Grapeseed extract for skin and body
Grapeseeds contain a lot of polyphenolic substances. These Phenolic compounds are divided into flavonoids (anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins (procyanidins and prodelphinidins), and flavan-3-ols) and non-flavonoids (aftaric acid and coutaric acid).
They have a lot of health benefits and they should be added to one’s diet and skincare.
Benefits of Grapeseed extract:
- Anti-diabetic: it has the ability to prevent or control diabetes.
- Antioxidant: grapeseed extract is also an antioxidant that can protect the skin from free radicals and UV damage. It also contains flavonoids and non-flavonoids (different types of antioxidants that are useful for the skin).
- It may improve blood flow: grapeseed extract may act as a blood thinner, and thus improving the flow of blood and reducing blood clots.
- Anti-platelet: grapeseed extract can also prevent blood clots. In am 8-week study of 17 healthy postmenopausal women, taking 400 mg of GSE had reduce the risk of blood clots.
- It may help with wound healing: in one study, 35 healthy adults who had undergone a minor surgery were given a 2% GSE cream or placebo. Those who used the GSE cream experienced complete wound healing after 8 days, while the placebo group took 14 days to heal.
- This wound healing is possible because of high concentrations of proanthocyanidins.
- Can reduce cholesterol and blood pressure: because of the presence of antioxidants and proanthocyanidins, GSE can reduce high cholestrol and also reduce high blood pressure.
- A study with 29 adults found that taking 300 mg of GSE daily lowered systolic blood pressure by 5.6% and diastolic blood pressure by 4.7% after 6 weeks.
- It may improve kidney function: animal studies has shown that GSE may reduce kidney damage and improve function by reducing oxidative stress.
- Anti-inflammation: GSE can reduce inflammation like swelling, redness, and burning sensation. It may be able to treat edema.
- It may reduce hair loss: consuming grapeseed extract has shown to reduce hair loss. It is believed that proanthocyanidins inhibit dihydrotestosterone, one of the hormones involved in hair loss, but lacks evidence.
- It contains proanthocyanidins: proanthocyanidins acts as a antioxidant preventing cardiovascular dieseases and cancer.
- Anti-aging: grapeseed extract can prevent fine lines and wrinkles by protecting the skin from free radicals and UV damage.
- Anti-microbial: GSE is shown to exhibit anti-bacterial effect against Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Pseudomonasaeruginosa (P. aeruginosa).
- May improve collagen levels and bone strength: animal studies have shown that adding GSE to a diet can increase bone density and bone strength
- It also showed that GSE reduced joint pain and in turn improving collagen levels and reducing cartilage loss.
- Anti-tumour: GSE has also shown to prevent cancer and tumor from increasing.
Other great benefits of Grapeseed extract are:
- Helps with tooth decay.
- Alzheimer’s disease.
- Improving night vision.
- It can also reduce the production of histamine, in turn reducing nasal allergies.
- It is anti-diuretic meaning that it can control blood pressure by acting on the kidneys and the blood vessels.
Who all can use Grapeseed extract?
Grapeseed extract is suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin and skin of colour because of its anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties however, it shouldn’t be used by pregnant women.
There are products containing grapeseed extract (to be applied topically), but people tend to use grapeseed extract orally.
People may use grapeseed extract for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. There is no established dose of grape seed extract (100-300 milligrams/day have been used in studies and are prescribed in some European countries), you will have to consult a doctor for that.