Resveratrol Information

If you eat a lot of grapes, or drink a lot of red wine, it’s safe to say that your body has been introduced to resveratrol. In the past, studies have shown that despite a diet consisting of high red wine intake, French people live longer, and have a low chance of contracting heart disease. Scientists referred to this as the “French Paradox,” but they soon found out that these statistics may be due to one compound: resveratrol.

What is resveratrol?

Resveratrol is a phytoalexin, which are antibiotics made by plants that are trying to fight off an attack caused by bacteria or sometimes fungi. Though it is naturally made, scientists have been able to produce it by using chemical synthesis. It is naturally found in grape skin, red wine, pine nuts, and even peanuts, as well as in many different types of plants.

What does it do?

Studies have shown that resveratrol does a lot in the bodies of rats, but studies aren’t completely sure as to how well or how much is needed in the human body to make visible effects. When put into a rat’s body, resveratrol attaches to the SIRT1 gene that controls aging, and turns it off. With this gene no longer functioning, the body doesn’t age as quickly, and resveratrol helps to aid against ailments and diseases usually caused by old age.

For one, resveratrol is said to be able to extend life. In rats, it was able to extend life by at least 30%. Scientists hope to one day show that it can also extend human life. Tests done on a certain type of fish that only life about 9-weeks showed that life was extended by at least 56%.

Resveratrol also helps to aid against cancer, due to its antioxidant properties. As an antioxidant, resveratrol is able to fight against free agents in the body that are sometimes cancerous cells. It is able to break down these cells even after they have started to become cancerous. While it hasn’t been proven to fight all types of cancers, it is being specifically tested on skin, breast, and bone cancer.

Since resveratrol is said to be a blood thinner, this property may help the body fight against cancerous cells entering the bones. It is also an anti-inflammatory agent.

In rats, resveratrol not only protects the body, but boosts energy amounts. It is said to elevate the metabolism, which helps the body to burn energy in a much more efficient way. Rats given resveratrol were able to run for a much longer time period than those rats not given the substance.

Is resveratrol safe?

While resveratrol is not yet FDA approved, there are plenty of supplements and pills available. Since it is all natural, many scientists don’t believe that resveratrol would have any harmful side effects. Of course, you can continue to drink red wine and grape juice, which will introduce resveratrol to your body. If you are considering resveratrol supplements, it’s best to talk to your doctor beforehand.