ARTICLE Published in Life After 50 Magazine:

The All-Natural Supplement that May Prevent Killer Diseases

All About Resveratrol

By Mark Juliano

Thanks to stories on 60 Minutes, Oprah, Dr. Oz, and Barbara Walters, supplements based on Resveratrol now top the “hot list.”  Multiple studies conducted on laboratory animals have demonstrated the highly beneficial effects of this polyphenol (a class of plant chemicals) which is found in the skins of grapes and in red wine.

KEY ANIMAL FINDINGS

Resveratrol has been shown to enhance muscle strength, reduce fatigue, and help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.  It can help clear away the toxic proteins that cause Alzheimer’s disease, and even increase animals’ life span by 25-50%.  But can this substance do the same for humans?

AN IMPORTANT DISCOVERY

Resveratrol’s emergence as an anti-aging powerhouse began in the 1930s with the finding that calorie restriction – 30% less than a normal diet – could extend lifespan by 20-50% in both animals and humans.  In the 1990s, researchers at Harvard Medical School discovered that near starvation triggers an activation of “survival” or SIRT genes which produce enzymes that slow cellular aging.  The scientists also found that Resveratrol is the most powerful SIRT activator, especially in combination with other grape polyphenols, such as Quercetin.

CURRENT EVIDENCE

The most startling research result was found in 2003 at Harvard.  When given Resveratrol, obese mice lived as long as normal weight mice, and did not fall prey to diabetes, heart disease and other conditions.  Resveratrol appears to achieve these results through a number of mechanisms including a reduction in the inflammation which contributes to cardiovascular disease.

BREAKTHROUGH RESEARCH

A recent human study showed that drinking one and a half glasses of red wine per day reduced levels of lipid peroxide, a by-product of inflammation that damages arteries, by 40%.  At the same time, Resveratrol was shown to spark the production of the beneficial gas, nitric oxide, which increases blood vessel flexibility.  Resveratrol also thins the blood, reducing the risk for clots.

Cancer: Eighteen different types of cancer have been markedly inhibited in laboratory studies of human and animal cells.

Diabetes: Resveratrol helps normalize blood sugar levels by moving glucose out of the bloodstream and into cells, and stimulating natural insulin production.

Alzheimer’s: Resveratrol helps remove the amyloid-beta protein that causes brain damage associated with Alzheimers’s.

New Findings: In a study of 90 healthy adults, researchers at Marywood University found that a blend of 400mg of Resveratrol plus other polyphenols improved memory and sped up reaction time.

BEST SOURCES

To achieve an optimum dosage of 400mg of Resveratrol, one could consume massive quantities of grapes, red wine, or chocolate.  However, unhealthful quantities of calories, sugar, or alcohol would come along for the ride.  Look for a supplement blend with 98% pure Resveratrol extracted from the roots of polygonum cuspidatum – the Japanese Knotweed.  Ideally, Resveratrol is most effective when blended with the broad spectrum of polyphenols found in red wine grapes, and Quercetin, another powerful SIRT gene activator.

Filed under: Articles