Resveratrol: Research Confirms Its Benefits
By now, you have probably heard about the benefits of taking supplemental resveratrol, the amazing antioxidant compound that occurs naturally in red wine. But in case you need more proof, here’s a summary of the research behind this powerful and versatile anti-aging substance. Here are just a few of the things resveratrol can do:
1. Stop aging. Numerous studies have shown that calorie restriction may blunt the effects of aging as it positively influences the genes that age you. University of Wisconsin researchers have found that including resveratrol in your diet may do the same thing. The skinny on this effect is this: resveratrol may actually mimic the anti-aging effect of consuming 20 – 30% fewer calories, even when you’re not eating less.
2. Promote weight loss. Say bye-bye to fat cells. Resveratrol may reduce the number of fat cells in your body — and could one day be used to treat or prevent obesity, according to a presentation at the Endocrine Society’s 90th Annual Meeting in San Francisco June 12-15, 2008.
3. Protect your heart. Certain antioxidants found in red wine may help regulate blood sugar by slowing the passage of carbohydrates into the blood system, suggests University of Massachusetts at Amherst food scientists. This could help keep high blood pressure and heart disease at bay.
4. Improve breast health. Resveratrol suppresses the abnormal cell formation that leads to most types of breast cancer, according to a study published in the July 2008 issue of Cancer Prevention Research. It turns out that it may prevent the first step that starts cancer’s progression.
5. Improve liver health. A study published in the American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology found that resveratrol may prevent against the development of fatty liver disease associated with chronic alcohol consumption. The antioxidant may activate two molecules that play a role in cell signaling and the breakdown of fats in the liver: AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). These molecules are reportedly inhibited by alcohol, leading to fat build-up and fatty liver.
6. Block bacteria. The addition of red wine and resveratrol to your daily diet can help protect you from food-borne illness, according to University of Missouri-Columbia researchers. Red wines, particularly cabernets, pinot noirs and merlots, inhibit food borne pathogens without harming beneficial probiotic bacteria. Ethanol (the alcohol that occurs in wine) and resveratrol were separately found have similar effects.
Resveratrol’s ability to fight disease and to slow the process of aging has been confirmed time and again by excellent clinical research. Exciting new discoveries proving its incredible powers continue to emerge from the research as well, so stay tuned for more!
