(NaturalHealth365) For many, working from home is now the “new normal.”  And, for millions of Americans, this means long hours seated at a desk.  Believe it or not, while excessive sitting hardly seems like a dangerous activity, it actually presents a serious risk to health.  In fact, the threat is so severe that health experts are now characterizing prolonged sitting as “the new smoking.”

Sitting for long periods of time – whether at a desk, in a car, or on a plane – raises the risk of deep vein thrombosis, which occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep within the body (usually, in the leg).  In a life-threatening complication, the clot can break loose and head for the lung, where it can cause a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that as many as 900,000 Americans are affected by blood clots every year, resulting in roughly 100,000 deaths.  (Sitting doesn’t look quite so safe anymore, does it?)  Fortunately, a clinical study supports the ability of proanthocyanidins in grape seeds to improve blood flow and dramatically lower the risk of thrombosis.

Editor’s note: Heart disease now kills 31% of all people worldwide… and the root causes are NOT what you think!  Click here to discover the truth inside the Cardiovascular Docu-Class, hosted by Jonathan Landsman, creator of NaturalHealth365

Reduce leg swelling with a single serving of proanthocyanidins from grape seeds

Researchers have long puzzled over the “French paradox” – the fact that people in France enjoy a 50 percent reduced risk of heart disease when compared to Americans.  (And this, despite eating a fatty diet and having generally higher cholesterol and blood pressure!)

Many believe that the secret lies in the French tradition of regularly consuming red wine, which is made from grapes rich in healthful polyphenols (such as resveratrol and quercetin).  And, the most potent polyphenols of all are the proanthocyanidins, which make up about 90 percent of the content of grape seeds.  Of course, traditionally speaking, Europeans tend to eat higher quality food (less processed) and in smaller quantities … which is quite healthy for you.

Back to our point for today: research has shown that these powerful antioxidants can improve blood flow, reduce swelling and prevent blood clots – particularly after long periods of sitting.  (Just what the doctor ordered for those in sedentary occupations!)

In a clinical study published in the Journal of Science and Food Agriculture, researchers assessed the effects of a single 400-mg serving of proanthocyanidins from grape seeds, taken before a session of six hours of sitting.  The team found that the extract reduced leg swelling and edema by 70 percent – an impressive result.

Grape seed extract discourages blood clots through multiple mechanisms

In an animal study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery, researchers found that grape seed extract reduced the size of blood clots while protecting the endothelium, the all-important lining of the veins and arteries.  It also markedly lowered levels of inflammatory cytokines, reduced the number of adhesion molecules, and discouraged blood clots by reducing the “stickiness” of platelets.

In other words, grape seed extract made blood less likely to clump together and adhere to the lining of veins.

Calling grape seed extract a “promising candidate” for treating deep vein thrombosis, the impressed researchers went a step further and stated that “prompt administration of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract is instrumental to thrombus (blood clot) clearance.”

The news gets even better: Proanthocyanidins in grape seeds LOWER the risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes

While blood clots in veins can cause pulmonary embolism, blood clots that form in arteries are equally dangerous – and can cause a life-threatening heart attack or stroke.

Fortunately, proanthocyanidins in grape seeds benefit cardiovascular health as well.  In addition to helping reduce the ability of blood to form clots, they have been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce triglycerides in the blood and fight the systemic inflammation that can trigger heart disease.  Proanthocyanidins can also prevent the harmful oxidation of fats.  In one Italian study, 300 mg of a grape seed product, consumed with a meal, significantly reduced the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.

Incidentally, an extract from French maritime pine bark – sometimes coupled with an herb known as Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) – is making researchers sit up and take notice of its remarkable ability to act against artery-clogging atherosclerosis.

What is the “secret weapon” of French maritime pine bark?  Researchers say it’s the high content of – you guessed it – proanthocyanidins.

By the way, when sitting for long periods of time, natural health experts recommend getting up and walking around at least once an hour. If you are on a plane or train, a short stroll down the aisle can go a long way towards avoiding blood clots.

Slow the development of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

Grape seed extract prevents memory loss, improves cognitive abilities, and even reduces specific proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions.

With advancing age, harmful beta-amyloid proteins accumulate in the brain, impairing the ability to make new cells.  Studies have shown that grape seed extracts can not only prevent, but reverse this phenomenon.  In an animal study conducted at the University of Alabama, scientists found that grape seed extract normalized over a dozen different brain proteins, restoring them back to youthful levels.

While more studies are needed, this research offers an exciting glimpse of the potential of grape seed extract to improve cognitive function and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

And, there’s more.

Grape seed extract also has protective, anti-aging effects on the skin, and helps to maintain strong bones and teeth.  As if this weren’t beneficial enough, grape seed extract stabilizes blood sugar and acts against obesity by helping to metabolize fat and reduces appetite.

Natural health experts generally recommend grape seed extract amounts of 300 to 800 mg a day for eight to 16 weeks.  However, don’t use grape seed extract to treat deep vein thrombosis – or any other condition – without first consulting your integrative doctor.

While the name is complex, the effects of the proanthocyanidins in grape seeds are straightforward and simple.  These beneficial antioxidants can promote healthy circulation while reducing vulnerability to blood clots – a very substantial health benefit indeed.

Sources for this article include:

CDC.gov
LifeExtension.com
JournalofVascularSurgery.org
Healthline.com