Mama's Home Remedies: Discover Time-Tested Secrets of Good Health and the Pleasures of Natural Livin, Svetlana Konnikova [classic fiction .TXT] 📗

have seen grapeseed oil for sale in bulk in health-food stores and recommended for use in cooking. I didn’t notice any limits placed on its use, but it does contain about 120 calories per tablespoon. That’s a lot compared to other cooking oils, such as olive oil, and adding excessive amounts of grape seed oil to the family diet may bring a problem of gaining weight or even obesity, so you’ll be better off using it for an effective massage.

Again, you might ask, what about grapeseed extract in tablets and capsules created by a “bio-genius” in some modern laboratory? If grape seeds are so useful for internal consumption, why do we spit them out? Why not just eat fresh grapes with seeds? Many people prefer to eat seedless grapes anyway. What does this mean? Are the grape seeds useless or harmful for digestion—

even in powder form? Obviously they are useless because our body wil not accept anything that is against its nature. Just recal that when we eat fresh grapes with seeds, we spit them out as not chewable or acceptable to our digestive system. The scientific name is grape seed, and other names are used by scientists, such as Muscat, Red Wine Extract, or Vitis vinifera. In August 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) published a scientific discovery warning that little evidence was found for the effectiveness of antioxidant vitamin supplements to prevent cardiovascular disease. While acknowledging the benefits of antioxidants, the scientists who prepared the AHA recommendation advise getting natural antioxidants from foods rather than from supplements. Additionally some evidence from animal studies suggests that very high doses of antioxidants such as those in grapeseed extract may actually increase damage from oxidation.11

Perhaps my statement is controversial, but, as you see, some scientists hold the same view too. Moreover, some side effects, risks, and interactions have been reported by participants in clinical studies of grapeseed extract. Side A Healthy Spirit Lives in a Healthy Body @ 39

effects include dizziness, cough, headaches, and nausea. Due to limited information about its potential effects on babies or infants, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take grapeseed extract. This product may increase the effects of drugs, herbs, antioxidants or health supplements, if you have a bleeding or clotting disorder or if you are taking medicine to prevent blood clots. Grapeseed has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety or potential risks and/or advantages of grapeseed may not be known. Additionally there are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for these compounds. There have been instances where herbal/health supplements have been sold which were contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs.12

There are endless studies across the globe, including seven leading universities in Europe, that demonstrate the many benefits of grapeseed extract in fighting against free radicals in the body. This extensive research came in the late twentieth century from a so-called “French paradox.” It was stated that the French had very low rates of heart disease and are not overweight while some of their diet and other factors, such as smoking and relatively late dinners, would be thought to contribute to higher incidences of heart or other diseases. Scientists believed the secret was in their regular consumption of red wines, which contain OPC (oligomeric proanthocyanidins). These antioxidants help to protect cells from free radical damage and promote healthy blood circulation and cardiovascular health.13

So why should we take grapeseed extract in tablets and capsules when we can enjoy fresh grapes, drink fresh grape juice, and get a gentle, natural treatment? Do not forget: Fresh sweet grapes are a generous gift of Nature. I was recently in France, and I observed how many people in Paris were eating dinner at 7–8 p.m. in restaurants. Numerous eateries there are crowded seven days a week. Usually visitors come in groups of 4 to 10 people. They order a very popular meal variety, which contains three pieces of meat and fish accompanied by mashed potatoes and vegetables and a bottle of red wine. Then they order fresh fruits and deserts, like famous crème brûlée, studded with bits of caramelized sugar, and French vanilla ice cream that has a custard base rich with egg yolks. And they are people of perfectly normal weight. I guess the secret of their diet is red wine; fresh grapes; and a slow, enjoyable consumption of good food while they socialize and have a pleasant conversation, adding positive emotions and vital energy overall.

40 ^ Mama’s Home Remedies

An old expression says that “a new is an old that was well forgotten.” The grapevine is registered as the oldest plant in the world. I first heard this fact in a lovely tale told by my grandmother.

In the evening the spicy aroma of a mélange of fruits and flowers permeated our southern garden. We sat in the gazebo in the middle of our garden and Grandma said, “Look at the star above you. This is the star of a boy named Ampel. Before he got to the sky, he lived on the earth.”

The sky was shining with millions of silver stars, but one star radiated with all seven colors of the rainbow: purple and green, yellow and white, blue, red and orange. One bright star was hanging separately from the others as if it were in its special place. The star was Vindemiatrix (grape) and is located in the constellation of Virgo. It is easy to find on any