Pycnogenol may be among the most important nutrients for supporting heart health, as several studies and many years of anecdotal evidence have shown powerful benefits associated with the antioxidant.

Mother Nature Network recently reported that pycnogenol has been used for centuries in places like China, where individuals first began to observe that evergreen trees, which contain pycnogenol, are among the only plants that appear to retain their vitality throughout the winter. They figured that these trees must have powerfully healthy ingredients, and began to use them.

Since this time, scientific understanding of the health benefits of pycnogenol has come a long way. In recent years, studies have shown that the antioxidant may play a role in supporting heart health as well as the immune system, according to the National Library of Medicine.

Given the fact that evergreen trees are the primary sources of pycnogenol, there are few natural foods that contain the nutrient. Therefore, individuals who are interested in the health benefits of pycnogenol may benefit from looking into nutritional supplements. This may be one of the most effective ways to obtain the numerous health benefits of the antioxidant.