And how can the skin and body benefit from this amazing extract?

Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract (GSE), is making its debut as a superior antioxidant and is gradually proving to hold it’s own in contributing towards today’s sophisticated environment of natural health and beauty remedies. 

Winemaking can be dated back to about 8,000 years ago in Georgia, a country in the Caucasus region between Asia and Europe.  It is now practised worldwide.  In the past, grape seeds were disposed of as a waste product.  Recently, many seedless varieties have been introduced and have become extremely popular.  Despite this, the future is proving to be far from grim for these little seeds as studies progressively reveal that the seeds could actually provide many of the health and beauty promoting benefits of grapes.

Too many free radicals in our body can create an imbalance, leading to oxidative stress and problems such as tissue damage and loss of collagen.  We may feel fatigued; suffer from muscle or joint pain, inflammation or blocked arteries; experience brain fog; or our skin might start to display fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots or loose, sagging skin.  Free radicals can occur naturally in the body or can be introduced from outside by things like pollution, and can damage cells and contribute to the ageing process.  We need some assistance to protect against them and to fight them off with an aim to naturally stimulate our internal defence systems.  Introducing antioxidants into our health routine is an ideal way to introduce some armour and weapons for this task.

Oxidative Stress – What is it? | Advancing Health Naturally

As an aside, many of the Cell Defence products contain Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract. Due to the research on its great benefits mentioned above and below.

Why is Vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract (GSE) so superior?

It has been reported that:

• phenolic compounds are the main components of GSE;

• an overwhelming 92% to 95% of these phenolic compounds can consist of oligomeric proanthocyanidins¹ ;

• Proanthocyanidins have displayed greater antioxidant capabilities than either of Vitamins C or E ^{2 (14)} and

• Proanthocyanidins have shown to reduce the lipid oxidation of the cellular structure of the skin and inhibit the production of free radicals (Markus and Morris 2008). 

GSE also contains Vitamin E, Linolenic acid, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, Phosphorus, Calcium and Zinc. 

It has shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor activity.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel concluded the vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract to be safe in the present practices of use and concentration in cosmetics.

All this makes it an even more powerful and safe weapon to help relieve many symptoms and to enhance and maintain skin integrity.

Safety Assessment of Vitis vinifera (Grape)-Derived Ingredients as Used in Cosmetics – Monice M. Fiume, Wilma F. Bergfeld, Donald V. Belsito, Ronald A. Hill, Curtis D. Klaassen, Daniel C. Liebler, James G. Marks, Ronald C. Shank, Thomas J. Slaga, Paul W. Snyder, F. Alan Andersen, 2014 (sagepub.com)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Heart Disease

Grape seed extract has displayed the ability to help manage symptoms of cardiovascular disease by strengthening the defence systems against this disease and neutralising free radicals.  Studies have shown that GSE has cardio protective effects as well as the ability to minimise oxidative stress.  This is done firstly by lowering the oxidant levels and secondly by improving the antioxidant levels in plasma.  This results in helping to modify the existence of oxidation of the Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) which is the bad cholesterol.  This process can help minimise the risk of heart disease by addressing the build-up of fatty plaque in the arteries and assisting with the prevention of blood clotting.  It can also assist in reducing leg swelling and edema and alleviating inflammation.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract induced mitochondria-ass… : Chinese Medical Journal (lww.com)

Effect of Oligomeric Proanthocyanidin on the Antioxidant Status and Lung Function of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease – PMC (nih.gov)

Fatigue

Studies have shown that there is an association between

fatigue generated by exhaustive exercise

and

oxidative stress injury, inflammation and abnormal functioning of the mitochondria.

“Mitochondrion is the place of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation. The human body needs more ATP to maintain muscle contraction and movement during exercise. However, exhaustive exercise can lead to damaged mitochondria that further cause skeletal muscle damage and fatigue.” ^{3 (38)}

The anti-oxidant capabilities of GSPE have shown to assist with fatigue created by exhaustive exercise and also play a part in protecting against oxidative stress.  Studies have also suggested that GSPE has the potential to improve mitochondrial dysfunction and there is a possibility that it could be used to treat uremia toxin-induced injury.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract supplementation affects exhaustive exercise-induced fatigue in mice – PMC (nih.gov)

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=grapeseedextract

Cancer

GSE may have an anti-oxidant effect which could have the potential to lower the risk of certain cancers.

GSE may also be able to help with type 2 diabetes ^{4 (15)} , alzheimers disease and reducing iron levels of people with hemochromatosis.

Grape Seed: Health Benefits, Nutrients, Preparation, and More (webmd.com)

BENEFITS FOR SKIN

Protection from Ageing

Today, a large majority of the population want to maintain a youthful appearance.  The harmful effects of the sun and the environment can make this an arduous task.  Unfortunately, the facial skin is more prone to UV radiation, often resulting in photo ageing and giving skin a sagging and wrinkled appearance.  Grape Seed Extract can help to counteract this process by giving some extra support against the harmful UV rays.  Grape seed extract can increase hydration and help maintain collagen, revealing a smoother and more supple complexion.

Assessment of viscoelasticity and hydration effect of herbal moisturizers using bioengineering techniques – PMC (nih.gov)

Wound healing

Studies have indicated that Grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract (GSE), with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may have the potential to advance wound healing.

