A delicious, healthful snack and th...

A delicious, healthful snack and the main ingredient for wine are what usually advance to mind when we think of grapes. The solely thing about this sweet fruit that principally of us don't like are its seeds; surprisingly, however these are what provide one of grape's greatest health benefits.

In Super Healing meats Frances Sheridan Goulart tells us a bit about grapes' medicinal history. She says, "In folk healing, grapes and raisins [sun-dried grapes] have been used to in opposition to dyspepsia, liver and kidney disorders, tuberculosis, and hemorrhoids. The ancient Persians believed that dried grapes eaten before breakfast improved the memory."

We learn from the authors of an article entitled "Vitis vinifera L" (common grape vine), which appeared in the journal, Fitoterapia, that grapes' extended history began back in the Caspian Sea region, Asia Minor, where they still swell wild. They tell us, "V vinifera has a extremely ancient origin as demonstrated at the archeological finds of fossilized leaves and germs from Miocene and Tertiary deposits of continental Europe England, Iceland, and North America. The grains found in the relics of the Swiss lake dwellings of the impudence Age and in the Egyptian tombs are similar to the matured ovules of the cultivated grapes of today. The cultivation of grapes is mentioned in the Bible. In Egyptian hieroglyphics, dating to 2400 BC are mentioned grape and wine production; [in addition] the various stairs of grape harvest are depicted in wall paintings of the tombs of ancient Thebae [residents of Thebes]."

Therapeutic uses of grape-seed extracts

Grape originals contain flavonoids (phytochemical pigments that act as antioxidants] called procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs) among other names. Fortunately, we don't have to start nibbling onward grape seeds to reap the benefits, since grape se extracts containing PCO are available in natural health commons stores.

In his work the Encyclopedia of Nutritional correlatives Michael T. Murray, N.D., says, "The primary use of PCO extracts is the treatment of venous and capillary disorders, including venous insufficiency, varicose veins, capillary fragility, and disorders of the retina, in the same state [i]or[/i] condition as diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration."

Murray focuses upon a study on eye health and PCO saying, "It appears that chiefly individuals can benefit from an increased intake of PCO This suggestion is perhaps best illustrated by dint of studies looking at the ability of grape se PCO extract in improving proving visual function in healthy subjects"

The close attention he cites took 100 presents with no retinal disorders who were given 200 mg of PCO daily or a placebo for five or six weeks. The meditation also included a control clump who received no treatment. The cluster given the PCOs experienced vision improvement in dark and afterglare ordeals compared to the placebo group

The V vinifera article cited previously discusses several studies demonstrating PCOs' vein-function protective capabilities. They cite common double-blind study on 50 patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency with half receiving procyanidins (PCOs) and the other half receiving a semisynthetic medication. The deductions showed that while both treatments were effective in improving the disease, the PCO had a quicker and longer lasting response

Another double-blind close attention cited in the article demonstrating PCOs' effectiveness in treating venous insufficiency showed that a daily dosage of PCO for 28 days improved venous function. The researchers conclud that it was effective in reducing pain, night cramps, and edema.

PCO have also been shown to be powerful antioxidants. In his work The Vitamin Revolution, Michael Janson, MD run overs us that PCOs are helpful in lowering the risk of cancer, heart disease, shock and arthritis inflammation. He explains that they do this by way of acting within the cell membranes to neutralize independent radicals.

REFERENCES

Goulart, Frances Sheridan. Super Healing viandss West Nyack, N.Y.: Parker Publishing Company, 1995 Janson, Michael, MD The Vitamin Revolution in Health Care. Greenville, NH: Arcadia Pres 1996 Murray, Michael T Encyclopedia of Nutritional counterparts Rocklin, Calif.: Prima Publishing, 1996 Bombardelli, E and Morazzoni P "Vitis vinifera L" Fitoterapia LXVI (4):291-317

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