You've heard about it. You've read about it. You drink it. Cabernet. Merlot. Pinot Noir. What is it about red wine that is so good for you? Grab a seat (with a nice glass of your favorite red wine, of course), and I'll fill you in...
Stress (who doesn't deal with this everyday!), pollution (smog, car exhaust), smoking, poor dietary choices (like a Big Mac and fries), and a host of other factors all cause a metabolic reaction in the body that result in the production of free radicals (the bad guys). Simply stated, free radicals are unstable molecules that are capable of causing significant damage to the body. They accelerate the aging process (who wants wrinkles?), and they contribute to the development of cancer cells (been there...done that). To prevent this excessive damage, antioxidants (the good guys) are required to neutralize free radicals (the bad guys).
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins, more commonly referred to as grapeseed extract, is a powerful antioxidant that is extracted from the skin and seeds of grapes. Grapeseed extract belongs to a class of antioxidants known as the bioflavanoids, which are found in fruits, vegetables, grains and seeds. Grapeseed extract is considered to be 20 times more powerful that Vitamin C and 50 times more powerful than Vitamin E. And guess what...Red wine is full of grapeseed extract!
Because of its ability to protect the nervous system, bind to collagen fibers (improving strength, support, and elasticity of skin, organs, and vessels), prevent excessive platelet aggregation (which is too much sticking together), and relax blood vessel smooth muscles (improving circulation), grapeseed extract can help prevent strokes, lower LDL cholesterol (the bad stuff), treat cardiovascular disease, arthritis, varicose veins and assist in the destruction of cancer cells (now, that's more like it!).
In addition to the dietary choices already mentioned and red wine, grapeseed extract is available in supplemental form. Please be sure to ONLY use a pharmaceutical grade, GMP standardized product that is guaranteed for potency, quality and bioavailability (how well it is absorbed by the body).
