Recently, as I savoured a large bowl of grapes, my mother shared some insightful advice. She recommended chewing and swallowing the grape seeds instead of spitting them out, referencing a supplement website she'd come across that stated that grape seed extract聽(GSE)聽is a recognized herbal solution for alleviating symptoms of non-complicated chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition in which聽leg veins become damaged聽and struggle to send blood back up to the聽heart. Her detailed explanation took me by surprise, prompting me to look into this promising supplement even though I had no reason to be concerned about my leg veins.
GSE, rich in proanthocyanidins鈥攑otent antioxidants鈥攊s believed to bolster the strength of blood vessels and enhance circulation.聽聽that highlights its potential in treating chronic venous insufficiency is often showcased by manufacturers. However, caution is warranted considering GSE's supporting evidence comes from pilot studies rather than extensive, randomized trials. Such preliminary research suggests GSE, especially when combined with compression stockings, may enhance blood flow in CVI patients.
Side effects of GSE are not well documented, with only聽聽reported up to the writing of this article. The potential for overblown claims and the lack of comprehensive safety data could tarnish GSE's reputation and mislead the health community. While supplements often promise health benefits, they commonly don't withstand rigorous scientific scrutiny. For middle-aged individuals experiencing prehypertension, GSE shows some promise, but conclusive benefits require further investigation.
To sum up, GSE may have some benefit, but 鈥渕ay鈥� is the operative word. So, did I end up chomping down those grape seeds? Well, that's a bit tricky, seeing as it's a challenge to find seeded grapes on Canadian shelves. But next time, if fortune smiles and I stumble upon a bunch with seeds, maybe I'll give it a shot. But I won鈥檛 be reaching for any GSE supplements. I鈥檒l just enjoy the grapes, nature's own little capsules of health.
Xiaoran is a U3 student in the Bachelor of Science in Nutrition program at 不良研究所.
