Grapeseed Extract & Hair Loss


Grape seed extract is known for its antioxidant properties and is used to treat a number of medical conditions, including heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Most of the studies on grape seed extract have been performed on animals. There is some evidence to support grape seed extract as a hair loss agent based on studies involving laboratory mice, but grape seed extract is not approved for hair loss by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

About Grape Seed Extract

Grape seed extract is typically made from the seeds of wine grapes. Grape seeds contain high amounts of oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes, flavonoids, Vitamin E and linoleic acid. The primary benefit of grape seed extract is its ability to prevent free radicals from damaging cells. Grape seed extract became popular in the 1970s due to what became known as the French Paradox, which studied the low percentage of heart disease in relation to high fat diets. The French ate a high fat diet but had low heart disease rates and credit was attributed to their daily wine consumption.

What Is Autolyzed Yeast Extract?

Autolyzed yeast extract is a substance that results when yeast is broken down into its constituent components. It naturally contains free glutamic acid, or monosodium glutamate, and is often used as a less expensive substitute for MSG. As a natural component of autolyzed yeast extract, MSG does not have to be listed separately in the ingredients, so look for the yeast extract on the label if you’re sensitive to MSG.

Definition

Autolyzed yeast extract results from the breakdown of yeast cells. The cell wall gets disrupted as the yeast’s enzymes break down proteins, releasing amino acids, salts and carbohydrates. The soluble portions are separated from the insoluble components and referred to as autolyzed yeast extract.

Production

Baker’s or brewer’s yeast goes through a series of steps to break it down and release its contents. First salt or mild heat is applied, causing the cell walls to lose integrity but maintain the integrity of enzymes. Through autolysis, the enzymes break apart the proteins into constituent amino acids, now referred to as free amino acids. Next, the cell wall and other insoluble components are removed, followed by concentration and pasteurization of what remains. The final product is either stored in liquid or paste form or may be spray dried to a powder.

Benefits of Yeast Extract

Benefits of Yeast Extract

 | By Owen Bond

Yeast extract is the general name for various yeast products made by removing cell walls of the yeast culture and using the cell contents as food additives, flavorings and nutritional supplements or to make beer. Brewer’s yeast and nutritional yeast are commonly grown specifically to make yeast extract supplements and should be distinguished from baker’s yeast, which is a different product made for a different purpose. Supplemental yeast extract can be consumed in liquid form, within food spreads or as powdered capsules. The health benefits of yeast extract are directly related to its high nutrient content, although consulting with your doctor before embarking on supplementation is always recommended.

photos.demandstudios.com_142_251_fotolia_1035260_XS

Manufacturing Yeast Extract

A common method for making yeast extract for supplements or food products, such as Vegemite and Marmite, is to add salt to a suspension of yeast. The yeast cells shrivel up and start to break down, especially once heat is added. The thick cell walls of the yeast are then removed, which leaves the nutrient-rich contents of the cells. The processed extract is a very good source of protein, vitamins and minerals.

Ginger Root Extract’s Benefits for the Skin

The ginger root, Zingiber officinale, has a long history of medicinal use. Early American colonists concocted ginger beer to ease nausea and vomiting. The ginger root, botanically called the rhizome, comes in various forms, such as tea, extract or pills. Research on the benefits of ginger for skin is relatively new. Before trying ginger extract as a remedy, consult your doctor first.

About Ginger

The ginger plant flourishes in tropical climate and is grown in Jamaica, India, China and as southern parts of the United States. Many health benefits derive from its rhizome, a thick, underground stem that stores starch and produces both roots and shoots. Though ginger rhizomes are not a source of vitamins or fiber, they hold antioxidant properties thought to offer health benefits.

Inflammation Treatment

Ginger may play a role in reducing acne and skin inflammation. The University of Maryland Medical Center cites a study in which a combination of ginger and other medicinal plants reduced skin lesions. Through laboratory studies, scientists S.C. Penna and coworkers explored the potential benefits of ginger extract on skin disorders. In their 2004 publication in “Phytomedicine,” authors found that ginger extract reduced skin edema, a type of inflammation.

Garlic Supplement Benefits

Garlic’s distinctive flavor makes it a popular ingredient in many recipes, but this edible bulb may have health benefits, too. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, garlic’s benefits come from its high antioxidant content, which gives it the power to fight off free radicals that cause infections and cellular mutations. Garlic supplements are safe for most people, but the University of Maryland Medical Center warns that taking garlic supplements can cause stomach problems, bad breath and body odor.

Improved Cholesterol

There’s good scientific evidence that garlic supplements can lower low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, the type of cholesterol that can build up in your arterial passages to cause serious cardiovascular problems over time. Medline Plus, the online health information resource maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, says that garlic can lower LDL and total blood cholesterol levels over a period of less than 12 weeks, but more research is needed to determine whether the benefits are long-lasting ones.

