Resveratrol is produced by some plants to help them ward off infection when they are under bacterial or viral attack. It is found in varying amounts in grapes and in red wine which may help to explain why the French, who eat a diet high in fats, remain quite healthy, the so called 'French paradox'.
Some resveratrol experiments have shown
anti-cancer, anti-fat and other really exciting properties such as the
lowering of blood sugar and even anti aging properties. Experiments on
mice have showed resveratrol to help fight the effects of a fatty diet,
lowering insulin and blood sugar to near normal though it did not
change the cholesterol level in those mice. Resveratrol also looks to
hold promise in the struggle against some cancers like skin cancer.
Just how resveratrol acts to increase lifespan and fight some cancers
is still not fully understood. It is known that it interferes with all
three stages of carcinogenesis, initiation, promotion and progression
at least in test tube studies but much work needs to be done to adapt
these findings to more practical application for humans.
Resveratrol has become popular as an aid to weight loss given its
properties of negating fat intake. A study in 2006 demonstrated that
mice that were fed a high fat diet, consuming about 30% more calories
than others but also given resveratrol were no more likely to die than
those fed 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
feeling more energetic which further enhances its appeal.
Resveratrol is often harvested from Japanese knotweed and is in the
skins of several plants, particularly grapes. In grapes, its
concentration varies with the grape variety and the region it comes
from. In wine the concentration varies with the length of time the wine
stays in contact with the grape skins during fermentation. It is also
found in cranberries, peanuts and blueberries in varying amounts.
It is hardly surprising that resveratrol has enjoyed a surge of
interest and popularity but as always with nutritional supplements its
important to do your homework before buying. It’s also important to buy
from a reputable supplier and follow the dosage instructions carefully.
Read more on Resveratrol Weight Loss at StripTheFat.org or at my Resveratrol Weight Loss Blog Page
