A kind of French pine tree (Pinus pinaster) found in the lovely and lush woods of southern France has special health-promoting characteristics. Its usage goes back to the 1500s when the lengthy sailing expeditions from France to the New World by French explorer Jacques Cartier and his crew left them afflicted with scurvy, a severe vitamin C shortage. According to legend, neighboring Native American tribes taught Cartier about their folklore and used local pine tree bark as a decoction to stave against scurvy.
Pine bark is an excellent source of vitamin C, which is used to treat scurvy, as well as a variety of phytochemicals, which are organic plant substances that promote improved health. Proanthocyanidins, robust antioxidant molecules (more effective than Vitamin C and E) that provide a variety of additional health advantages, are the “all-stars” of the category. Here, let’s look more closely.
Table of Contents
Enhance your antioxidant status:
Your body will manufacture an excessive amount of free radical compounds if you are obese, physically unfit, or otherwise unwell. These free radical compounds cause inflammation throughout the body, harming your DNA and jeopardizing your health. These internal flames are extinguished by antioxidants. You establish the groundwork for a strong antioxidant intake, be sure to consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables (coffee is another excellent source; just remember to cut out the sugar!).
Increase Blood Circulation and Premature Ejaculation:
Pine bark extract has a considerable effect on the body’s nitric oxide (NO) levels, which are in charge of vasodilation and enhancing blood flow. According to recent research, arginine, an amino acid that also increases NO production, and pine bark extract work well together to treat mild to severe erectile dysfunction. Increasing NO levels in the body is a successful method for aiding in the treatment of poor libido, erectile dysfunction, and excessive blood pressure in sufferers.
Control Sugar Levels:
If you battle with high blood sugar, pre-diabetes, or diabetes, pine bark extract may provide you with some additional advantages. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 77 diabetic patients taking their prescribed medications along with 100mg of additional Pycnogenol, it was discovered that the combination of pine bark extract and diabetic medications led to greater improvements in blood sugar regulation and cardiovascular health.
Fight Off Common Colds:
Nothing is more inconvenient than a persistent cold, which hinders your performance at work and in the gym. In a study of 146 persons with the common cold, it was shown that taking Pycnogenol supplements might shorten the number of days and lessen the intensity of the symptoms patients had during their colds. This is fantastic news for maintaining your pace even while you’re congested.
Boost Brain Function:
You could be experiencing the early stages of age-related cognitive decline if you’ve been having trouble remembering little information, such as where you placed your vehicle keys or what you need to pick up for supper. While nutrition and exercise are great for promoting healthy brain function, so too is pine bark extract. Stress, a poor diet, and lack of sleep may all be factors in brain performance that is less than ideal. According to the researchers, the advantages resulting from pine bark extract’s antioxidant properties and capacity to lower oxidative stress (associated with poor diet, high stress, lack of exercise, etc.).
Reduce Inflammation:
When you get the flu or a cold, fall or get hurt (or overwork yourself at the gym! ), or if you have a persistent illness, a collection of pro-inflammatory chemicals called cytokines are produced. Pine bark extract has been shown in studies to be capable of lowering pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and IL-6, which are in charge of many of the negative consequences of chronic inflammation.
Final thoughts
A regular vitamin and supplement program should take French pine bark extract into consideration since it is a highly safe and powerful antioxidant. The best method to load up on disease-preventing antioxidants is to eat enough fruits and vegetables. I routinely remind my patients that supplements are just that—supplements—and should not be used as a substitute for good lifestyle decisions. When attempting to prevent a number of harmful health disorders, pine bark extract is a smart choice.
