21 replies to this topic

[snowbell]

Just wondering if anyone has noticed any side effects with Grape seed extract. I have been taking it for about couple of years. I then took a little break from it and recently started it again. I have noticed some dizziness and low moods. Not sure if it's the GSE but just curious if anyone has noticed any side effects from it ?

[nameless]

The only thing I noticed when I used to take it, is if I took too high a dose, it sometimes upset my stomach a little.

If getting dizzy, I suggest checking your blood pressure. It is possible it's lowering your BP some. I guess it's also possible it's lowering your glucose levels a bit too (so if you happen to have a glucose reader, maybe check that)?

[snowbell]

Thanks ! Will check my BP. I have been feeling slightly light headed as well. Could a low BP make you feel tired ?

[nameless]

Yep, it certainly could. Although I guess it depends on how tired you mean. You may feel a little sluggish, light-headed (especially when first standing from a sitting position) and have less energy overall.

I wouldn't think grape seed would lower your BP that much though. Perhaps a couple of pts, at most. Easy way to check though is to simply measure it.

[snowbell]

It's more like a low overall energy and feeling sluggish. Although some days I feel quite light-headed. I had read somewhere that grape seed extract is supposed to help with low energy levels. I feel that I don't really like doing much after taking it. Could it be making me so calm that I don't feel interested in doing anything ? Isn't GSE supposed to provide you with focus though ?

[niner]

It's more like a low overall energy and feeling sluggish. Although some days I feel quite light-headed. I had read somewhere that grape seed extract is supposed to help with low energy levels. I feel that I don't really like doing much after taking it. Could it be making me so calm that I don't feel interested in doing anything ? Isn't GSE supposed to provide you with focus though ?

Do you have any idea what your blood sugar is when you feel this way? Does the feeling change depending on what you eat?

[Nestorius]

I have found the same reaction - tiredness and sluggishness - and found this forum while looking for reasons. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and have found that an anti candida diet helps me because it starves my gut of the sugars that feed the bad flora and bacteria. I wonder if grapeseed extract causes tiredness precisely because it is killing off the bad stuff in my gut, and that eventually I would get rid of it and feel better. I stopped taking it but may go back to it on a lower dose.

[1kgcoffee]

Maybe it is lowering your blood sugar.

[Nestorius]

Maybe it is lowering your blood sugar.

It may be lowering blood sugar, however other things in my diet - no sugar, refined flour, coffee, tea - also do that and don't cause lethargy and exhaustion. In fact when I avoid these sugars I get MORE energy!

[maxwatt]

Probiotics?

[snowbell]

Maybe it is lowering your blood sugar.

It may be lowering blood sugar, however other things in my diet - no sugar, refined flour, coffee, tea - also do that and don't cause lethargy and exhaustion. In fact when I avoid these sugars I get MORE energy!

I felt I was the only one who felt this way with GSE. Does it give you low moods as well ? In addition to fatigue, I think it bloats me also. The only benefit I feel from it is brighter skin. I took 100mg last night and slept like a log, which makes me think it must be making me sleepy so I shouldn't take it during the day. I suffer from Chronic fatigue as well and the doctors haven't really been able to figure out why. I have gone through series of tests including thyroid. I do feel I have some candida problem but when I talked to my doctor, she just dismissed it.

[snowbell]

Is Grapeseed extract supposed to kill candida as well ? I thought it was Grapefruit seed extract that does ?

@Nestorius - Are you feeling the side effects from Grapeseed or Grapefruit seed ?

[Nestorius]

Maybe it is lowering your blood sugar.

It may be lowering blood sugar, however other things in my diet - no sugar, refined flour, coffee, tea - also do that and don't cause lethargy and exhaustion. In fact when I avoid these sugars I get MORE energy!

I felt I was the only one who felt this way with GSE. Does it give you low moods as well ? In addition to fatigue, I think it bloats me also. The only benefit I feel from it is brighter skin. I took 100mg last night and slept like a log, which makes me think it must be making me sleepy so I shouldn't take it during the day. I suffer from Chronic fatigue as well and the doctors haven't really been able to figure out why. I have gone through series of tests including thyroid. I do feel I have some candida problem but when I talked to my doctor, she just dismissed it.

I do get low moods, but have never thought this was a direct effect of GSE, though perhaps it is an indirect effect of being tired. I haven't noticed any bloating, or brighter skin. I took GSE as a general antioxidant and don't really know much about it. I suspect it is good in that it is killing off candida and bad bacteria, but while it does that it makes me exhausted so maybe I need to reduce it.

