The Benefits of Resveratrol

resveratrolweightcontrol — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:19:10 +0000

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.

Resveratrol Weight Control

resveratrolweightcontrol — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 21:39:19 +0000

Since the public has been aware of the benefits of resveratrol there has been a huge demand for the product and of course a corresponding increase in the numbers of resveratrol products made available which has caused some confusion as the products vary substantially in their strengths and effectiveness.

is and at the reasons for its massive popularity. Resveratrol is a substance found in some plants that helps them fight off infection. It is commonly found in varying amounts in grape skins, blueberries and other fruits. Its presence in red wine is perhaps some explanation for the phenomenon whereby some Mediterranean people seem to be able to eat rich fat laden foods yet have a low incidence of the usual health problems that go with such dietary habits.

Resveratrol has been tested on laboratory animals and some extraordinary effects were seen. Mice given a diet much higher in calories than normal but also given resveratrol were no more likely to die than those given a standard diet and other tests showed mice given resveratrol were more energetic and had greater endurance than mice on the normal diet. Not only that but it seems resveratrol may help fight some types of cancers too.

Needless to say the age extending, anti-cancer and anti weight gain properties of resveratrol are the reasons for its popularity but as mentioned above there is a wide variance in the quality and effectiveness of the various products available.

The resveratrol molecule breaks down easily so, it has to be packaged and even consumed in the right way to get the best results. Some tests found the best results came from swishing liquid resveratrol around the mouth for a while but as this is not very practical to market some techniques have been developed to ensure pills and capsules remain intact and deliver a correct amount to you at the right stage in digestion.

It is most likely that the resveratrol you get will come from Japanese knotweed raher than grapes as it is the most economic way to harvest resveratrol. Now don’t let that put you off, what matters is the dose that reaches your bloodstream. Whether it comes from knotweed or other sources the important thing is to get a product that has been manufactured by a responsible supplier and which is designed not to be broken down too soon by digestion.

Read more on Resveratrol-Supplements – Know Your Stuff First or check out this resveratrol supplements article
at my Blogger page.