What you may not know about grapes?

There is no doubt that when you hear the words "vineyard or wine country," your mind immediately conjures up a romantic image of rows and rows of grape vines located in the Tuscan countryside or maybe the rolling hills of Italy, France, and Napa Valley.

For centuries, grapes and grape seeds have been used for nutritional and medicinal purposes as they're packed with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. They are one of the most beneficial dietary ingredients discovered for assisting with the heart, circulatory system, blood pressure, and even cognitive function. 

Many people enjoy the odd glass of red wine, but if you ask people to provide a list of items produced from grapes, they'll most likely say wine and raisins. There are, in fact, many things that come from grapes, such as the most popular being wine, grape juice, jam, dried grapes, vinegar, grape seed oil, and grape seed extract. 

Over the past few decades, wine manufacturers were trying to reduce the waste from grape byproducts, the grape parts typically treated as waste or animal feed. Yet, in recent years, an increasing trend developed where grape skins and seeds were used and processed to provide extraordinary benefits, particularly grape seed and grape seed extracts (Vitis vinifera).

Nowadays, the wine-making process is pretty much taken for granted; we can pick up a bottle from a local store and not think about the development stage. The wine production process is a long, slow process from harvesting, crushing, and pressing the grapes before the fermentation begins. After fermentation, the clarification and stabilization process takes place to produce clear wine. The final stages are aging and bottling.  

A grape vine's lifecycle from planting the grape seed to harvest can take up to three years to produce grapes farmed in a vineyard. The truth is, for a flagship wine, most wineries hand-pick their grapes, and when it's time to harvest, the employees and volunteers will get wet, dirty, sticky, and sore. During the harvest months, time is of the essence, and so the worker must be fast, efficient, and prepared for the back-breaking manual labor. 

So, what does happens to the discarded waste?

Grape seeds are discarded waste products of the wine industry, yet they are one of nature's most sought-after versatile ingredients. No doubt, this was a cause for celebration about the benefits of red wine and health for wine enthusiasts. Why? Because Grape seed extract (GSE) is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals and slows down the aging process. Extensive studies show that grape seeds contain phenols such as proanthocyanidins, which chemically are known as oligomeric flavonoids. These powerful antioxidants found in grape seeds help alleviate inflammation, tissue damage, and lower cholesterol. It also acts as a collagen-bonding nutrient, promoting skin regeneration, cell health, elasticity, and flexibility. 

Grape seeds are an excellent source of vitamins C and E, and antioxidants are known as flavonoids, all of which may improve skin texture and reduce aging signs. The seeds provide a highly beneficial mix of antioxidants called proanthocyanins. When extracted and concentrated using modern manufacturing methods and natural solvents like water, alcohol, or even carbon dioxide, these compounds provide clinically proven benefits for cardiovascular health and a variety of additional health benefits. 

Meanwhile, Grape seed extract is a derivative of grape seeds and is a concentrated source of antioxidant polyphenols, which are known to be excellent binders of collagen fibers within your skin. Grape seed extract is found in skincare and beauty products as it is an excellent source of linoleic acid, which helps repair cell membranes and skin. It is a versatile ingredient and used by many companies in the cosmetics industry. 

Here's What We know

    • Grape seeds have been scientifically shown to support cardiovascular health.  
    • Grapes provide a wide range of minerals and vitamins necessary for healthy bones, energy, healthy skin, and joints, such as thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium.
    • Grapes are packed with antioxidants called flavonoids. These powerful antioxidants are free radical scavengers that can stave off DNA damage. Grapes come in several colors, but the darker the color of the grape, the higher is the concentration of flavonoids in it. 
    • Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found in grapes and other foods. They deliver potent antioxidants and have antiaging, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The polyphenol benefits in grape seed extract are excellent for skin health and antiaging effects. Polyphenols are great for supporting connective tissue and skin health.
    • Grapes are rich in a potent antioxidant compound called resveratrol; it's found in foods such as red grapes, peanuts, pistachios, red and white wine, and blueberries. Resveratrol has gained popularity due to its unique antiaging properties. Resveratrol is also known to boost the immune system and defense mechanisms of the body.

Grape seed extract has many benefits: *

    • Support a healthy immune system with antimicrobial and antiviral properties
    • It can lower your cholesterol 
    • Improve bone strength
    • Reduce aging effects on the skin
    • Help reduce stress and promote cognitive function

By learning more about the processes involved with grapes, we'll all have a greater understanding and appreciation the next time we enjoy a glass of wine. So, as you continue to take care yourself, start taking  a GSE supplement. 

Roex offers two products that have clinically tested levels of grape seed extract. The first, PC-95, is a highly concentrated grape seed extract that provides superior cardiovascular support and promotes healthy eyes, a healthy brain, and healthy skin while providing overall antioxidant support.

The second product, Amazing Grapes, provides grape seed extract and olive leaf extract. These foods are abundant in the Mediterranean Diet and are considered the healthiest of all dietary patterns for maintaining cardiovascular health and immunity.

 

Shop all Roex Vitamins & Supplements for Grape seed extract 

 

* FDA Disclaimer

The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not meant to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or medical condition. Please consult your health care professional before using any product.

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