Can you say Oligomeric Proanthocyanadin:
How about grape Seed Extract

Grape seed extract is an extremely powerful natural antioxidant; some say at least 50 times more effective than vitamin E. What can be said about resveratrol goes double for the extract of red grape seeds since resveratrol is contained in the grape seeds.

The secret of grape seed extract's power is oligomeric proanthocyanadin (OPC), a strong antioxidant nutrient of the flavonoid family of catechins (think green tea).

Red grapes are grown for wine, grape juice, jams, jellies and other grape based products but the seeds don't usually end up in the food or drink.

Once the grapes are harvested, the pulp, skin and seeds are separated. The seeds are then cleaned and dried in preparation for harvesting the oils from the seed.

A good site for learning more than anyone would ever want to know about processing seeds for oil is:

The area of interest here is what grape seed derivatives can do for our health and wellness.

As one of the more potent antioxidants, it has been shown in numerous research studies to promote cardiovascular health and provide protection to the brain from inflammation. That would indicate positive implications for stroke and cognitive impairment.

It has also been shown to promote skin and eye health, plus exhibits both antiviral and antibacterial properties.

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The National Center for Alternate and Complementary Medicine itemizes the following areas where the grape seed polyphenols may be effective based on actual research results:

Future research is being funded to examine grape seed as a preventative for breast cancer in postmenopausal women and prostate cancer. Other studies will focus on colon cancer and brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and other brain disorders.

With grape seed polyphenol supplements, we most definitely get what we pay for. Manufacturing practices are crucial to a high quality supplement. The oil must be collected through a cold pressing process, no heat, no solvents. It must be standardized and contain no impurities.

The Mega Natural BP grape seed extract from Healthy Origins shown in the link to the left seems to meet all the requirements listed above. It is from HerbsPro.com which offers numerous grape seed extract products from many different manufacturers.

When ordering any dietary supplement product, it is adviseable to go directly to the manufacturers website and read up on their production processes, ingredients and quality control descriptions. Also look for their Good Manufacturing Practices.

Capsules and tablet supplements usually contain 50mg or 100mg per serving and are also available as an oil for adding drops to water or other liquids.

There are several low cost paperbacks about grape seeds and their benefits available from Amazon.com. Several text links are given below for a few of the more promising titles.

The Flavonoid Revolution: Grape Seed Extract and Other Flavonoids Against Disease

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