Greetings!
I would like to start this answer off with information concerning
grape seed extract, from the AETNA Intelihealth website, and based on
medical content provided by Natural Standard and the faculty of
Harvard Medical School:
"Be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly
regulate herbs and dietary supplements. There is no guarantee of
strength, purity or safety of products containing or claiming to
contain grape seed. Decisions to use herbs or supplements should be
carefully considered. Individuals using prescription drugs should
discuss taking herbs or supplements with their pharmacist or health
care provider before starting."
I am listing the link to the AETNA Intelihealth website, which
contains a warning about the use of grape seed products, and I am also
listing links to companies that manufacture these products. You will
be able to read their claims about the health benefits you can receive
from the use of grape seed products. I have also included links to
sites that warn of the use dietary supplements in general.
Ok, now that I have mentioned all of that, let's get to your question:
"can you get the benefits of grape seed extracts by eating the grape
seed raw...?"
Have you seen the cereal commercial that claims that you must eat 40
bowls of "Cereal A" to get the same benefits by eating just 1 bowl of
"Cereal B"? Well apparently, the same thing is true for consumption
of seeded grapes versus grape seed extract.
In fact, according to Dry Creek Nutrition Incorporated, you would have
to eat 1.0 to 1.5 pounds of seeded table grapes to receive the same
health benefits that you could obtain from one 50 mg dose of their
grape seed extract.
Interest in grape seed extract came about when research showed a low
incidence of heart disease among the French. Some scientists believe
that the reason for this can be attributed to the consumption of red
wine, which is a integral part of the French diet.
Studies have suggested that the antioxidants , oligomeric
proanthocyanidins or OPC's, in red wine can promote cardiovascular
health. Grape seeds are said to contain the richest source of these
powerful antioxidants. Wine and seeded grapes contain very minute
amounts of OPCs.
Claims have been made that the compounds found in OPC's may help to
promote cardiovascular, brain, skin and eye health; and antibacterial,
anti-viral, and anti-inflammatory activities.
According to the claims of Dry Creek Nutrition Incorporated, the
makers of a grape seed extract product, eating seeded grapes or
drinking wine would not allow an individual to receive the antioxidant
potency that can be obtained from a dose of their grape seed extract.
However, please consider that these claims have not been evaluated by
the Food and Drug Administration, so they are prohibited from making
definitive statements.
Potential Dangers? Individuals allergic to grapes should not take
grape seed. There are at least two published cases of allergic
reaction to the active compounds found in grape seed.
I hope this information is helpful and will help you make an informed
decision on the use of grape seed extract or any other dietary
supplement.
It has been a pleasure to provide assistance.
Thank you
madsky101
Helpful Links:
Dry Creek Nutrition Incorporated
Grape Seed FAQ's
http://www.activin.com/learn/seedFAQ.html#Grape
The next two links are added so that you can get an idea of the way a
company touts the benefits of their products to the consumer but have
a little more trouble convincing the FDA.
Polyphenolics
"Realizing the Health Benefits of the Grape"
http://www.polyphenolics.com/about/about.htm
Polyphenolics Products
http://www.polyphenolics.com/products/products.htm
(and now the FDA bursts their grape seed colored balloons)
U. S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Office of Food Additive Safety
Agency Response Letter to Polyphenolics
June 5, 2002
http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~rdb/opa-g093.html
Aetna InteliHealth Inc.
based on medical content provided by Natural Standard and the faculty
of Harvard Medical School
Grape Seed (Vitis vinifera, Vitis coignetiae)
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/8513/31402/348443.html?d=dmtContent
Big Trouble in the Health Store
By Thomas J. Moore
http://www.thomasjmoore.com/pages/dietary_main.shtml
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