One out of every three Americans will develop hypertension, or high blood pressure, even if they have no family history of the disease. If you are one of the unlucky ones to get it, you will not feel any differently. But left untreated, hypertension can lead to serious complications including heart attacks, heart failure, kidney disease and strokes.
Stress contributes to hypertension. Each time you open your credit card bill or fill up your gas tank, your blood pressure may be rising to a dangerous level. “There are so many reasons why everyone should be concerned about their blood pressure. If you only go to a doctor once a year, or less frequently because you do not have health insurance, you may not even know you have a serious problem,” explains Cathleen London, M.D., P.C., who is board certified in family medicine.
“Hypertension is a silent killer if it is undetected. So I encourage people to be proactive about their blood pressure rather than reactive. That includes smart supplementation with ingredients that have proven health benefits.”
Researchers have long claimed that red wine, concord and rubired grape juice, as well as high-quality grape seed extracts, are good for your heart. Some studies indicate that substances found in grapes and grape seed extracts may:
- Reduce your risk of cancer and strokes
- Reduce pre-hypertension and improve circulation
- Reduce atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- Increase calorie burning
- Nourish organs and muscles, helping them to work more effectively
- Enhance physical endurance
You would have to eat a lot of grapes or raisins, or drink gallons of wine, to consume the same level of active components analyzed in most studies. One 6-ounce glass of grape juice has a whopping 130 calories and 30 grams of sugar, and wine isn’t much better—one 5-ounce glass contains 110 calories. Don’t forget that alcohol contains seven calories per gram—that’s almost as much as fat, which packs nine calories per gram! And when you drink, your body processes the alcohol before fat, protein or carbs—slowing down your ability to burn fat.
High-quality grape seed extract is an excellent alternative because it is a pure source of procyanidins, compounds believed to be responsible for grape’s benefits, without the added calories, sugar or alcohol.
