize free radicals and may
reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.
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