Pine Bark Extract:: What Are The Health Benefits?

Pine bark extract - What are the health benefits?  It is also known as pygenol or by the trade name Pycnogenol®.  Some benefits for specific conditions and the role that it plays as a daily supplement are in this article.

Health Benefit:: Anti-inflammatory

Specific conditions that may be benefitted by pine bark extract include varicose veins, allergies, asthma, high blood pressure and diabetes.  The anti-inflammatory activity can help reduce muscle soreness and joint pain.  There is some evidence to suggest that pygenol is beneficial for ADHD, although there is more evidence concerning omega3 fish oil for that purpose.

Pycnogenol® has been used to relieve common menopausal symptoms and ED, as well.  Those two issues may seem unrelated, but they are sometimes caused by hormone imbalances.  One of the traditional uses of pine bark extract was to help support and maintain hormone balances.

Health Benefit::Anti-Aging

Pygenol increases blood flow in the body and supports vascular strength.  It may help reduce the riskPlease visit http://www.HealthyBodySupplements.com for Larry's recommended Nutritional Supplements that contain Pine Bark Extract and many other Herbal Extracts.  Click on Herbal Extracts. of heart disease and stroke.  It is also recommended as an anti-aging ingredient.  It has been shown to support skin health and improve endurance.  Pycnogenol® is often recommended for athletes, because of the benefits to stamina and endurance.

Health Benefit::Antioxidant

Proanthocyanidins are the most active compounds in pine bark extract, although it is also a source of the B vitamins.  It contains some of the antioxidants that are present in other plants.  For example, catechins and gallic acid are found in it. 

We say that proanthocyanidins are the most active component, because they have more antioxidant activity in the human body.  Most people are well aware of the common antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E.  Proanthocyanidins are 20 times more powerful than vitamin C and 50 more powerful than vitamin E.  They may not be the only antioxidants that are important to the human body, but they are certainly of value.

Antioxidants are one of the keys to reducing the effect that time has on the cells of our body, but you might also be interested in some of the benefits to your appearance.  Wouldn't it be nice to live a long life and look good while you were doing it?

Health Benefit::Wrinkles, Sagging Skin

One of the causes of wrinkles and sagging is degradation of the elastic fibers deep within the skin.  There is some evidence that pygenol makes the fibers stronger and more resistant to the enzymes that break them down.  Stronger fibers mean less sagging and fewer wrinkles.

Health Benefit::Cholesterol

Like other antioxidants, proanthocyanidins prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol.  When LDL cholesterol becomes oxidized it forms plaques on the interior of the arterial walls and that causes heart disease.  It also prevents blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots. 

So, a daily dose of Pycnogenol® may reduce your risk of heart disease, wrinkles and some of the other degenerative diseases that commonly accompany the aging process.  There are other extracts that are as effective as pine bark extract.  The best multi-nutritional supplements contain a variety of them.

More Health Benefits:: of Pine Bark Extract

There are many other positive health benefits of Pine Bark Extract.  For more complete details on the benefits of Pine Bark Extract and other herbal extracts, please see my website. -Larry L. Taylor

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