Topical grape (Vitis vinifera) seed extract promotes repair of full thickness wound in rabbit – PubMed (nih.gov)

Grape seed extract: having a potential health benefits – PMC (nih.gov)

Naturopath and skin specialist, Charmaine Dickson, has been using plant stem cell technology in her clinic for skincare treatments for over fifteen years. Charmaine quotes “I am so happy with my own skin and am often told I don’t look my age.”

Since the age of eighteen, Charmaine has taken a holistic approach to her skincare regime.

By thirty-two she completed a diploma of beauty therapy and honoured her skin with a monthly facial. These facials, however, did not consist of laser, needling, vampire facials, injections or cosmetic surgery, nothing that penetrated her dermal layer.

So what then, was she doing to maintain her youthfulness and skin health during these facials? Diamond dermabrasion designed here in Adelaide, oxygen therapy to pulse plant cell serum into the skin, lymphatic sculpting and radio tripolar frequency. No chemicals, no procedures, no needles and no laser.

Charmaine has always been passionately wary about the chemicals used in skincare, and as a beauty therapist saw first hand how chemicals have the potential to steal mitochondrial energy and cell renewal and cause oxidative damage to the strength of the elastin and collagen in our skin.

(Keep an eye out for future blogs with more mitochondrial information and how it works to keep us younger in all aspects of all body’s systems!)

By using plant stem cells, stabilised by natural products (as opposed to chemical additives), you are harnessing nature’s healing and nature’s way of cell renewal. Additionally, the correct synergy of ingredients formulated in a molecular structure may assist transfollicular penetration (more blogs to come on transfollicular penetration of natural skincare ingredients).

In order for the fine molecularly formulated ingredients of the plant stem cells to penetrate, and therefore, really benefit the skin, the skin must be unclogged of the build up of chemical products over time. This clog may happen when using products with high levels of dimethicone (silicone). Dimethicone is used heavily in the beauty industry in moisturisers, foundations, sunscreen and hair products to ‘trap’ moisture and keep the skin and hair looking shiny and hydrated. This, however, is a misconception and this build-up of silicone creates the opposite effect of an impenetrable barrier over the skin and hair, leaving it unable to be touched by other, more beneficial, ingredients. For more information on dimethicone and what it’s really doing to our bodies, see our future blog from the Dimethicone Whisperer who is passionate in creating awareness of this ingredient and its real risks.

When using plant stem cells in beauty products, you are harnessing the abundant and highly available healing benefits of nature. In nature, these stem cells regenerate the plant after it has been injured or invaded by a foreign body. As human beings, we are also nature. Our chemistry is the same as the plants and trees that surround us every day. Therefore, working with nature’s gifts means you are working WITH your body, rather than against it. Chemicals in beauty products are man-made, there is no cohesion with us as nature’s beings. Plant stem cells used in topical products have thus been shown in studies to show great antioxidant benefits and cell renewal to our skin. Included below is an evidence based study that you may like to read to gain more insight into the brilliant technology that skin therapists and naturopaths are harnessing to assist their clients in healing their skin ailments without the use of chemical formulations.

The study linked states “ancient herbal sciences such as Ayurveda and Oriental Chinese Medicine have used plants as their mainstay for the treatment of chronic ailments, acute inflammation and for healing. In current times, for innovative cosmetic scientists, the goal is to connect the evidence from ancient practices to evidence in modern science and see where the application of plants in cosmetics can improve the delivery to the skin in a more effective, safer and targeted way. Plant science in this vein is currently in its infancy and research in herbal and physiologic effects on the skin could open new doors in cosmetics”.

As we are all aware, stress is hugely tolling on our body. Including a hastened ageing process. Although avoiding stressors is near impossible, Charmaine is proof that regardless of the amount of stress and length of those stressors in one’s life, the use of carefully curated, chemical-free, plant stem cell skincare products have the ability to rewind the damage done by stress. This damage can include, but is not limited to, an increase in the acidic environment within the body, inflammation, histamine release, impaired peripheral circulation of our blood and lymphatic system. All of which quickens the ageing process. As the plant stem cells have been proven to repair the stress damage to its own stems, it makes sense to use this power in our own skincare, delivering plant-based nutrition to our cells and bringing life back to stressed, aged skin.

With a philosophy of “do no harm”, Charmaine is so grateful for the studies of great cosmetic chemists who have brought this technology into her life as a skin therapist and naturopath.

A final quote from the linked study is as follows “a decline in the function of epidermal stem cells has been observed in association with shortened telomeres, which reduced proliferative potential in response to UV exposure leading to premature skin ageing and senescence. Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes that cap and save the ends of chromosomes from degradation and abnormal recombination. Telomeres shorten with each cell division and progressive telomere shortening ultimately results in cellular senescence. The question therefore is ‘can plant phytohormones have the antioxidant and regenerative ability to prevent this ageing process in human skin?’”

We encourage you to read this study to see the answers for yourself in order to benefit from the understanding of this technology. You can purchase Charmaine’s plant stem cell skincare range from the Cell Defence website. In doing so you are eligible to book a free, complimentary 30 minute phone call with Charmaine to gain first-hand knowledge on how to move your own skin into a chemical-free world of renewal with nature’s medicine and naturopathic principles guiding you internally and externally on skin renewal processes.

REF: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5674215/