Wet Sauna Benefits

Wet saunas are also known as steam saunas. In dry saunas, heat is generated by heated rocks or an infrared heater. Wet saunas use heated rocks as well, but water is poured over the rocks to produce steam. According to the experts at Go Ask Alice! from Columbia University, saunas are not for everybody. People with heart problems, the elderly and those taking certain medications should not use a sauna, or use it with caution.

Lower Stress

While all types of sauna are relaxing, wet saunas allows you to introduce aromatherapy. According to the Health and Sauna website, adding a few drops of essential oil to water and then using the mix to throw on the rocks will cause the fragrance to be diffused throughout the room. You can choose invigorating or relaxing scents, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. Because wet saunas also help your muscles to relax, it can be a good choice after an intense workout or if you have achy joints or suffer from arthritis.

Benefits of Shea, Mango & Cocoa Butter

Mother Nature bestowed many gifts upon mankind — and she didn’t leave out skin-care ingredients among her wonderful gifts. Shea, cocoa and mango butters all deliver benefits to the skin that work to nourish and hydrate. Each of these butters can be naturally derived from the earth and provide the skin with nourishment and moisture — things that every type of skin needs and appreciates.

Shea Butter Benefits

Shea butter is chock-full of vitamin A and is deeply moisturizing. Shea is derived from nuts that grow on trees in West and Central Africa, and it is known for being so nourishing to the skin that even in Africa’s dry climate it works to soothe thirsty skin. The American Shea Institutes notes that shea butter possesses the ability to improve pesky skin blemishes, eczema, wrinkles and dermatitis. Shea is also known to soothe insect bites, sunburn and frostbite. This butter packs a powerful punch for an array of skin ailments.

Health Benefits of Applesauce

While the whole health picture is more complex than eating an apple a day to keep the doctor away, fruits and vegetables undeniably supply nutrition vital for good health. Apples, whether whole or as applesauce, contain fiber and vitamin C. Applesauce naturally contains no fat and few calories per serving if you choose unsweetened varieties or make your own. Enjoy it by itself or substitute it for fats in baked goods to keep them tender.

Calories and Fat

A cup of unsweetened applesauce contains about 100 calories, yet feels substantial enough to act as a filling snack all by itself. Combined with a handful of almonds or a dollop of peanut butter, applesauce provides a balanced miniature meal rich in protein, carbohydrates and healthy fat. Like the apples it comes from, applesauce contains no fat. While most of applesauce’s calories come from sugar, the sugar in question is naturally occurring fructose. Look for unsweetened varieties; sweetened applesauces can contain hefty doses of high-fructose corn syrup or sucrose.

The Benefits of Chlorella & Lemon Juice

The blue-green algae chlorella, a form of seaweed, may contain a wide variety of health benefits, from delivering helpful nutrients such as vitamins B, C and E, to helping the body ward off debilitating diseases. Lemon juice similarly contains essential nutrients, such as vitamin C, and may also have a number of positive effects on overall health, such as promoting gall bladder health, reducing cellulite and improving circulation.

Immunity Boost

Both chlorella and lemon juice may help to boost your immune system. Beth M. Ley, in “Chlorella: The Ultimate Green Food: Nature’s Richest Source of Chlorophyll, DNA, & RNA: A Learning Handbook,” explains that chlorella may enhance the immune system’s ability to fight off bacteria and viruses, as well as chemicals and other foreign substances. Chlorella, Lev notes, may prompt the body to produce higher levels of the antiviral agent interferon, as well as stimulate cellular activity that protects the body against foreign substances. 

Lemons have a history of helping to strengthen the immune system against diseases such as scurvy and rickets. Ann Louise Gittleman, in “The Fat Flush Foods,” explains that the fresh juice of a lemon contains as much as four times the amount of vitamin C as an orange. A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C stimulates circulation and combats damaging free radicals which contribute to infections. Lemon juice may help to guard against a wide range of infections, from bronchitis and the flu, to the common cold, ear infections and hives.

Benefits of Polyphenols

 

Polyphenols are chemicals found in plants that are believed to have important health benefits, according to the American Cancer Society. Some evidence exists that polyphenols help prevent health dangers such as cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Foods high in beneficial polyphenols include red cabbage, berries, red and purple grapes, broccoli, radishes, tea and apples. So far, there is no conclusive research about the benefits of polyphenols. Experts advise consuming a balanced diet rich in fruits, beans and vegetables.

Possible Cancer-Fighting Benefits

Berries–especially raspberries and strawberries–are rich in a polyphenol called ellagic acid, according to the American Institute for Cancer Research, or AICR. In laboratory studies, ellagic acid prevented cancers of the bladder, lung, breast, esophagus and skin. Ellagic acid fought cancer by deactivating certain cancer-causing substances and slowing cancer cell reproduction. Grapes and grape juice, garlic and green tea are also thought to contain polyphenols that prevent certain cancers, the AICR says.