I am a wine lover, especially red wine. The skins and seeds from crushed grapes result in dry full-bodied red wines that I prefer. Grapes in general are a wonderfully delicious fruit but did you ever stop to contemplate the benefits of the seeds as you sip a fine red wine? Grapeseed not only give wine the dry tannic characteristics wine drinkers love, but it also offers so many benefits to the skin, body, and mind. Grapeseed works behind the scenes and plays a big part in a lot of Ageless Apothecary’s products whether it is in an oil infusion, tincture, or glycerite.
Previously, I have written about the magic of tannins on the skin from white willow bark, so it is only fitting that I also include this seed as part of the anti-aging arsenal at Ageless Apothecary. Tannins are polyphenolic compounds which contain natural anti-oxidants and anti-aging and antimicrobial properties. The topical application of grape seed extract has been shown to enhance the sun protection. (Bauman and Weisburg, 2018). Grapeseed oil is used as a base in many herbal infusions like the Hibiscus Grapeseed oil made to help the skin due to the skin absorption properties. The polyphenols in grapeseed, specifically proanthocyanins (OPCs), are strong anti-oxidants that penetrate into the skin to stabilize collagen and maintain elasticity. (Wilson, 2009) When crushed, grapeseed oils have the ability of supplying protection to cell membranes against oxidative damage and prevents lipid and protein oxidation which supports anti-aging of the skin. (Gupta, et al, 2020)
As a supplement, studies were performed which suggest that the consumption of grapeseed extracts rich in polyphenols decreases the cardiovascular mortality and has positive impacts on the blood pressure to obese and patients with metabolic syndrome or disorders (Gupta, et al, 2020) According to a study published in The Journal of Neuroscience, regular use of grapeseed extract prevents amyloid beta accumulation in cells suggesting it may block the formation of plaques. In Alzheimer’s disease, the toxic plaques disrupt normal brain function. The active polyphenols found in grapeseed extract are catechin and epicatechin, which are also abundant in tea and cocoa.
Of course, I am not suggesting that grapeseed extract is the cure all for heart diseases and Alzheimer’s but with healthy practices such as smoking cessation and a healthy diet, supplements such as grapeseed can certainly support and increase results. So, enjoy the glass of red wine in moderation and think about the nutritional compounds in grapeseed helping you or better yet take a grapeseed extract or glycerite.
Works Cited
Bauman, Leslie, and Edmund Weisburg. "Skincare and nonsurgical skin rejuvenation." Science Direct, edited by J. Peter Rubin, MD, Elsevier, 2018.
Wilson, Ni'Kita. “Market Evolution of Topical Anti-aging Treatments” edited by Nava Dayan, In Personal are & Cosmetic Technology, Skin Aging Handbook, William Andrew Publishing, 2009, Pages 15-34
Gupta, Madhavi et al. “Grape seed extract: having a potential health benefits.” Journal of food science and technology vol. 57,4 (2020): 1205-1215. doi:10.1007/s13197-019-04113-w
Society for Neuroscience. "Grape Seed Extract May Reduce Cognitive Decline Associated with Alzheimer's Disease." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 June 2008. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080617165716.htm>.