There has been a lot of attention given to resveratrol and its apparent health benefits in recent years and following widely publicized television coverage, a huge increase in demand for the product but lets take a look at what resveratrol really is and why there is such interest.
Resveratrol is a substance produced by some plants when they are under threat from bacteria or fungus. It is anti-microbial, helping to fight infection by acting as a defender against 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 found in the red wine grapes and the wine made from them, it can also be found in peanuts, blueberries and a variety of other foods. Its concentration in 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 apparent ability of Mediterranean people to consume seemingly unhealthy diets without all the ill effects.
In animal trials, resveratrol has shown several health benefits. In a famous experiment, mice given a high fat diet and resveratrol supplements had a much reduced risk of death compared to those given the high fat diet without supplementation.
The mice in that experiment had fairly normal levels of blood sugars and insulin 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 experimenting with fish found that resveratrol could extend their lifespan considerably. This was the first such demonstration in a vertebrate, previous experiments having been on fruit flies and worms.
Resveratrol shows great promise in the fight against some cancers. 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 possibility is that of taking resveratrol in such way as allows it to be absorbed from the mouth directly into the bloodstream. Various ways of taking resveratrol are being considered from mouthwashes to lozenges and even gum.
Get more information on resveratrol benefits, check out this article resveratrol weight loss and if purchasing resveratrol be aware there are many products on the market not all of them equal. Get yours from a reputable supplier.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Resveratrol Supplements
Resveratrol is produced by some plants to help them ward off infection when they are under bacterial or viral attack. It is found in red grapes and is present in red wine which might help to explain the so called French Paradox, the phenomenon whereby the French high fat diet does not seem to adversely affect them!
In some experiments resveratrol has reportedly shown anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other really exciting properties such as the lowering of blood sugar and even some lifespan extending properties. Experiments on mice have demonstrated that resveratrol actually negated the effects of a high fat diet, lowering insulin and glucose levels to near normal though it did not change the cholesterol level in those mice. Resveratrol shows promise in the fight against some cancers like skin cancer.
The mechanism that helps increase lifespan and fight some cancers is still not fully understood. What is apparent is that it interferes with all three stages of carcinogenesis, that is, initiation, promotion and progression at least in laboratory experiments but there is much to be done to progress these findings to more common use in medicine.
Not surprisingly, resveratrol has become a popular weight loss supplement given its known properties of negating fat intake. A study in 2006 demonstrated that mice that were fed a high fat diet, where they consumed about 30% more calories than the standard diet but also given resveratrol were no more likely to die than mice on a standard diet. While the resveratrol did not lower cholestrol or free fatty acids in those mice, the beneficial effects and the results of a later study showing increased endurance in mice given resveratrol, have been enough to encourage the use of resveratrol as an aid to dieters. It appears resveratrol may enhance metabolism, even in small amounts. Many dieters using resveratrol have reported increased energy levels which further enhances its appeal.
Resveratrol can be found in Japanese knotweed and is in the skins of several plants, particularly grapes. In grapes, its concentration varies with the type of grape and the region it is grown in. In wine the amounts vary also with the time that the wine remains in contact with the grape skins during fermentation. It is also found in cranberries, peanuts and blueberries in varying amounts.
Given the results so far it is no wonder resveratrol has enjoyed a surge of interest and popularity but as always with nutritional supplements do exercise caution before buying. It’s also important to buy from a reputable supplier and follow the dosage instructions carefully.
check out ProResvera and claim a free trial if you qualify at Resveratrol Weight Loss
Read more on Resveratrol Weight Control at this Resveratrol Weight Control wikidot article.
In some experiments resveratrol has reportedly shown anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other really exciting properties such as the lowering of blood sugar and even some lifespan extending properties. Experiments on mice have demonstrated that resveratrol actually negated the effects of a high fat diet, lowering insulin and glucose levels to near normal though it did not change the cholesterol level in those mice. Resveratrol shows promise in the fight against some cancers like skin cancer.
The mechanism that helps increase lifespan and fight some cancers is still not fully understood. What is apparent is that it interferes with all three stages of carcinogenesis, that is, initiation, promotion and progression at least in laboratory experiments but there is much to be done to progress these findings to more common use in medicine.
Not surprisingly, resveratrol has become a popular weight loss supplement given its known properties of negating fat intake. A study in 2006 demonstrated that mice that were fed a high fat diet, where they consumed about 30% more calories than the standard diet but also given resveratrol were no more likely to die than mice on a standard diet. While the resveratrol did not lower cholestrol or free fatty acids in those mice, the beneficial effects and the results of a later study showing increased endurance in mice given resveratrol, have been enough to encourage the use of resveratrol as an aid to dieters. It appears resveratrol may enhance metabolism, even in small amounts. Many dieters using resveratrol have reported increased energy levels which further enhances its appeal.
Resveratrol can be found in Japanese knotweed and is in the skins of several plants, particularly grapes. In grapes, its concentration varies with the type of grape and the region it is grown in. In wine the amounts vary also with the time that the wine remains in contact with the grape skins during fermentation. It is also found in cranberries, peanuts and blueberries in varying amounts.
Given the results so far it is no wonder resveratrol has enjoyed a surge of interest and popularity but as always with nutritional supplements do exercise caution before buying. It’s also important to buy from a reputable supplier and follow the dosage instructions carefully.
check out ProResvera and claim a free trial if you qualify at Resveratrol Weight Loss
Read more on Resveratrol Weight Control at this Resveratrol Weight Control wikidot article.
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