[snowbell]

Maybe it is lowering your blood sugar.

It may be lowering blood sugar, however other things in my diet - no sugar, refined flour, coffee, tea - also do that and don't cause lethargy and exhaustion. In fact when I avoid these sugars I get MORE energy!

I felt I was the only one who felt this way with GSE. Does it give you low moods as well ? In addition to fatigue, I think it bloats me also. The only benefit I feel from it is brighter skin. I took 100mg last night and slept like a log, which makes me think it must be making me sleepy so I shouldn't take it during the day. I suffer from Chronic fatigue as well and the doctors haven't really been able to figure out why. I have gone through series of tests including thyroid. I do feel I have some candida problem but when I talked to my doctor, she just dismissed it.

I do get low moods, but have never thought this was a direct effect of GSE, though perhaps it is an indirect effect of being tired. I haven't noticed any bloating, or brighter skin. I took GSE as a general antioxidant and don't really know much about it. I suspect it is good in that it is killing off candida and bad bacteria, but while it does that it makes me exhausted so maybe I need to reduce it.

How much were you taking each day when you noticed fatigue ?

[Nestorius]

Maybe it is lowering your blood sugar.

It may be lowering blood sugar, however other things in my diet - no sugar, refined flour, coffee, tea - also do that and don't cause lethargy and exhaustion. In fact when I avoid these sugars I get MORE energy!

I felt I was the only one who felt this way with GSE. Does it give you low moods as well ? In addition to fatigue, I think it bloats me also. The only benefit I feel from it is brighter skin. I took 100mg last night and slept like a log, which makes me think it must be making me sleepy so I shouldn't take it during the day. I suffer from Chronic fatigue as well and the doctors haven't really been able to figure out why. I have gone through series of tests including thyroid. I do feel I have some candida problem but when I talked to my doctor, she just dismissed it.

I do get low moods, but have never thought this was a direct effect of GSE, though perhaps it is an indirect effect of being tired. I haven't noticed any bloating, or brighter skin. I took GSE as a general antioxidant and don't really know much about it. I suspect it is good in that it is killing off candida and bad bacteria, but while it does that it makes me exhausted so maybe I need to reduce it.

How much were you taking each day when you noticed fatigue ?

100mg a day - but I was only on it for about 5 days.

[nameless]

Although not scientific, as a general rule, I think if some supplement you are taking is making you feel bad in some way, it's best to simply stop it and forget about it. One exception would be if you have a known infection and said supplement may be killing it. I believe there are some reports of a herx reaction to grape seed extract.

Other things to consider is an allergic reaction (if you notice any odd rashes). A wine extract did that to me once.

100mg is a relatively low dose though. I wouldn't think it'd alter BP or glucose a great deal, if it had any effect at all. If you don't own a BP machine, you can maybe get that checked in a drugstore or something -- cvs, etc. usually has one by the pharmacy. As for glucose, either get a glucose meter or have your doctor run some tests.

[snowbell]

I have found the same reaction - tiredness and sluggishness - and found this forum while looking for reasons. I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and have found that an anti candida diet helps me because it starves my gut of the sugars that feed the bad flora and bacteria. I wonder if grapeseed extract causes tiredness precisely because it is killing off the bad stuff in my gut, and that eventually I would get rid of it and feel better. I stopped taking it but may go back to it on a lower dose.

Nestorius - I was wondering if you are still continuing with Grapeseed extract and notice the side effects or did they subside ? I changed it to taking it at night and I think I wake up tired in the morning, the nights I take it. It makes me lethargic too.

[Nestorius]

I stopped it meantime. I'm seeing my nutritionist next week so will get some better advice.

[snowbell]

I stopped it meantime. I'm seeing my nutritionist next week so will get some better advice.

Did the sluggishness go away when you stopped taking it ? Would you please share if your nutritionist says that it can cause fatigue. Thanks !

[snowbell]

I stopped it meantime. I'm seeing my nutritionist next week so will get some better advice.

Nestorius - Just wondering if you have any update on Grapeseed extract ? Did your nutritionist mention anything about fatigue ?

[HealthyLiving]

Its great for memory.

[chipdouglas]

GSE also makes me somewhat lethargic. Pycnogenol doesn't cause this type of response though - pycnogenol is noticeably more stimulating in nature - at least it is to me, as opposed to GSE. 

 

There doesn't seem to be a lot of information on this type of undesirable effects of GSE.