There has been a lot of focus on resveratrol and its apparent health benefits in recent times and given some well watched television coverage, an increased demand for it but do we understand what the substance really is and why there is such a fuss?
Resveratrol is a substance produced by some plants when they are threatened by infection from a fungus or bacteria. It is anti-microbial, a substance which helps to fight infection by acting as a toxin to the attacking bacterial or fungal cells. Resveratrol exists in two forms, the cis type and the trans type, the trans type being the one which shows great promise as a health supplement.
There are many different sources of resveratrol, it is present in the red wine grapes and the wine made from them, it is present also in peanuts, blueberries and a variety of other foods. Its presence in red wine varies a lot with the grape variety and where it was grown. It is thought by some to be the reason for the ‘French Paradox ’, the seeming ability of Mediterranean people to consume diets high in fat without suffering the ill effects.
Experiments on laboratory animals have shown several health benefits. In a famous experiment, mice given a high fat diet and resveratrol supplements had a much lower risk of death than those given the high fat diet without the resveratrol.
Those mice were found to have approximately normal levels of insulin and blood glucose though their cholesterol levels were high. Interestingly the anti-aging effects seen in mice appear to have been mainly in older mice rather than in mice given resveratrol supplements from an earlier age.
Life extending properties were also shown when an Italian team of scientists conducting experiments on fish found that resveratrol could extend their lifespan considerably. This was the first demonstration in such a vertebrate, other tests to that point having been on fruit flies and worms.
Resveratrol shows anti-cancer properties too for some forms of cancer. Experiments on lab mice show success with skin cancers and test tube experiments show resveratrol fights other cancers such as colon and breast cancer.
A challenge for scientists will be in working out a reliable method of getting the right dose of resveratrol actively fighting cancer effectively. This challenge arises because resveratrol needs to be preserved for long enough in the body to reach the bloodstream without being broken down. One promising looking delivery method is taking resveratrol in a form which allows it to be absorbed from the mouth directly into the bloodstream. Various methods of delivery are now under investigation from mouthwashes to lozenges and even gum.
Get more information on resveratrol benefits, check out this article resveratrol supplements and if purchasing resveratrol be aware there are many different formulations available and they are certainly not all the same strength or quality. Get yours from a reputable supplier.
The Benefits of Resveratrol
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