Nature is full of surprises. You will notice that at each place where grows a tree, a plant, a poisonous bush, a few meters away you will find its antidote. If Man does not destroy nature, then it is there to make itself useful to all. It is the same with fruit. Grapefruit and grapefruit seed extract (PPE) are no exception to this rule. EPP is a benefit for humans under certain conditions. He must not take any other medication while consuming PPE and the development of this grapefruit seed extract must respect certain rules.
Summary
What is Grapefruit Seed Extract?
EPP is obtained by grinding the pips, but also the pulp and the white membranes of the grapefruit, that is to say, by using all of the grapefruit with the exception of its skin. The skin is used for the elaboration of HE (essential oils).
Grapefruit seed extract is known under the names of: EPP and Grapefruit oil. Indeed by using the crushed pips, oil is extracted from these deniers. On the other hand, we do not use just any grapefruit in EPP, but Citrus x Paradisi (citrus paradisi) in other words the « pomelo ».
Make no mistake about it, this pomelo at the origin of the EPP is a hybrid, for the good reason that the grapefruit (Citrus maxima) has nothing to do with ours, it is rather greenish and has a little taste sour, sweet, lychee-like to give an example of a similar taste. On the other hand, this grapefruit tree, crossed with the orange tree (Citrus sinensis) gives this pomelo which we call colloquially, grapefruit. All pomelo derivatives, as the EPP uses the name, incorrectly, of grapefruit.
EPP consists of: ascorbic acid, citric acid, polypeptides, amino acids, bioflavonoids, tocopherol.
How to choose it?
Like all natural products, the less they are subjected to pesticides, the better they are. This is why, in this area, it is better to favor organic products. It must be checked that in the composition, the grapefruit seed extract is at least 30%. It is a product found in the range of food supplements.
It is necessary to check that the EPP is indeed from Citrus Paradisi and not citrus grandis or maxima, or else, it is necessary to be sure of the mode of extraction in order to preserve the virtues of the pips and the final content of flavonoids (a kind of melanin Plant).
If you are looking for a quality product, it is important not to buy an PPE containing chemical preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride, triclosan or even parabens.
Prefer Phytoquant’s QuantaEPP. It is an EPP extracted cold using ultrasound then, once the solvents have evaporated, mixed with vegetable glycerin.
How to use it ?
It can be used pure in drops under the tongue or in capsules. It is possible to dilute it in water before drinking it or even mix it with oil as when making the salad. The whole table benefits from the benefits and a particularly pleasant taste depending on the quantity added.
However, be careful when taking medication.
Are there any dangers/contraindications to consuming it?
PPE is a natural and safe product until another product is added to it that causes interactions, as in the case of a drug.
If in doubt, it is best to refrain from taking PPE during drug treatment. An enzyme coupled to an efflux transporter, that is to say a rejection by certain cells (CYP3A4 + P-GP) are part of the digestion and absorption of drugs, certain substances present in grapefruit (La bergamottine and 6,7 dihydroxybergamottine) compete with it.
There is a risk of drug overdose due to the effect of increased intestinal absorption. But these incidents are quite rare with PPE, but more frequent with grapefruit juice.
As with all citrus fruits, lemon, oranges and grapefruit among others, it is not recommended to consume it when you suffer from any ulcer or gastritis.
PPE and citrus juice, including grapefruit, should be banned when taking these drugs: Statins, immunosuppressants, antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, antivirals (HIV), antidepressants.
EPP can be used with antibiotics without any problem.
The benefits of grapefruit seed extract
The benefits of PPE are not 100% proven by the medical profession and research laboratories. This extract is subject to controversy, those say that it works, those that it is only the additives that have an action, such as parabens.
Jacob Harich, a scientist found by a happy coincidence that bacteria did not attack the pomelo seeds that were in his compost. He talked about it around him, and his findings as scientists are taken at face value. « If bacteria do not attack pomelo seeds, then pomelo seeds have antibacterial properties. » Inevitably, seen like that.
But, wouldn’t this be simply due to limonene, naturally present in citrus fruits in their peel and seeds? We know that the peel and pips of citrus fruits are very bitter, that almost all fruit pips contain hydrogen cyanide (not potassium cyanide) If the cyanide in the fruit is dangerous, it must be consumed large amount to be harmful or even fatal.
Precisely, if there are warnings, because we may have encountered health incidents due to taking PPE, it is also that, conversely, it has benefits. Any medicine or natural remedy, has its own poison and its own anti-poison and from there, we discover, very often, but accidentally, remedies.
From these discoveries, it was deduced that EPP would be an antioxidant. It is therefore used in cosmetology, in anti-wrinkle creams and against dermatitis. This is where we notice that the effects of EPP are not as impressive as we thought. The benefits being provided by synthetic additives. But, if the EPP does not have much interest at the level of the skin in external use, it is granted the benefit of real health benefits by consuming it orally.
The beneficial effects have been observed on the prevention of certain diseases such as: certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases.
We would also find in EPPs properties that protect against winter diseases, they would also have anti-aging properties. In Germany, EPP is used against sore throats, mouth, canker sores and even against acne.